Atlanta Falcons 2016 - Now I can appreciate it.

Devonta Freeman

While Atlanta’s Super Bowl loss still stings I’m definitely ready to move on and look back at the great season the Falcons had this year.  It was a pleasant surprise that ended with Atlanta being oh so close to winning it all.  When the Falcons dropped to 7-4 after a devastating loss to Kansas City I really wondered where the season was headed.  While they were still in good shape for a playoff spot they just didn’t have the feel of a world beater.   Then they won four games to finish 11-5 and you saw things clicking as they landed the number two seed.   In the playoffs they hit their stride and their defense took it to another level.  Their number two seed allowed them to skip the wild card round and play at home against Seattle and Green Bay.   Atlanta looked like a Super Bowl contender in both games just as they did for just over two quarters in the Super Bowl.

Julio Jones

Matt Ryan and the offense were historically good.  He deserved the MVP trophy he brought home, the first in Falcons team history.  Devonta Freeman had another 1,000 yard season on the ground while catching 54 balls.  Tevin Coleman is a great compliment and the running game as a whole averaged an outstanding 4.6 yards per carry.  Julio Jones who has always been a stud was able to show off his stuff on the big stage in the playoffs and Super Bowl.  He is right there with A.J. Green as the premier wide receiver in the league.  I know little guy Taylor Gabriel gets more press but free agent Mohamed Sanu probably made the biggest difference in the receiving corps.  Atlanta needed a number two receiver badly and he gave the Falcons exactly what they were looking for.  Speaking of free agents the biggest pick up was center Alex Mack who solidified the offensive line (which had the same starting five for every game including the playoffs) ensuring plays could develop and provide solid blocking for the running game.

Matt Ryan

There is definitely hope for next year.  While getting back to the Super Bowl is against the odds you have to think this team has what it takes to do it.  The defense will get back their top cornerback in Desmond Trufant who was out after week 9 with injuries.  That side of the ball will have to restock some due to some players expected to leave but nothing that can’t be overcome.  The loss of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan may be the biggest blow to this team.  Steve Sarkisian will replace him but it is hard to tell how that will affect  the offense.  He is definitely an unknown in the NFL.

For now I’ll sit back and appreciate the season that was.  They don’t come around too often  unless your teams is named the Patriots.  Tons of great stuff to like and much to look forward to next season.  Now I just need to order that NFC Championship hoodie…        

     

Falcons Collapse Gives New England Super Bowl Championship

I

am not at a loss for words but I am beyond shocked at how the Atlanta Falcons lost to the New England Patriotsin Super Bowl LI.  I am a Falcons fan but I’m very much grounded and at no time was I comfortable with the score even with a 28-3 lead or even with the score 28-9 early in the fourth quarter.  Did some happy thoughts go through my head?  Oh yes but I know how great Tom Brady can be.  Still Atlanta lost this game in what will go down as an epic collapse by a team who all but had the Super Bowl won when they went up 28-3.

You have to question, and the Falcons and Atlanta fans will forever question, the play calling and play in general in the second half of the game.  With 2:06 left in the third the Patriots scored to make it a 28-9 game and tried a failed onside kick.  The Falcons had the ball at the New England 41 and promptly got it to the 32 yard line.  A holding penalty and sack later they were back to the Atlanta 49 and out of field goal position.  FAIL 

After a Patriots field goal Matt Ryan fumbles on a 3^rd and 1 play from the shotgun.  Why don’t you run the ball?  Your running game has been excellent all day and you only need one yard.  Not committing a turnover and keeping the clock running should be the number one priority.  FAIL 

New England got withing eight points late in the game but Atlanta had managed to get to the Patriot twenty-two yard line thanks to a spectacular catch by Julio Jones.  After a rush for a loss of one Matt Ryan is sacked on the next play.    Then a penalty on the next play moves the ball to the NE 45 before Matt Ryan throws an incomplete pass on third down.  There was 4:40 left in the game when Jones made his catch.  Why don’t you just run three times, kick the field goal and win the game?  Their running game had been great and even if you don’t get any positive yards you have a very makeable field goal chance and have either forced New England to use timeouts or you burn time off the clock.  Heck, just take a knee three times.  Yes a touchdown is great and you want to run your game plan but passing the ball provides more opportunity for bad things to happen.  Know the situation.  FAIL

Again second guessing will haunt the franchise forever.  For a team who had played so well in the playoffs up until the third quarter they did everything wrong after that to allow New England back into that game.  One talking head after the game stated it best by saying (paraphrasing) Atlanta had “horrible game situational awareness” late in the game.  It really was horrible.  You have to look at the play calling and Matt Ryan’s inability to get rid of the ball, taking sacks and his fumble.  In a vacuum those aren’t the only reasons they lost but those are the ones Falcons’ fans are getting ulcers over today.

The defense had a very good pass rush in the first half rushing just four as the announcers pointed out.  So when the pass rush disappeared in the second half and Brady was shredding their secondary why didn’t Atlanta blitz?  You have to try something right?  They weren’t able to stop the passing game late.  Again you have to look at the coaches to help here.  The defense was on the field a ton and I would think they were tired.   So at least try something different scheme wise.  Why just watch them fail time and time again?

