The Atlanta Falcons Are Playoff Bound!

by Dave the Falconer on Dec 22, 2008 11:44 AM EST in Editorial Comment 14 comments

I lost power after the game last night, so this is coming on a bit late.

Today is a day to celebrate. Whether you think we can pull off a higher seeding is irrelevant, at least for the whole of Monday. What you need to do today is celebrate the fact that the Falcons--our Falcons--have just completed a historic run to the playoffs. I've rarely been more proud of a team I root for than I have this year, and it's been a truly memorable season.

You really have to give credit to almost every facet of the team. The coaching has been mostly excellent, Matt Ryan has put the team on his shoulders, Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood have been beastly, Roddy White and the emerging Mike Jenkins have been a huge help, the offensive line has played above expectations, the defense has bent but hasn't broken often, and Jason Elam and Michael Koenen have been steady all season. It's been a truly fantastic team effort.

Consider this an open thread for all things playoffs. Revel, discuss, or just cheer your way through a Monday. I'll have a complete wrapup up tonight or tomorrow morning.

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Great season

I hope everyone appreciates the historical importance of what we’re seeing. No Falcons team has ever made the playoffs after a 4-win season, what an unexpected and happy holiday gift for us fans!

Playoffs aside, I fervently hope that Dimitroff and Smitty have finally got us on track to be a competitive franchise not just for one season, but for years to come. THAT would be the history-making gift that keeps on giving. Go Falcons and happy holidays to you all.

by tom slick on Dec 22, 2008 12:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Incredible

Yesterday was the first time in a LOOONG time that my dad and I watched a Falcons game and got as excited as we do with college games.

I just can’t believe this turn around. I have so much gratitude to give to this team. I want to chisel a lifesize statue of Abraham wrestling a shark. My first son may very well be named either Matt or Ryan if things go much better.

I’m reminded of the Jerry Reed song:
Weeee’re playoffs bound
Loaded up and truckin
We done did what they said can’t be done

I’m pretty sure that’s how it went.

by Cerbera on Dec 22, 2008 12:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

tear

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Dec 22, 2008 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What a year...

its normally a rough go of it as a Falcons fan, but this year has made all the agony worth it!

" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln

by tapate50 on Dec 22, 2008 1:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yep it all has me a little bit choked up, this is completely unreal, and the fact that the possibility of a first round bye still looms out there is mindblowing. Last week some naysayers in my family predicted a Dallas win and Atlanta loss (I know, I was befuddled by such blasphemy) so that the game next Sunday against the Rams would be meaningless for the playoffs. While it’s certainly not meaningless, amazingly we turned the table on that prediction and we are already in before the game next Sunday. Unbelievable, awesome, awesomely unbelievably awesome.

My Music Blog: DBF

by BVaz on Dec 22, 2008 4:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

next week / 1st round

As of now, we play the dastardly arizona cardinals led by Kurt “grocery bagging, jesus lovin” Warner. I’d obviously prefer a first round bye, but as far as matchups go, I can’t see one that would be better for us. The cardinals look awful lately, they cannot run the ball at all, and their pass blocking has slipped a bit. If next weekends results don’t result in us getting a bye, I’d be very happy facing the Cardinals in round 1.

by Hamburger on Dec 22, 2008 4:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Shock the World!

What a season! Go Birds!

by gte749h on Dec 22, 2008 4:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I hope smitty takes next week seriously.....

because alot of good things happen if we win…but if we lose, and the Cowboys win, we have to go bsck to MIN and win at their place again. Id much rather go to Arizona or have a bye.

by BabyGoatEater on Dec 22, 2008 9:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

lets keep the 5 seed

so i can go watch our falcons crush the cards

by phoenix falcoholic on Dec 23, 2008 12:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

If you're there

Feel free to report back with what you saw. Hopefully a win, of course.

by Dave the Falconer on Dec 23, 2008 10:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

October 17th

I started talking Playoffs and PreGamewithPabst made fun of me even mentioning the playoffs. I have been seeing this in my crystal ball for months. But i am all ajitter with the way this season has been bringing us to this point. The tea leaves told me early that this was gonna be the year to be excited for the future of OUR team. When i rolled the bones they told me we could sink the Vikings and be the story of the year. A couple weeks ago i made another prediction and I would love to see it happen too. The start of a 7 game winning streak. 2 so far 5 more to go.
Now to be serious we really need to be more consistant. Matt’s numbers have fallen over the last few weeks and i am worried he is trying too hard to carry this team. Turner isn’t Burning the defenses lately and we got lucky that AP didn’t want to hold onto the ball sunday. I think the Falcons have been letting the Press get to their heads and they are now playing “Not to lose” instead of playing to win.
I hope that with a relatively easy win this week against the Rams we get back to the kind of fired up team we were a month ago. We need to enter the playoffs with a decisive victory. We don’t want to crawl into the playoffs and hope for the best.

Falcons 44/ Rams 10

by Funballad on Dec 23, 2008 7:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs