A Very Falcoholic Discussion: Adding a Goal to the List

by Adam Schultz on Aug 13, 2009 8:00 AM EDT in Editorial

We all know the Falcons will be looking for their first ever back-to-back winning seasons this year. While this may seem like something small that many other teams have long-since accomplished, for us it's a pretty big deal. It could be the beginning of a long, bright future for our beloved birds.

All this talk about reaching that one crucial goal has gotten me interested in finding out what other things the Falcons have never accomplished. Here's a small listing:

No Super Bowl Wins
No League MVPs
No Defensive Players of the Year
No Offensive Players of the Year

It could be argued that, ideally, a SB win would bring at least one of those other accomplisments with it. A Super Bowl is, alas, something I'm not prepared to bank on. A good many of us are simply wanting that first ever consecutive winning season. Anything else would simply be icing on the cake. Would I mind having a player named League MVP or Offensive/Defensive player of the year without winning in the playoffs? You bet. Would I be excited if we went to the Super Bowl and actually won? I'd be jumping from roof to roof shouting it to the world! But I'm semi-realistic. That has about as much chance happening this year with our schedule as does me suddenly taking up balet dancing. Slim to none.

This does not mean that we are without an amazing accomplishment to aim for this season that doesn't involve finally earning back-to-back winning seasons. No, this goal I've set is something a little more tricky and a lot harder to earn.

While talking with Dave the other night, I wondered whether or not the Falcons have ever won all six NFC South games since the division was created in 2002. Dave, ever the Fearless Leader, intoned "Sounds like a post right there, my friend." Two hours of research later and I had the results of the query: no, the Falcons have never won all six NFC South games. Such a task would be a tall order, especially in a division as talented and, moreover, unpredictable as the NFC South. I feel it's certainly a goal we can add to the list this year.

With all of our offensive firepower, we could very well end up sweeping our division rivals for the first time ever. Can we do it? I think we certainly have a chance, especially if our defense performs better than expected. What say you, dear reader?

PS. Beneath the jump sits our year-by-year (since 2002) rival win/loss records. You know, just to give you a FYI.

2002	Rival	Record
	CAR	2-0
	TB	0-2
	NO	2-0
2003	Rival	Record
	CAR	1-1
	TB	1-1
	NO	0-2
2004	Rival	Record
	CAR	2-0
	TB	1-1
	NO	1-1
2005	Rival	Record
	CAR	0-2
	TB	0-2
	NO	2-0
2006	Rival	Record
	CAR	1-1
	TB	2-0
	NO	0-2
2007	Rival	Record
	CAR	1-1
	TB	0-2
	NO	0-2
2008	Rival	Record
	CAR	1-1
	TB	1-1
	NO	1-1

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Comments

Don't give up yet

On that Super Bowl. Of course it’s a slim chance, but it’s definitely not “none”. Arizona obviously didn’t win last year, but they were a deeply flawed team and they had the lead in the 4th Quarter. The Giants before that, Pittsburgh before that… Just make it back to the playoffs, then anybody has a shot at it.

And as for going undefeated in the division? That would certainly put the team back in the playoffs, but I don’t know if they can pull it off. Tough task.

2002 was fairly close, beating 7-9 Carolina twice (by a combined score of 71-0!!), 9-7 New Orleans twice, but lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Bucs twice…

By the way, some of those cells say 1-2, and I’m not sure if that means 1-1 or 0-2 (I think at least most of them should be 1-1).

by orang3b on Aug 13, 2009 8:49 AM EDT reply actions

Good catch. I should just send you this stuff before I post it

You have opinions. Share them.

by Adam Schultz on Aug 13, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

The steelers had a great D, but their offensive line was one of the worst in football. I really think we just need to get to the playoffs, and we’ll have a good shot at it.

Its true. I'm a Falcoholic! I just can't live without Falcohol!

by phoenix falcoholic on Aug 13, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

How about

Getting a Falcon in to the HOF, I don’t think we have one do we?

