Reality Check

by kman_722 on Jan 15, 2012 8:11 PM EST

The emotions I experienced this weekend watching the highly lauded Saints and Packers fall to their playoff foes were in this order:

Shock
Disbelief
Maniacal Glee
Even More Shock and Disbelief
Unadulterated Joy
Serenity

For us Falcons fan, the schadenfreude of watching the evil Saints and the smelly Packers lose playoff games they were supposed to cruise through was wonderful and has helped seal the wound of our embarrassing first round exit. But these losses should also represent something else: a reality check on the state of the Falcons.

The grumblings over the hiring of Dirk Koetter only confirmed that Falcons fans have been feeling a little jealous about the weapons our NFC rivals throw out there. We want to win like the Saints and Packers. We want Matt Ryan to amass 5,000 yards of passing by slinging the ball around to Roddy, Harry, and Julio like Rodgers and Brees do to their receivers. We want to hang half a hundred on opponents and listen to Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden salivate over our offensive scheme. We don't want some no name offensive coordinator to tweak us, we want to blow it up and install Sean Payton's and Mike McCarthy's offense. But guess what? We just watched two of the best offensive teams in NFL history lose demonstrably to offenses and defenses none of us covet.

I'm as guilty as anyone at looking across the fence and feeling the pangs of jealousy. But I feel better about our team than I have in the past year, because the Giants and Niners just proved that solid, well-coached teams win games. We have a quarterback light years beyond Alex Smith and receiver set far superior to what Eli Manning works with. We have great defensive pieces just waiting to be put in the right position. The new coordinators coming in aren't guaranteed to be successful, but I feel confident that this team doesn't need a huge improvement to hit the next level, just some steady thinking and execution when it matters. This weekend proved that any team can lose and any team can win. I look forward to going into next year with our Falcons, not a copycat version of some other team.

How about you Falcoholics? How did you feel about the games this weekend? Do you feel better about the Birds' chances next season, or are you still feeling like we have a long way to go?

This FanPost was written by one of The Falcoholic's talented readers. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Falcoholic.

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Comments

True, to an extent

I agree that the idea of having the big scoring offense does not necessarily equate to championships. I think it takes a smart blend of a good offense that can both score quickly AND eat the clock and a good defense that can be disruptive.

The other thing it takes is coaches who know how to win big games. And, though I love what he’s done for the franchise, Smitty has not yet won a big game. 2012 will be the year for him to prove that he can, and that MM and BVG were indeed the culprits behind our post-season stagnation.

But you’re right – the losses by these two offensive juggernauts should serve as a reminder that to win the big ones, you need more than a 5000 yard passer.

by The DW on Jan 15, 2012 8:20 PM EST reply actions

Other than the Patriots..

every team going to the AFC/NFC championships this year has a defense with a killer instinct and not quite sure if the Patriots would be going if they faced anyone other than the debacle from Denver.

by Falcons Fan in WA on Jan 15, 2012 8:33 PM EST reply actions

Anything can happen

I think we have the pieces in place to compete. Anyone who says we are definitely not going to win the Super Bowl next year is kidding themselves just as much as those who say we are a lock. But I am eternally hopeful, and this hire and this horrible playoff exit and this season has not changed that. I guess that’s fandom for you.

by orion12 on Jan 15, 2012 10:15 PM EST reply actions

I do have to agree with one thing...

I really did love seeing both the Saints and the Packers lose….made me smile all weekend.

by KJinCton on Jan 15, 2012 10:45 PM EST reply actions

call me Anal but...

Not that kinda “anal.” I may be looking at the wrong part of this article but honestly I believe that Eli Manning has a better corp of receiver around him than we do: Nicks, Cruz, Manningham. ‘Maybe’ they aren’t better than ours but honestly they are way more productive and efficient then our corp for the moment. Yeah i know i just picked something to fuss about.

by that_falcon_fan on Jan 16, 2012 1:32 AM EST reply actions