Much is made of Falcons Home Record since 2008 - let's look closer....

[I Am The Truth]

Some people have clearly overreacted to what I said...and they didn't fully understand what I was saying.

My point was that, in essence, g-dawg was right...we have beat a bunch of largely average teams at home. We have not been steamrolling teams like the Eagles, Colts, Saints, etc...on our turf. Largely because we just haven't faced that many in the Matty Ice Era.

To that end, the Ravens are a good measuring stick because they are a good team and are widely regarded as such. 17-1 against ANYONE at home is amazing, but beating the Ravens on our turf will go a long way in earning respect around the league as a team that can truly compete against top teams.

And no TonyG and WDE, I want to beat all the teams we can...but we also need to be able to hang with and periodically beat the top teams as well (like we did the Saints). Most teams (sans the bottom-feeders) can beat "shitty teams." Good to elite teams can beat them AND other good teams a good bit of the time. That's why the Ravens are a good test.

[Radical]

The Ravens, who everyone believes in the golden standard for "elite" in this league have close wins against crap teams and losses against crap teams.

If people utilized the same microscope they have for the Falcons on other teams in the league, you'd probably think we were going to face the 08 Detroit Lions every week.

The over analyzation and ridiculous break downs that suggest for one reason or another why were aren't yet "elite" or we're just "above average" and need to prove it against a team with the same record as our's is retarded. The 16 game NFL schedule isn't about "statement wins", "respect", and "proving" anything. It is only about winning enough to get to the play-offs, and hopefully making it to the Superbowl.

The 18-1 Patriots beat up on a lot of cup cake teams. The Superbowl Champion Giants were a wreck, couldn't win at home, and stumbled in as a wild-card team with a loss. The hapless Cardinals who had gotton blown out 47-7 by the Patriots, finished the season 9-7, walked in as a division winner that most everyone thought should have been barred from the play-offs in favor of the Patriots who missed it going 11-5(2nd team in NFL history to do so). What do they do? Make it to the Superbowl.

In the end, here's the deal. There isn't a stat for luck, a stat for strength of schedule, a stat for how "close" the games were, a respect stat, a "how much do you deserve it" stat, or any of these other ridiculous factors. All that people remember is the team that won the Lombardi, and the teams that lost fade into memory and the record archives.

We lose this game, we're 6-3, and still own division lead. Will we have additional "respect" or "media attention"? Nope. Will it suck that we lost? Hell yeah, I hate to see my team lose. Will this be the game that decides whether or not we can win the Superbowl? Not even close. You don't know that until you've either be barred from playing your 17th, 18th, 19th, and maybe even 20th game or you lose in the play-offs.

So please, quit hyping this game up as more than it really is. Honestly, it is probably the most "meaningless" game for us on our schedule. No team has ever gotton into the play-offs by losing more than winning, but no team has ever been barred from the play-offs because they lost that big game on national television that would have earned them a bunch of "respect".

[FullMetalFalcon23]

(11-11-2010 07:08 AM)Radical Wrote:  The Ravens, who everyone believes in the golden standard for "elite" in this league have close wins against crap teams and losses against crap teams.

If people utilized the same microscope they have for the Falcons on other teams in the league, you'd probably think we were going to face the 08 Detroit Lions every week.

The over analyzation and ridiculous break downs that suggest for one reason or another why were aren't yet "elite" or we're just "above average" and need to prove it against a team with the same record as our's is retarded. The 16 game NFL schedule isn't about "statement wins", "respect", and "proving" anything. It is only about winning enough to get to the play-offs, and hopefully making it to the Superbowl.

The 18-1 Patriots beat up on a lot of cup cake teams. The Superbowl Champion Giants were a wreck, couldn't win at home, and stumbled in as a wild-card team with a loss. The hapless Cardinals who had gotton blown out 47-7 by the Patriots, finished the season 9-7, walked in as a division winner that most everyone thought should have been barred from the play-offs in favor of the Patriots who missed it going 11-5(2nd team in NFL history to do so). What do they do? Make it to the Superbowl.

In the end, here's the deal. There isn't a stat for luck, a stat for strength of schedule, a stat for how "close" the games were, a respect stat, a "how much do you deserve it" stat, or any of these other ridiculous factors. All that people remember is the team that won the Lombardi, and the teams that lost fade into memory and the record archives.

We lose this game, we're 6-3, and still own division lead. Will we have additional "respect" or "media attention"? Nope. Will it suck that we lost? Hell yeah, I hate to see my team lose. Will this be the game that decides whether or not we can win the Superbowl? Not even close. You don't know that until you've either be barred from playing your 17th, 18th, 19th, and maybe even 20th game or you lose in the play-offs.

