The team tied for the finest record in the NFL is arguably the least noticed. The Atlanta Falcons are eager for a shot at a Championship and are proving it in between the lines.
The entire Atlanta Falcons’ team is meshing together to produce success on the field. They’ve won their last six contests. Prior to the past week’s game against the Buccaneers, the Falcons had not turned the ball over in four weeks.
Atlanta’s resumé is on the stronger side. They have beaten the playoff contending Steelers and Packers. The Falcons have also beaten the 7-5 Buccaneers twice.
Quarterback: Matt Ryan has a passer rating of 91.8 for the season. He has discovered ways to win games. Matt Ryan is an established winner at the Falcons’ home stadium, posting a career record of 19-1 there. If the Falcons can achieve home field advantage, all odds point in favor of them reaching their first Super Bowl since the 1998 season.
Running Game: Michael Turner, built like an army tank with tree trunks for legs, is already over 1,000 yards for the season to go along with eight touchdowns. Backup Jason Snelling has found ways to produce coming off the bench. He has carried the ball 74 times for 300 yards.
Receivers: Roddy White’s quickness and agility have left cornerbacks baffled all year. He is bringing in career numbers with 91 receptions, best in the NFL, for 1,140 yards, second in the NFL, through twelve games, along with seven TDs. Tony Gonzalez has attributed his share to the offense with over 500 yards receiving. He is also a valuable veteran presence on the team.
Defense: Atlanta’s defense consists of a mix of average players and veteran pro bowlers. Mike Peterson and John Abraham (leads team with nine sacks) help anchor the defensive squad. They rank eighth in the league in stopping the run.
Coaching: Mike Smith served as defensive assistant coach under Brian Billick’s Ravens when they won the Super Bowl in 2000. He won coach of the year in his first season as Falcons head coach in 2008 going 11-5.
Formula for Success: The team is second in the league in turnover differential with at 10 over, trailing only the Eagles in that category. The Falcons rank fifth in the league with 32:01 average time of possession in a game. The last part of the recipe reflects third down offensive efficiency, in which they rank first in achieving first downs at a 48 percent rate.
Looking Ahead: It is realistic to imagine the Falcons will win out. Thus, they would achieve the desperate home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Come January, if Matt Ryan is delivering seeds into the chest of Roddy White for touchdowns, consider the Falcons a lock for the 1.1 billion dollar stadium in Arlington.
Tim Shanahan can be reached at tshanahan@spartans.ut.edu.
As a Falcon fan, I’d like to point out that We actually lost to the Steelers in OT week one. Other than that, fine writing.