So that happened.
The Green Bay Packers pulled off a close game against a tough Pittsburgh Steelers team, putting the franchise back on the NFL map in a big way. While it was a good victory for them, obviously as Falcons fans we're generally indifferent at best to who wins the Super Bowl. What's more worrisome for our purposes is the manner in which they won.
The Packers are one of the NFL's youngest teams and were, in 2010, one of the most banged-up. A healthy, young, talented team in the NFC is going to be a perpetual roadblock for the Falcons, assuming they can manage their cap wisely enough to keep it all together. We could be looking at a burgeoning rivalry between the Packers and Falcons, with the Falcons hopefully getting revenge by crushing the Pack on their way to the Super Bowl in 2012.
Congratulations to the Packers. The Falcons will get 'em next season.