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Are Falcons overlooked in discussion of most dangerous playoff teams?
There’s an NFL team that’s hot right now, winners of five of their past six. They’ve scored no fewer than 28 points during that run, and they’ve been held to fewer than 23 once this season. With home field and a first-round bye, they’re in great shape heading into the NFL postseason.
Have you forgotten about the Atlanta Falcons?
They were ranked in top 10 in virtually every significant offensive category prior to Sunday’s 38-32 win over the New Orleans Saints, and the Falcons’ defense has made notable strides since the start of the season. They outscore and outgain teams consistently, and they’re one of only four NFL teams this season with a turnover differential of plus-10 or better.
The Falcons will enter their first postseason game in four seasons with an MVP candidate in Matt Ryan, an elite receiver (whom they’ve won with and without this season) in Julio Jones and a run game that few teams can contain. That alone should make them a team to fear in the upcoming playoff derby, but few seem to be giving them the same respect as other contenders.
The Dallas Cowboys have been the best team in the NFC this season, start to finish. You can understand why they’d be the odds-on favorites to make it to the Super Bowl. But the Seattle Seahawks, perhaps because of their recent playoff success (compared to the Falcons’ lack of it), seem to have more support for a long January run. Perhaps even the New York Giants, who pulled off unexpected title runs in the 2007 and 2011 seasons, have more sentiment for making it to Houston.
That feels a bit strange, even in a defense-prevails league. Yes, the Falcons have room for improvement on that side of things. But even with a head-to-head loss against the Seahawks this season in Seattle, the Falcons’ overall body of work has been stronger, and any game they might play in the postseason would be happening at the Georgia Dome. The Seahawks might have earned one of the best road victories of the season at New England, but they’re 3-4-1 overall away from Seattle with a few bad losses, including one at the Los Angeles Rams and a recent 28-point thrashing by the Packers in Green Bay.
The Falcons might have to beat those Seahawks at home, where they have three losses, but they won’t know their postseason opponent for a week or so. There won’t be any easy matchups for them, but the Falcons also won’t be any easy out. They have an offensive tempo that has proven to be a bear for most teams to contain and yet one that many observers seem willing to overlook. There’s a lot at stake for this team, and it has appeared to be a different outfit in pressure situations, even with a few close, late-game losses. Ryan and the Falcons have delivered more than they have not this season.
Don’t forget about them in what should be a fascinating NFC side of the ledger.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!