"And I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning striding behind you or your shadow at evening rising to meet you; I will show you fear in a handful of dust."
T.S. Eliot "The Wasteland"

by YoungWolf on Aug 13, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Nope, but Claude Humphrey has made the short senior list.

Which means he will inevitably get in.

You have opinions. Share them.

by Adam Schultz on Aug 13, 2009 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Whenever

He gets in, it will be long overdue.

by orang3b on Aug 13, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

That's what I thought of immediately...

I think Deion has said he’d go in as a Falcon, just to be the first.

Martians Attacking Indianapolis

by joshmassey on Aug 16, 2009 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Looking at those numbers

And looking at the honors we’ve never won, it strikes me that our talent level and our level of respect have never been higher than they are right now. If we’re going to pull any of those off, it’s going to happen in the next five-to-ten years.

by Dave Choate on Aug 13, 2009 11:20 AM EDT reply actions

right now it looks like

we’ll be able to run all over Carolina in week 2… not sure how we will fair come week 10 when we have to face them and they might have finally had the opportunity to develop Kemo’s replacement.

I don’t think we’ll be beating New Orleans at their home.

I’ll be completely shocked if we don’t sweep the Bucs… but the Falcons and Miami surprised me last season, and this is the NFL… anything is possible.

Technically 5-1 in the division will be our best record since 2002. I’d be more than giddy about that. Also, there is a chance, if the Falcons seal the the division before week 17 we won’t be playing our starters against Tampa Bay.

know what you believe in and why you believe in it

by MentallyMIA on Aug 13, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions

I think, with the way Tampa Bay will be this year,

Our starters aren’t needed to beat them.

Now, I’ll eagerly await the counter-argument from a roving Buc ’Em member.

You have opinions. Share them.

by Adam Schultz on Aug 13, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

We can scratch one off the list

~~No Offensive Rookie of the Year~~

Its true. I'm a Falcoholic! I just can't live without Falcohol!

by phoenix falcoholic on Aug 13, 2009 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

Super Bowl, Division, Gravy

Make no mistake about it, this will be a very tough season for the Falcons. AFC East, NFC East, NFC South x 2. It would be great to win the division. It would be awesome to sweep division play. It would be freaking incredible if they won the big game. But none of this matters until the Dirty Birds reach 9 wins this season.

I wouldn’t count out the Falcons making some big waves this season. There chances are definitely not none. Could be slim, maybe better. Who knows, maybe that touch schedule won’t matter and they’ll still win. But it is a must to finish the regular season with a winning record.

by Chris of Falcons FanCast on Aug 13, 2009 12:49 PM EDT reply actions

I didn't say none. I said slim-to-none.

But who knows, I may actually have to break out those ballet shoes after all.

Welcome to the site!

You have opinions. Share them.

by Adam Schultz on Aug 13, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

If we win the division, which we easily can...

… our hard schedule will HELP us in the playoffs.

Martians Attacking Indianapolis

by joshmassey on Aug 16, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions

don't really care so much

for the individual awards myself, i think it would be great for the franchise but MVPs, OPY or DPY don’t really concern me. Back-to-back winning season and making it to the playoffs are my main concerns. After that it would be pro bowlers cause i love to watch “my guys” play in hawaii. Its past due for Humphrey in the HOF.

by gritzblitz on Aug 13, 2009 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

You mean

Miami…

by orang3b on Aug 13, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

why haven't I read that article before?!?

let’s say that they DO decide to have the probowl 1 week before the superbowl.

Let’s say that Tony Gonzalez, Michael Turner, Roddy White, and Matt Ryan (if TG and White make it, I’m sure so will Matt Ryan) all make it to the Pro Bowl. That means they’ll be playing an extra game before the Super Bowl.

I don’t like that one bit.

