Falcons: And so it begins

[Jesus]

John Clayton on the NFC Playoffs:

1. Can the Falcons squander home-field advantage? They can. No team in the playoffs is under more pressure than the Falcons. Since 2008, their 33 home wins is second only to New England (34) in the NFL. Nevertheless, you have to wonder if they can handle the home field successfully in the playoffs. If they can't, you wonder what changes might happen.

Under head coach Mike Smith and quarterback Matt Ryan, who joined the Falcons together in 2008, they are 0-3 in the playoffs. Thanks in part to the league's easiest schedule, the Falcons clinched home field and the No. 1 seed last week. The Falcons' loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday was their only home loss of the season and only the seventh since 2008.

The Falcons were held to their lowest point total of the season Sunday, and six of their home games were decided by six points or fewer. They are the top seed, but they can't be totally confident.

10.Who will make it to the NFC Championship Game? Clearly it's wide open, but I can foresee a championship game between the Falcons and Packers in the Georgia Dome.

Only six quarterbacks have won Super Bowls in the past nine seasons, and Rodgers is one of them. Plus, he's the only quarterback in the NFC playoffs who has won a playoff game. Though it won't be easy, I give the nod to the Packers. Pressed for an opponent, I'd say it will be the Denver Broncos.

[mdrake34]

Well we've got at least two more weeks of this until we finally win a playoff game, or until this time next year if we go one and done again.

[phocis850]

Good grief Charlie Brown.

[Drathdon]

Well, while he does say we CAN squander home field, he says he sees us in the Championship game.
Remember, Clayton was the only sane person listing us as #1 in the power rankings on ESPN for the past month, while others listed us as #4 and such.

I don't think he doubts us, so much as was saying it could happen.

[juraitwaluzka]

(12-31-2012 02:18 PM)Drathdon Wrote:  Well, while he does say we CAN squander home field, he says he sees us in the Championship game.
Remember, Clayton was the only sane person listing us as #1 in the power rankings on ESPN for the past month, while others listed us as #4 and such.

I don't think he doubts us, so much as was saying it could happen.

That exactly how I took it

[Jesus]

What stands out is the last line of the first section:
They are the top seed, but they can't be totally confident.

Why? Cause they walked through their last unimportant game? The Packers won a shootout vs the lions last year in their last game. As top seed they were smacked at home by the Giants. How about their confidence.

In 2011 the Pats were a top seed who blew out their opponents on their last three games carrying what one might think of as confidence into their match up with the jets only to lose at home.

Why are the Falcons confidence being the only one questioned? They aren't the only team to be one and done in the last three years.

[AUTiger7222]

Why don't the Broncos get bashed for their schedule? Oh wait it's because they've got "Peyton Manning"

Look at who the Broncos beat.

Week 1 - PIT (8-8)
Week 4 - OAK (4-12)
Week 6 - @ SD - (7-9)
Week 8 - NO - (7-9)
Week 9 - @ CIN (10-6)
Week 10 - @ CAR (7-9)
Week 11 - SD (7-9)
Week 12 - @ KC (2-14)
Week 13 - TB (7-9)
Week 14 - @ OAK (4-12)
Week 15 - @ BAL (10-6)
Week 16 - CLE (5-11)
Week 17 - KC (2-14)

The teams they beat combined to go 80-128 (.385)

Now look at who the Falcons beat.

Week 1 - @ KC (2-14)
Week 2 - DEN (13-3)
Week 3 - @ SD (7-9)
Week 4 - CAR (7-9)
Week 5 - @ WAS (10-6)
Week 6 - OAK (4-12)
Week 8 - @ PHI (4-12)
Week 9 - DAL (8-8)
Week 11 - ARI (5-11)
Week 12 - @ TB (7-9)
Week 13 - NO (7-9)
Week 15 - NYG (9-7)
Week 16 - @ DET (4-12)

The teams they beat combined to go 87-121 (.418)

So the teams the Falcons beat combined for a better record than the teams the Broncos beat. Yet all the media ever does is bash the Falcons for playing the "weakest" schedule in the NFL and the Broncos schedule never gets mentioned.

[Dardan]

(12-31-2012 11:15 AM)Jesus Wrote:  John Clayton on the NFC ...

The Falcons were held to their lowest point total of the season Sunday, and six of their home games were decided by six points or fewer. They are the top seed, but they can't be totally confident.

10.Who will make it to the NFC Championship Game? Clearly it's wide open, but I can foresee a championship game between the Falcons and Packers in the Georgia Dome.

...

Some how, Clayton finds significance in an insignificant loss.

I can see a Packers, Falcons NFC championship, too; with a Falcons, Broncos Super Bowl to follow.