So please, quit hyping this game up as more than it really is. Honestly, it is probably the most "meaningless" game for us on our schedule. No team has ever gotton into the play-offs by losing more than winning, but no team has ever been barred from the play-offs because they lost that big game on national television that would have earned them a bunch of "respect".

That thing you did there.... talking sense.... STOP IT!! j/k

[Peyton]

(11-11-2010 07:08 AM)Radical Wrote:  The 18-1 Patriots beat up on a lot of cup cake teams. The Superbowl Champion Giants were a wreck, couldn't win at home, and stumbled in as a wild-card team with a loss. The hapless Cardinals who had gotton blown out 47-7 by the Patriots, finished the season 9-7, walked in as a division winner that most everyone thought should have been barred from the play-offs in favor of the Patriots who missed it going 11-5(2nd team in NFL history to do so). What do they do? Make it to the Superbowl.

You make a lot of good points, but I disagree with you that the game is any type of "meaningless".

It's true that in this age of parity, strange shit happens in the playoffs. Still last, year, NO and Indy looked like Super Bowl teams for the entire season......and at the end of the season....they met in the Super Bowl. But I hear ya, anything can happen in the playoffs.

I saw a special on the 2001 Patriots recently, and Ty Law was talking about how the most important game the team played all year was a home loss to the Rams 24-17. He said "we said to ourselves "if this team is the best team in the league, we are going to be OK."

Your points about the Ravens are valid, but they are much more talented than most of the teams the Falcons have played so far, and they are a tough footballl team. It matters what happens in this game.

It especially matters because the Rams are undefeated at home and the Packers are becoming the team everybody thought they would be.

A lot of Falcons fans are demanding respect for the squad right now. It will feel a little silly if the Falcons are 6-5 in a couple of weeks.

[g-dawg]

(11-11-2010 12:05 AM)I Am The Truth Wrote:  Some people have clearly overreacted to what I said...and they didn't fully understand what I was saying.

My point was that, in essence, g-dawg was right...we have beat a bunch of largely average teams at home. We have not been steamrolling teams like the Eagles, Colts, Saints, etc...on our turf. Largely because we just haven't faced that many in the Matty Ice Era.

To that end, the Ravens are a good measuring stick because they are a good team and are widely regarded as such. 17-1 against ANYONE at home is amazing, but beating the Ravens on our turf will go a long way in earning respect around the league as a team that can truly compete against top teams.

And no TonyG and WDE, I want to beat all the teams we can...but we also need to be able to hang with and periodically beat the top teams as well (like we did the Saints). Most teams (sans the bottom-feeders) can beat "shitty teams." Good to elite teams can beat them AND other good teams a good bit of the time. That's why the Ravens are a good test.

thank you......a lot of what you said fits exactly with my thoughts and motivations for starting this topic. I'm not diminishing the 17-1 record as meaningless or unimportant - its not - any team in NFL would be thrilled to be 17-1 at home and I am thrilled that Falcons have that kind of home record.

To add to my earlier points about the home schedule being soft - there is a reason that the national media has not fully embraced the Falcons - and that reason is that everytime Falcons build up momentum - they get in game with an upper echelon opponent and get smoked. Last year Falcons lost @ NE, @ Dal, @NYG, vs. Phil. and swept by Saints - granted 2009 was 2009 and an injury riddled year but Falcons were not up to the challenge in any of those games. Played OK against Giants and Saints.

Falcons need an impressive win against a team that is solid on both sides of the ball. Hopefully it starts tonight....I'm sure if it does this thread will get bumped for 5 days - hope it does and I get pilejumped like a team playing 11 Keith Brooking(s) on defense!

[Duff_Man]

Now I have seen it all. Even winning games is bad for our fans.

This is "looking for anything to whine about" at its best.

[bF™]

why leave out our NFC south opponents?


2008:
Detroit 0-16
Kansas City 2-14
Chicago 7-9
New Orleans 8-8
Carolina 12-4
Tampa Bay 9-7
St. Louis 2-14

2009:
Miami 7-9
Carolina 8-8
Chicago 8-8
Washington 4-12
Tampa Bay 4-12
Bills 5-11

2010 YTD:
Arizona 3-5
San Francisco 2-6
Cincinnati 2-6
Tampa Bay 5-3

we have beaten some pretty tough teams at home

[g-dawg]

(11-11-2010 10:04 AM)Duff_Man Wrote:  Now I have seen it all. Even winning games is bad for our fans.

This is "looking for anything to whine about" at its best.

show me where I'm whining, Duff Man....I'm just trying to bring some analysis - not really whining - you don't hear me saying "Falcons suck" or "Falcons bunch of losers", etc, etc. If you think the Falcons home schedule for last 2.5 years has been really good - please make your case - this is a free discussion - just don't give me the simplistic "looking for something to whine about" argument - that is no analysis at all.