I also predict that Abraham and Babs will see the Pro Bowl this season.

know what you believe in and why you believe in it

by MentallyMIA on Aug 13, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm guessing

players on super bowl teams won’t play in the pro bowl

by zooker on Aug 13, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

forgot all about that

by gritzblitz on Aug 13, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions

prediction

very tough to sweep the division, but yeah, it’s possible and wouldn’t be shocking. my best prediction right now would be 4-2. sweep Tampa Bay, split with NO and Carolina. However, i think 5-1 is very doable… the game that worries me most is at NO. But we did almost win their last year (and really should have won that game), and i think we’re a better team this year, so that’s by no means an unwinnable game.

by the way, concerning all this talk about the schedule, it’s obviously really tough… but when i look at it, the only game that absolutely terrifies me is week 3 at NE. other than that, every other team on there looks beatable. what worries me more than anything is just whether our team will start to wear down a little bit playing that many good teams in a row. but on a game-by-game basis, i think the Falcons should be okay.

by cheshire falcon on Aug 13, 2009 2:06 PM EDT reply actions

Primetime?

I wonder when/if Deion Sanders gets nominated for HOFwhat team he will choose to go into the hall with?

by YoungWolf on Aug 13, 2009 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

That's baseball

Where they choose which cap the bust will wear. You don’t “go into the hall” with a certain team in the PFHOF. They just list all the teams the guy has played for. For instance, on their website, Eric Dickerson and Tommy McDonald are listed under the Falcons, even though they each only played one season in Atlanta. Another example: Johnny Unitas is listed under both the Colts and San Diego (where he played one year). Obviously, he’s a Colt (the names are in Bold under the franchise where they spent the majority of their careers).

by orang3b on Aug 13, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

If we sweep the division

We should be able to win the superbowl

by FLA_Falcon on Aug 13, 2009 3:09 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I may catch flak for this

While I would love to go deep in the playoffs, win a Super Bowl, and be considered the “bestest team of bestest football that evar lived”, I gotta tell you, I’ll be really easy to please this year.

9-7.

Know how many teams do not have back-to-back winning seasons in the NFL right now?

3. Us, the Panthers, and the Texans.

I want us off that list, more than anything. And I believe Matt Ryan can do it.

Yeah, a Super Bowl would be nice. The NFC Championship game would be spectacular, and I would cheer just as loud as anyone.

“But BigManChili, what if we were 8-7 going into Week 17, and we won that game but lost the Wild Card spot to the 10-6 Giants?” I’d still be happy. It would be a successful season to me. Disappointing finish, yes. Any season that doesn’t win with a victory in the Super Bowl is a disappointing finish. But it would still be a successful season.

by BigManChili on Aug 13, 2009 7:05 PM EDT reply actions

Vick Signed

a 2 year deal with the Eagles. His agent Joel Segal confirmed it. Oh yes Falcoholics Vick will be back in the Dome this year. December 6th. Can’t wait to boooo his a$$.

by gritzblitz on Aug 13, 2009 9:01 PM EDT reply actions

Dec 6th? Wow could set up some seriously fireworks if both teams playoff caliber this year. I’ve got my tickets.

by Jon Cushman on Aug 13, 2009 9:50 PM EDT reply actions

BEATING THE EAGLES

Not only is Vick playing for them now, we need payback after last year. That place will be rockin’ Dec 6th.

"If you can’t get excited for Ryan throwing to Gonzalez, you’re either a robot or clinically dead. Or you’re a zombie robot, which is just plain awesome."
Dave the Falconer

by Pregame with Pabst on Aug 14, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

Playoffs

I think the winning season would be amazing and incredible, but how about making it back to the playoffs this year. As several peeps have said anything can happen in the ‘offs (see Arizona) so I think goal #1 for us is make it back to the playoffs. That would also mean a winning season so that would be taken care of, and you can’t get to the super bowl if you aren’t in the playoffs. We got the talent, we got the skill, let’s get back into those playoffs.

My Music Blog: DBF

by BVaz on Aug 14, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions