Hard Look In The Mirror

[SoCalFalconFan]

I'm not a "sky is falling" kind of fan. I never have been. But we should have some real concerns, as fans of this team, going forward into the playoffs. Here are some of my thoughts. And they've been being formed over the entirety of the season. They aren't an overreaction to the loss today.

1. Although I hate the Falcons naysayers and talking heads, they all appear to be correct about them. And it pains me to say that.

2. This team is disciplined and talented. They are well coached, but they cover a lot of philosophical flaws by making fewer mistakes than most teams. I'm actually beginning to lose faith in Mike Smith's ability to take us the distance. How do you let your team put up a goose egg in the first half of a game against one of the league's worst defenses? Light a fire under some asses... give an inspiring pep talk... use a timeout to kill some of the other team's offensive momentum and give your D a break... SOMETHING! Don't be so entrenched in your own methodology that you forsake opportunities to rally your team in new ways. I also see no sign of a killer instinct on offense, and that, I believe, falls back on Smith, as well.

3. I see nothing... NOTHING that says the Falcons will win a playoff game. If that had been the Giants or the Packers today, we would have lost by 28 points or more. Our lines aren't dominant enough to make a post season run. Period. End of story. Just prepare yourselves now. As much as we all let ourselves believe this could have been the year, we still need a solid draft and FA period to shore up our lines.

Flame away. Slap me in the face and tell me to snap out of it. I've been burned so many times. I can't believe this year will be any different after a game like that. I'm a die hard fan and I hate facing reality sometimes. But that's what this post is; it's me facing reality.

BTW - The Giants are now up 35 - 13 over the Saints, early in the 3rd quarter. Next week is going to be ugly.