I love our team as much as you do. I just don't think Falcons are at the "top tier" just yet. If we win tonight, that will go along way in mind to thinking otherwise. I think Falcons are a "top 10" team in NFL right now. Just not sure we are "top 4" just yet. Luckily most of the top teams now are in the AFC - so that helps.

Would love to see Falcons win tonight.

[Radical]

(11-11-2010 09:07 AM)Peyton Wrote:  You make a lot of good points, but I disagree with you that the game is any type of "meaningless".

It's true that in this age of parity, strange shit happens in the playoffs. Still last, year, NO and Indy looked like Super Bowl teams for the entire season......and at the end of the season....they met in the Super Bowl. But I hear ya, anything can happen in the playoffs.

I saw a special on the 2001 Patriots recently, and Ty Law was talking about how the most important game the team played all year was a home loss to the Rams 24-17. He said "we said to ourselves "if this team is the best team in the league, we are going to be OK."

Your points about the Ravens are valid, but they are much more talented than most of the teams the Falcons have played so far, and they are a tough footballl team. It matters what happens in this game.

It especially matters because the Rams are undefeated at home and the Packers are becoming the team everybody thought they would be.

A lot of Falcons fans are demanding respect for the squad right now. It will feel a little silly if the Falcons are 6-5 in a couple of weeks.

I don't think it is meaningless, just the least important game on our schedule in determining whether or not we make it to the play-offs. If you gave me a choice between winning the Ravens game and losing the Rams game and vice versa, I'd pick the Rams every time. Beating the Rams does more for us in terms of getting to the play-offs than the Ravens game, since they are an AFC opponent.

The whole "respect" thing and lusting after media love too me is pointless frills. Would it be nice to have? Sure. Do I get upset if we don't get it? Nope, because the media doesn't decide who makes the play-offs. Getting to the play-offs is all that matters.

Now, here's something we can all hang our hat on. We're consistent. Not about putting up scores or stats, but when it comes to winning. We don't really ever lose at home, we beat the teams we're supposed to beat, and our only losses have been against two extremely good teams that will most likely be playing on through January in their house.

We haven't had a game where we get shut out at home to an injury ridden team(Jets), we haven't had a loss to a horrible team on the road(Ravens), we haven't been blown up at home against inferior teams(Patriots), etc. That's something you can hang your hat on.

You win at home, and you beat a few teams on the road, you're in the play-offs with a 11-5 record or better. Once you make the play-offs, all bets are off.

[zigg zagg]

(11-10-2010 08:29 PM)g-dawg Wrote:  I don't want to come off as negative or a hater - I'm a HUGE Falcons fans - HUGE!!! However, I feel that I can detach my "homerism" and be objective as well - sometimes when I do this - some will interpret this as being negative.....

Well, critics be damned. Much is made of how fantastic of a home team the Atlanta Falcons really are. Let's look at "Out of NFC South" home opponnents from 2008 - YTD 2010, shall we?

2008:
Detroit (crap team)
Kansas City (crap team)
Chicago (crap team)
Denver (decent team)
St. Louis (crap team)

2009:
Miami (decent team)
Chicago (crap team)
Washington (crap team)
Eagles (good team)
Bills (crap team)

2010 YTD:
Arizona (crap team)
San Francisco (crap team)
Cincinnati (average team)
Tampa Bay (decent team)

I realize all NFL teams have a "chance" to beat you each week - having said that:
For whatever reason through the fluke of scheduling – all of Falcons “tough” games out of division have been on the road and all the “bottom-feeders” we have played at home – this has created a little bit of an illusion of how good the Falcons really are at home – look at the above and tell me the really hard/tough games the Falcons have won at home – no Indy, no NE, no NYG, no NYJ, no Minn, no Dallas, no GB, no Balt., no Pitt., no SD – no nothing!!!!!

Most of Falcons tough out of division games over last 2.5 years have been road games. You gotta admit that is an incredibly "soft" home schedule. Falcons are most undoubtably much better at home - but it will be interesting to me to see how we perform against an upper tier NFL team at home.

Hope Falcons win but I'm not super-confident about this one.

(11-10-2010 09:31 PM)I Am The Truth Wrote:  Dude gets killed for some objectivity and stating some facts? Man please.

Why do some people want to see us beat BAL so badly tomorrow? Many of us want to see if we can beat a bona fide top team...compared to amassing a 6-2 record by largely beating cupcake teams (aside from NO of course).

Homerism is ok, but let's all temper it with some objectivity from time to time.

no shit. the homerism should be reserved for the "official" falcons message board. thats why i stopped posting there when i found this place.