Lack of respect for Falcons

Coileach dearg

I think it's time for this subject to have a thread for itself.
It is becoming ridiculous the complete ignorance of the NFL community not to acknowledge the Atlanta Falcons this season. ESPN, NFL.com, etc do not even have the Falcons in their news items yet again this week.
In a way it is a good thing as the Falcons will go into the playoffs as an underdog and we'll be sick of hearing the 'Falcons haven't won a playoff game under Smith yet" While this is true, the Falcons have been one of the most consistent teams in the NFL for the past 3 or 4 seasons. If we look at the regular season stats for the Patriots, Giants, Texans and Atlanta since '09:

Patriots: 46-14
Giants: 34-26
Texans: 36-24
Falcons: 43-17

This is just comparing two of the most successful teams (Patriots, Giants) of recent times and the Texans (this season's much loved team by the media). Again, regular season stats mean nothing if you don't cut it in the playoff but would you not agree from the above stats that Atlanta deserve at least a bit of credit?
I just had to vent this after sitting through yet another NFL week preview without Atlanta getting a hint of a mention. When the Falcons defence turned over 5 Drew Brees interceptions last week, all that was mentioned afterwards was " oh Drew just had a bad night", not even a mention of how John Abraham and Co. harassed him all night with lots of pressure

That's all. I feel a bit better now.

SantryRed

The Falcons are not as good as their record suggests tbh. It's as simple as that.

I reckon they'll be one and done again this season. Definitely won't make the Superbowl.

BigBadRob83

Easy schedule (31st according to Football Outsiders), 7-1 in games decided by one score or less (randomness, not a skill).
Somehow had Drew Brees throw 5 INTs and still should have lost that game.
They have an inflated record, think they will be found out in the playoffs

Pherekydes

Coileach dearg wrote: »

Patriots: 46-14
Giants: 34-26
Texans: 36-24
Falcons: 43-17

Talk about disrespect!

Packers: 44-16 over the same period.

D3PO

played what one team with a winning record I think ?

one and done in the playoffs the last few seasons

scraping one score wins in many games.

They are not getting the respect because they havent earned the respect. They simply are not as good a football team as you think and they will not win the NFC championship despite having probable homefield advantage in the playoffs

Id happily lay that with you.

Infact Id expect any of the other three prospective divisional champs (Packers, Giants or 49 ers to beat them)

Alfred Borden

The Falcons are a good team but will be one and done in the playoffs like every year. They cant compete with people like the Texans, Pats and Packers!

mikemac1

Well you said it yourself, regular season record is not the main factor

If the Falcons get the NFC Championship game then attitudes will change

For now I'm with the other posters, Falcons will be one and done

On another note, you're the only Falcons fan I've seen on boards. May possibly be some others.
Post in here more often

Trojan

I said last week after watching the Saints game:

Trojan wrote: »

I wasn't impressed with the Falcons, I see why they're not being given the respect they crave.

Saints and particularly Brees himself had a disastrous night going 17-0 down and with 6 INTs (one called back on a flag), 2 missed FG opportunities (the time running out in 1st half, and the sack in the second), and still for all that they were still in the game with 5 minutes to go! That was actually pretty impressive, though not much consolation for them.

You EARN respect. Falcons ain't done that.

spiralism

Difference between the Falcons and the four other teams mentioned with similar records over the timespan is playoff wins. All the rest have one and green bay and NY have two superbowls in that spell. We've more playoff wins than the Falcons in that spell despite a 30-31 record in that same time frame.

Until the Falcons get it done when it REALLY counts, they won't be fully respected and people will take a possible playoff choke into account.

Fr Tod Umptious

mikemac1 wrote: »

Well you said it yourself, regular season record is not the main factor

If the Falcons get the NFC Championship game then attitudes will change

For now I'm with the other posters, Falcons will be one and done

On another note, you're the only Falcons fan I've seen on boards. May possibly be some others.
Post in here more often

I was a fan of there's when they went 4 and 0 to start the 1986 season then it went down hill after that, and my interest wained over the years.

I am a Pats fan now as I lived in Boston for a good few years since, but I'd still consider Atlanta my next fav team

Would love to see them win it all

eagle eye

SantryRed wrote: »

The Falcons are not as good as their record suggests tbh. It's as simple as that.

I reckon they'll be one and done again this season. Definitely won't make the Superbowl.

BigBadRob83 wrote: »

Easy schedule (31st according to Football Outsiders), 7-1 in games decided by one score or less (randomness, not a skill).
Somehow had Drew Brees throw 5 INTs and still should have lost that game.
They have an inflated record, think they will be found out in the playoffs

D3PO wrote: »

played what one team with a winning record I think ?

one and done in the playoffs the last few seasons

scraping one score wins in many games.

They are not getting the respect because they havent earned the respect. They simply are not as good a football team as you think and they will not win the NFC championship despite having probable homefield advantage in the playoffs

Id happily lay that with you.

Infact Id expect any of the other three prospective divisional champs (Packers, Giants or 49 ers to beat them)

Raf32 wrote: »

The Falcons are a good team but will be one and done in the playoffs like every year. They cant compete with people like the Texans, Pats and Packers!

mikemac1 wrote: »

Well you said it yourself, regular season record is not the main factor

If the Falcons get the NFC Championship game then attitudes will change

For now I'm with the other posters, Falcons will be one and done

On another note, you're the only Falcons fan I've seen on boards. May possibly be some others.
Post in here more often

Trojan wrote: »

I said last week after watching the Saints game:



You EARN respect. Falcons ain't done that.

spiralism wrote: »

Difference between the Falcons and the four other teams mentioned with similar records over the timespan is playoff wins. All the rest have one and green bay and NY have two superbowls in that spell. We've more playoff wins than the Falcons in that spell despite a 30-31 record in that same time frame.

Until the Falcons get it done when it REALLY counts, they won't be fully respected and people will take a possible playoff choke into account.

What the hell is going on in this thread? It doesn't matter who they've played, they are 11-1 and pretty much guaranteed HFA all the way through the playoffs.
Yes Matty Ice has questions to answer but he has been better this season than ever before. This team has all the ingredients to go all the way.

I can understand people saying that they have to prove themselves to be considered an elite, dominant franchise but there should be lots of talk about them as Superbowl contenders this season. They have certainly earned that already.

Syferus

When you've flopped so consistently in the post-season following good regular seasons that bandwagon is going to have available spaces until the Falcons actually win a play-off game. :pac:

johnmcdnl

I had a breakdown of their entire schedule done and how they were really lucky to get several wins with last minute drives against average teams and lacking an ability to win easily in "easy" games and how they haven't had many tough games all season to test them but my laptop died and I hadn't saved the post

Anyways their being shown up against the Panthers tonight.

For what it's worth I like the Falcons and think they do deserve a bit more respect than they get but I really can't see them challenging for a Superbowl berth even with home field advantage. When they meet tough teams in back to back weeks in the playoffs I just can't see them getting lucky enough to win as they've been doing all season.

Yes they are a playoff team and deservedly so - but they won't be be around in February unless they can up another gear or two in the coming weeks and into the playoffs. We see it far too often with them that they make the playoffs and then get beaten straight away. I can't see how this year is going to be any different tbh.

LuckyLloyd

They're not a serious contender. The big dogs are who interest people. I wouldn't worry about it.

Coileach dearg

Yeah, lots of valid points made and just to rub it in they go out and play tripe in the first half against the Panthers.

Most people seem to mention the way the Falcons have won most games this season by a single score but surely thats better than losing them all by a single score. What about the old soccer adage that the sign of a good team is one that grinds out results irrespective of the scoreline?