New England, to their credit, did everything they had to mount their historic comeback which was not easy mind you.  In doing so they had 93 plays in this game compared to the Falcons 46 while dominating the time of possession with 40:31.  Reference:  teams average between 59 and 75 per game.  While the offense faltered early in the game it came on with a vengeance in the latter stages.  The defense also came through and were able to get to Matt Ryan and held Atlanta to seven points in the second half.  New England deserved to win this game. They were the better team and should get all the credit coming their way.  Brady deserves his title of greatest of all-time and Bill Belichick deserves to be looked at in the same light.  And that Edelman catch?  How?  What?    

I had to type this all out.  It is my therapy.  I have always told folks that if my team makes it to the championship game I’d prefer a blowout no matter what the outcome.  Why suffer?  And last night was the worst case scenario.  The mental terrorism that was that fourth quarter can never be forgotten.  I’ll be fine.  I’m an adult and can deal with this stuff but man why did the Falcons have to make it this tough?  And that Julio Jones catch should be the one seen over and over for years to come but will not be largely forgotten. 

 

Atlanta Falcons beat Green Bay to Advance to Super Bowl LI

What a win for the Atlanta Falcons.  That game was a drubbing from the start and as a Falcons fan I was OK with that.  Atlanta's offense is historically good and it didn't disappoint.  Well the running game wasn't up to par but overall they still dominated.  Their defense is what was surprising.  They were able to put pressure on Rogers and hold at key moments or get a needed turnover until the game was essentially over early in the second half.  It was odd to see Green Bay so off.  Credit goes to the Atlanta defense though injuries also played some part in their issues.  Still the defense did a great job for the second week in a row.  Coupled with their outstanding offense any type of good outing by the defense will give them a shot at winning games.  Is Matt Ryan a stud this year or what?  Wow. 

As a fan I'm beside myself.  This is such a rush.  Been some 19 years since the last time.  Hopefully Atlanta can win it in this, their second Super Bowl appearance.  I really think they can.  That offense can definitely put up points.  If it continues to do so there is no reason the Falcons can't bring home their first NFL championship to Atlanta.  Waiting two weeks for the Super Bowl won't be easy but it will be well worth it.         

Atlatna Falcons Beat Seattle Seahawks

Wow what a huge win as Atlanta defeats Seattle 36-20 in the Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.  The big news is how well their defense played.  You new the offense could score but what you didn't know is what Seattle would do when they had the ball.  After an inconsistent start to the season they had regained their running game and had a good balance coming into this game.  Luckily Atlanta was able to keep the running game in check and Russell Wilson never got in rhythm after some early success.  Matty Ice on the other hand was once again phenomenal.  He and the outstanding running game did what they have all year - score. 

So who do we want next week?  That is a tough question.  Cowboys in Dallas or Green Bay in Atlanta?  To be honest I'd rather travel.  Green Bay, especially if Jordy Nelson is back, is one of the teams who can keep up with Atlanta in a shootout.  And it might be too much to ask the defense to play so well two games in a row.  Dallas on the other hand has a rookie quarterback and a shootout may not be something he is ready for in the playoffs.  No matter what, just being in the NFC Championship game is a huge deal for the Falcons and no matter the opponent I think they have a shot to win it.  I'm not saying they'd be favored but they'd have to be right there.  Great win this week and I can't wait for next weekend. 

Atlanta Falcons Secure #2 Seed and the NFL Playoffs

The Atlanta Falcons capped off an outstanding regular season by beating the New Orleans Saints.  Their 11^th win of the season secured the Falcons the #2 seed in the NFC for the playoffs that includes a first round bye for Atlanta.  At or near the top of the NFL in most offensive categories, this year’s offense was something to be scared of.  Much of the credit has to go to quarterback Matt Ryan and his career year/MVP caliber year.  Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman led a dynamic running game that was 5^th in the league in total yards and yards per rush.  Mahamed Sanu turned out to be a great compliment to Julio Jones who battled injuries but still almost led the league in receiving yards.  The offensive line stepped up this year as it was much better than last year and the key to that was the addition of center Alex Mack.  He really made the difference to an offensive line that struggled in the past. 

The defense, outside of the 2016 NFL sacks leader Vic Beasley, was a disappointment once again though it did keep opponents under 15 points in three  of their last four games.  27^th in points allowed, 25^th in yards, 29^th in first down and it goes on from there.  This doesn’t seem like a great fit to make a deep run in the playoffs but with their offense I think Atlanta can definitely compete with any team in the NFC.  Having their first playoff game at home and a bye week before that to rest and heal will help their chances quite a bit. 

AFC

I like New England to represent the AFC but how do you not?  That said, I definitely think Kansas City and Pittsburgh can beat them on a good day.  New England will only have to worry about Houston or Oakland in the Division Playoff round which makes their path to the AFC Championship an easy one.  Winning it is another thing.  KC is hot but outscoring the Pats could be tough.  Pittsburgh has a good all-around team who should definitely give New England fits.  Again I’ll take the Pats with my eye on the Steelers and Chiefs. 

NFC

The NFC is a little more wide open to me.  I love Atlanta’s chances especially if the Cowboys can get knocked off in the division playoff round.  Don’t discount that idea as Green Bay could be their opponent and Green Bay is definitely capable of beating anyone.  The Giants could also play spoiler as they’ve proven they are tough if not exciting.  Seattle is as good as anyone when playing their best but were inconsistent during the regular season.  Who will they be in the playoffs and can they do it week after week?  Dallas is good across the board.  Can their young talent bring it in the playoffs?  That is probably the only thing that would keep them out of the NFC title game and maybe Super Bowl.  If a defense can rattle them or they get into a shootout you never know what you might get out of a young team.  If I was putting money down, I’d put it on Green Bay to represent the NFC.