A Probing Probe Into The Atlanta Falcons Schedule
by Dave the Falconer
on Nov 12, 2008 8:00 AM EST
in Editorial
7 comments
This is the kind of hard-hitting journalism that will win me a Nobel Prize.
After looking over your responses to my discussion post yesterday, it's become apparent that most of you think we're going to be 10-6 at the minimum. If you had told me that a group of diehard Falcon fans would predict that outcome this season, I would've backed away from you slowly while armed men put you in a straitjacket.
I really can't stop marveling at how crazy this season really has been. No matter how many wins we muster from here on out, I'm going to consider this season a success. The greedy bastard in me wants us to roll to 13-3, but I've gotta be semi-realistic.
For my investigative reporting into the schedule, check after the jump.
W, Denver Broncos: Maybe I'm just being a ridiculous homer here, but I think this one is extremely winnable. The Broncos can't stop a decent offense with a police blockade and spike traps, so the team should roll up the yardage against them. The real question is whether the Falcons will be able to stop one of the best passing games in the league. If they play coverage-heavy and force the Broncos to turn to their injury-decimated running backs, I think they could make this one look like the Saints game all over again.
L, Carolina Panthers: I'm sorry, but I just can't pick the Falcons in this one. I know how horrible Delhombre and the team in general looked against the Raiders, but I think they were looking past that team in a major way. They're unlikely to do the same with us. The Panthers have a good secondary, a very good pass rush and a potent enough offense to make this a win. I think it'll be close, but I still think the Falcons will come up short here.
W, San Diego Chargers: I'm baffled by the number of people who think the Chargers are going to eat us for breakfast. The same Chargers who have a suddenly ancient LaDanian Tomlinson? The same ones who have one of the league's most putrid secondaries? I don't think so. There's always the possibility that the Chargers will pull their act together, but their record is a pretty good reflection of their level of play and I think the Falcons will handle their business.
W, New Orleans Saints: I know it's a home game for the Saints, but I think even the guys at Canal Street Chronicles will be surprised if they're not a pile of flaming wreckage at that point. The Saints have proved they can get it done on offense, but I don't see their defense improving and the Falcons will come up with some new looks on D. Should be a closer game, but I'd still expect a win.
L, Tampa Bay Bucs: This one is downright offensive to my senses. I can't shake the fact that the Bucs--those sneaky, no good, offensively challenged nitwits--will somehow do just enough to conquer the Falcons. Their defense is still very good, but the real story here is the maddening way they manage to put just enough points on the board. Cadillac Williams may also be back and at full strength, which is very bad news for the Falcons' D. No matter what anyone tells you, the Caddy is better than Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn.
L, Minnesota Vikings: Between Adrian Peterson and one of the league's best run defenses, I can see this actually being the most difficult game the Falcons face. They're no slouches in coverage, which means that if Turner does his classic disappearing act against their potent front seven, Ryan will be called upon to lift a very heavy burden. Add in a somehow competent passing attack led by noted mountain goat Gus Frerotte and you've got a recipe for a very tough contest.
W, St. Louis Rams: The Rams have Steven Jackson at running back and Donnie Avery at wide receiver. Beyond that, they have such a huge collection of scrubs that you'd swear you were watching a medical drama play out on the field. The Falcons can't afford to look past anybody, but the Rams are truly atrocious.
Predicted Record: 10-6
Final Thoughts: Looks like we're all ending up in pretty much the same place, eh? If the Falcons can get to 10-6, the imploding NFC East may give them a chance to grab a wildcard even if Tampa Bay holds out for second place in the division. I'm not guaranteeing a playoff berth, but right now things look pretty good for our beloved Dirty Birds.
Oh, and GO FALCONS!
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Call me crazy but
I will recap from the other thread of my picks
DEN – W
CAR – W
@SD – W
@NO – W
TB – W
@MIN – L
STL – W
I think it is fair to pick against us in the carolina and tampa games but the Dome has been serious home-cooking for us so far and I think we have gotten way better since the last time we played those teams, and at Tampa we were still kind of in the game until Graham’s TD run, and Carolina is the only game we really got knocked out of all year. The two wins I have here that are most in jeopardy I think are Carolina and San Diego (just because it’s a road game). But due to Peterson and being on the road at Minnesota I think that is where we stumble, but I throw out there 12-4 right now. Go Falcons.
by BVaz on
Nov 12, 2008 9:41 AM EST
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Interesting
I see 3 wins, 2 losses, and 2 toss ups. That means we’re either +3 or +5 in the win column. Either way, we’re good if we can take 1 from either Tampa or Carolina. That should be enough to get at least 2nd in the division, which will help in leaps and bounds with the wildcard.
by blackertai on
Nov 12, 2008 10:08 AM EST
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Honestly
20 wins isn’t that ridiculous.
Clearly, Matt Ryan has made a deal with the Devil to be doing this well in his rookie year.
Once we’ve capped off the season with that 13th win — Note that it would be win THIRTEEN — Satan would rise from somewhere around the Georgia State campus and burn his way to the Dome, eager to collect his due.
From there, the Falcons would have to do battle with the assembled hordes of Beelzebub. And, of course, the only way to reject the Dark Master is to invoke some serious holiness. And how many more wins would we need to get to twenty? SEVEN. Also, most people don’t know that John Abraham is the seventh son of a seventh son, so when he delivers a spine-crushing sack to Hitler (or Dahmer, depending on if the Prince of Darkness wants to go with a mobile QB) as time expires, even Overlord Goodell will be impressed and grant us the appropriate 7 wins.
Yep. Tooootally within reach.
(I’m with you, Dave. 10-6)
by Cerbera on
Nov 12, 2008 11:33 AM EST
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I think what I would enjoy most
Would be John Abraham breaking the Devil’s leg like Joe Theismann. I think that’s in the Bible somewhere.
by Dave the Falconer on
Nov 12, 2008 11:46 AM EST
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The Book of Lawrence, chapter 19:88.
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by tlozwarlock on
Nov 12, 2008 1:13 PM EST
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Our scripture reading for today...
And God said unto Lawrence, “Show that pansy who’s boss.”
And it was good.
by Cerbera on
Nov 12, 2008 2:58 PM EST
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Really?
You don’t think the Falcons have regrouped enough to at least take Carolina OR the Bucs?
Here’s the way I see the rest of the season:
DEN – W
CAR – W
@SD – W
@NO – L
TB – W
@MIN – L
STL – W
Denver might be a tough one this weekend — I keep finding myself expecting the bubble to burst at any time, but at the same time, these Falcons keep seeming to be prepared for games.
I personally think the Falcons are going to OWN Carolina the next time around.
I kind of wonder if the Birds have it in them to pummel the Chargers at SD. I think maybe.
NO, though, will be a different game in NO — much closer, and I think Brees & Bush put together enough game changing plays to pull it off.
Tampa game’s going to be a war this time around. The game at Tampa is actually what fully had me drinking the Kool-Aid that Smith & Ryan were serving. Ryan grew up a LOT in that game, and Smith won the team over with his fiery command over the officials. No way the Falcons let this one go.
In my mind’s eye, I see the Falcons winning at the purple legion, but I keep having to check my reality. That’s why I tend to think the Birds take EITHER SD or Minn but not both — I just can’t build myself up quite like that.
Rams ought to be similar to the last time the Falcons won a playoff game (against the Rams).
by Mustard on
Nov 12, 2008 1:15 PM EST
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