The Falcons running game has been virtually non existent this season and this will eventually be their downfall. This is in direct contrast to recent seasons but seems to be the way Koetter likes to go about things.

I've been a Falcon fan since about '91 when Primetime and Rison were ripping it up and even MC-hammer on the sideline.
Even with the Superbowl appearance they were completely written off. Couldn't believe it at the time.

Speaking to most NFL fans I always got the impression that they were very much disliked.
For some reason the media are always out do get them. The Vick situation didn't help but the Falcons dealt with that situation as best they could.

Anyway, back to the week ahead. It would be nice to end the Giants season on Sunday (or at least put a dent in it depending on results). Especially after last year's playoff game!

D3PO

Coileach dearg wrote: »

Yeah, lots of valid points made and just to rub it in they go out and play tripe in the first half against the Panthers.

Most people seem to mention the way the Falcons have won most games this season by a single score but surely thats better than losing them all by a single score. What about the old soccer adage that the sign of a good team is one that grinds out results irrespective of the scoreline?

The Falcons running game has been virtually non existent this season and this will eventually be their downfall. This is in direct contrast to recent seasons but seems to be the way Koetter likes to go about things.

I've been a Falcon fan since about '91 when Primetime and Rison were ripping it up and even MC-hammer on the sideline.
Even with the Superbowl appearance they were completely written off. Couldn't believe it at the time.

Speaking to most NFL fans I always got the impression that they were very much disliked.
For some reason the media are always out do get them. The Vick situation didn't help but the Falcons dealt with that situation as best they could.

Anyway, back to the week ahead. It would be nice to end the Giants season on Sunday (or at least put a dent in it depending on results). Especially after last year's playoff game!

They were tripe all game Sunday not just the first haft tbh. They have no rushing this year and of course its better to grind out wins then lose but its the quality of oppositon they have to grind out against that is why they have no respect.

I dont know anybody that hates the Falcons so its not that. Lots of people hate the Pats but still respect them, the two arent interlinked anyway.

The Giants are the first decent side the Falcons have played all year save the Broncos early in the season where to be honest isnt a fair benchmark with a new signal caller trying to find rythum with his offense. I expect another beating for the Falcons, which will serve to only copperfasten peoples opinion that they are pretenders not contenders.

Sure you all but said it yourself when you predicted their downfall.

Trojan

eagle eye wrote: »

I can understand people saying that they have to prove themselves to be considered an elite, dominant franchise but there should be lots of talk about them as Superbowl contenders this season. They have certainly earned that already.

I think you were wrong before, but now they have started to earn some of that respect.

Falcons 34 - 0 Giants.

happyoutscan

Trojan wrote: »

I think you were wrong before, but now they have started to earn some of that respect.

Falcons 34 - 0 Giants.

Found that score-line hard to believe when my cousin (an Atlanta fan) text me it. Some score.

Coileach dearg

Great win for the Falcons. Nobody will fancy going to the Georgia Dome in the playoffs.
A very good way to bounce back from the awful display against the Panthers last week. The defence looks solid, one of the best around for turnovers and Ryan looked as good as he has been all year.

Pherekydes

Coileach dearg wrote: »

Great win for the Falcons. Nobody will fancy going to the Georgia Dome in the playoffs.

Aaron Rodgers loves it there.

Red Crow

I wouldn't read too much into this win.

Our games this year:

L - Dallas
W - Tampa Bay
W - Panthers
L - Eagles
W - Browns
W - 49ers
W - Skins
W - Dallas
L - Steelers
L - Bengals
W - Packers
L - Skins
W - Saints
L - Falcons

We're a horribly inconsistent team. Unlike last year where we build up this huge momentum; this season we've had problems with our hugely respected DLine from last year. Tuck and Osi have been useless this year and Eli was just crap yesterday again. I wouldn't rank any team against us.

Johnny_Fontane

Eli Manning wrote: »

I wouldn't read too much into this win.

Our games this year:

L - Dallas
W - Tampa Bay
W - Panthers
L - Eagles
W - Browns
W - 49ers
W - Skins
W - Dallas
L - Steelers
L - Bengals
W - Packers
L - Skins
W - Saints
L - Falcons

We're a horribly inconsistent team. Unlike last year where we build up this huge momentum; this season we've had problems with our hugely respected DLine from last year. Tuck and Osi have been useless this year and Eli was just crap yesterday again. I wouldn't rank any team against us.

You lost to the Eagles :eek:

Red Crow

Johnny_Fontane wrote: »

You lost to the Eagles :eek:

That's an achievement

Coileach dearg

Nice to see Megatron break Jerry Rice's record and nice that has taken centre stage and kind of overshadows the Falcons clinching home field advantage in the playoffs.

Negatives from Lions game:
- Again giving up so many passing yards.
- Running game was poor again up against such an inexperienced Lions Defensive line.
- Didn't get close to enough pressure on Stafford.
- Didn't get Gonzalez involved enough.

Positives
- Offense was on fire, great passing option plays all night.
- Defense was solid in the red zone.
- Putting up good passing numbers again.

The_Gatsby

The Falcons will beat the Seahawks. Roddy and Julio will use the fact that the Seahawks CBs like press coverage to their advantage. If they can beat the press coverage then I'd imagine there'll be a lot of big plays down the field.

People doubted Atlanta against the Giants this season. 34-0. That was a game where they had to prove themselves and they did.

Dohnny Jepp

The_Gatsby wrote: »

The Falcons will beat the Seahawks. Roddy and Julio will use the fact that the Seahawks CBs like press coverage to their advantage. If they can beat the press coverage then I'd imagine there'll be a lot of big plays down the field.

People doubted Atlanta against the Giants this season. 34-0. That was a game where they had to prove themselves and they did.

Beating the Giants was no achievement this year. They were only hot for a handful of games. They lost to some of the NFL's worst teams this year.

I'm not sure if Atlanta is tough enough to beat the seahawks

LuckyLloyd

Atlanta have to prove themselves this week and next week. The regular season don't matter. This is the time to prove themselves, beating a non playoff team during the regular season means nothing sir.

This team is a no money team. The big show will prove too big for them once again imo.

eagle eye

Well that is the real question for them. For all their good regular season form over the last couple of seasons they still have not won a playoff game under Mike Smith although to be fair the teams that have beaten them have all made the Superbowl. Cards who lost to the Steelers and the Packers and Giants who both won it.

Coileach dearg

The second half against the Seahawks was a collapse from the Falcons. The intensity shown in the first half from the defence especially just wasn't there. It is something that needs to be looked at before the weekend.
It wasn't a coincidence that Wilson seemed to have all the time in the world in the pocket when Abraham went off injured. If he isn't 100% on Sunday then it will be tough getting any pressure on Kaepernick.

It will be fantastic to see this old NFC west rivalry renewed on Sunday. Hope Bryant is practicing his squibs this week or hopefully never attempt one ever again!

The_Gatsby

Coileach dearg wrote: »

The second half against the Seahawks was a collapse from the Falcons. The intensity shown in the first half from the defence especially just wasn't there. It is something that needs to be looked at before the weekend.
It wasn't a coincidence that Wilson seemed to have all the time in the world in the pocket when Abraham went off injured. If he isn't 100% on Sunday then it will be tough getting any pressure on Kaepernick.

It will be fantastic to see this old NFC west rivalry renewed on Sunday. Hope Bryant is practicing his squibs this week or hopefully never attempt one ever again!

Absoloutely loved the first half. After Quizz' run I was like ah we're gonna hammer them. Then came the second half and I had my head in my hands. Had full faith in Matty Ice to pull it off though, especially after that game against Carolina early in the season. 49ers will be a tough game though, a lot harder than the Seahawks