Atlanta Falcons
Who Is To Blame For Falcons’ Loss
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
If you’re a Falcons fan, it’s going to take you awhile to get over this one. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you want to you look at it, you haven’t had to deal with this type of anguish very often, so here are some tips that I hope will be helpful over the next few days.
For starters, you need to be angry. I’m not talking “they put extra pickles on my burger” type rage. No, I’m talking about DMX “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot” kind of fury. There are a lot of different angles you can direct your anger towards, but if I were you I’d start with Kyle Shanahan.
Overall, Shanahan has been the best Offensive Coordinator this year. I mean, there’s a reason he’s about to become the 49ers head coach, and deservedly so. However, I’m not 100% percent convinced he didn’t hop on a plane to San Francisco once the 4th quarter started.
The play calling during those last few possessions were downright atrocious. I respect keeping the foot on the gas and going for the jugular (or whatever other common sports vernacular you want to put in there), but Shanahan has to shoulder this loss as much, if not more, than anyone.
You could also blame the defense and the fact they gave up 31 points in what amounted to just over a quarter of play, but you knew Brady wasn’t going to be held in check for the whole game. You may also want to rant a little about the overtime rules, although, and I hate to beat a dead horse of this one, it’s hard to argue too much when you had to allow 25 unanswered points just to get to overtime.
After you finish stage one and release all that pinned up anger, sit back and realize what Atlanta accomplished this season. They went from a team that basically no one picked to even make the playoffs, and turned it into arguably the most successful season in franchise history.
Matt Ryan proved idiots like me wrong and showed himself to be a legitimate Top 5 quarterback in the league. Your running game and defense surpassed everyone’s expectations. And you probably have one of the best, if not the best, collection of receivers and tight ends in the NFL. It’s tough to see right now, but the Falcons had one hell of season and you should be proud.
Now, once you complete reflection time, the last stage is to look ahead to next year. Sure, you’re losing Shanahan, and it looks like your quarterback coach may be following suit, but you have a great collection of young players at vital positions, who are bound to improve from this season to next. If your team can stay healthy, they should be able to make a run again next year.
Of course, the Super Bowl runner-up doesn’t always seem to have much success the following year- just ask any Carolina fan how that feels- so Atlanta does have some history to overcome.
I know things look bleak now, and it will probably take a few months to get over this loss, and that assuming you even can. I’m not going to lie, you’ve got a tough road ahead. If what I’ve mentioned doesn’t help you though, then know this- most of America is on your side. We all despise the Patriots.
The Game Feb 4
The Falcons Fly To Super Bowl
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There is an episode of Scrubs where Dr. Cox sings to JD; “Wrong wrong wrong wrong. Wrong wrong wrong wrong…..You’re wrong….You’re wrong….You’re wrong.” I mention this for two reasons.
First off, I try to take any opportunity I can to throw in a Scrubs reference. Second, and most importantly, that whole sequence may as well have been directed at me and just about every single prediction I’ve had for the Falcons throughout the year.
Before the season started I figured the Falcons would be lucky to finish the year at 9-7, and I certainly didn’t expect them to sniff the playoffs. I was wrong.
I wrote an entire story about Matt Ryan and whether or not he was worthy of being the number three pick in the draft. I’ve always thought he was a good quarterback, but I didn’t believe that he would be able to lead a team to the Super Bowl. Little off on that one, wouldn’t you say?
I had a little to zero confidence that Atlanta’s backfield would have any type of positive impact on their offense. Nobody’s going to mistake Devonta Freeman or Tevin Coleman for elite running backs, but both are much better than I’ve given them credit for, and they are perfect for this particular system.
I patiently waited for the Ryan/Shanahan relationship to quietly, or not so quietly, implode. It never happened.
I knew Dan Quinn would have the defense playing better, but I assumed they would just continue to be an afterthought. I halfway expected them to be detrimental to the Falcons over the course of the season. Granted they’re not the ‘86 Bears, but they are anything but an afterthought.
Even though I thought this year’s team was better than last years, I just knew that 4-1 start wasn’t going to last. After the Falcons dropped their next two games I almost wrote about that very thing. After winning 9 of their 11 remaining games since that time, I’m glad I kept my mouth shut.
Even after being wrong on all those things I just listed, and having a much greater appreciation for what Atlanta had accomplished this year, I still picked them to lose to Green Bay. I don’t think they’d be able to pull it off. It’s a good thing I don’t gamble.
In fact, the only time this year I’ve actually been right about the Falcons was their playoff game against Seattle. And truth be told, my picking Atlanta had more to do with my lack of confidence in the Seahawks than it did the Falcons.
Putting all my horrible prognostications aside, I’m happy for Atlanta. Participating in the Super Bowl is always a huge deal, but when you look at this franchise over the last two decades, this trip is all that much sweeter.
There was the blowout loss to the Broncos in ‘99. The rise and complete collapse of Michael Vick. Multiple seasons of mediocrity and underachieving. And lest we forget- and I don’t think I need to delve any deeper than these two words- Bobby Petrino.
Regardless of the outcome on February 5th, this season has been a success for Atlanta. They have surpassed basically everyone’s expectations and are more than deserving of being the NFC representative.
If you happen to be wondering, or even care, who I’m picking to win the big game, let me ask you this: After everything I’ve just written, do you really want me to start rooting for the Falcons now?
2017 Predictions
By: Drayton Hogarth
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
2016 was quite an interesting year for everyone, and that includes the sports world.
Many of our local teams experienced ups and downs and surprises of all kind. Now that we have arrived to the New Year of 2017, it is time to make some predictions for our area teams as we march forward throughout the coming months.
The Atlanta Falcons will finish this 2016-17 season with a playoff run. There are not many teams entering the playoffs playing at a higher level right now.
MVP candidate Matt Ryan has a plethora of offensive weapons he can utilize, as well as a solid line to protect him. In fact, it is a team that is good enough to make it to the Super Bowl, but that is where the dream will end as the Falcons will come up short against the New England Patriots in a shootout.
During the offseason, the Falcons will pick up another pass rusher in the draft to complement Vic Beasley. Plus, add in a couple more quality free agent signings, and the Falcons will make another Super Bowl run.
In Athens, Coach Kirby Smart will bring in the best recruiting class in Georgia history. Even better, the on the field product will be much improved as well, as the talent in the program is upgraded to levels that Bulldog fans have hoped for the last half decade or so.
Georgia will finally win the SEC East and challenge for the college football playoff. It’s gonna be the beginning of a fun ride, Georgia fans. Be scared, college football, the sleeping giant has awoken.
Coach Paul Johnson will be expected to challenge for the ACC title in 2017, but same as recent history, the Jackets will not be able to live up to the lofty expectations.
Johnson and his Yellow Jackets seem to do much better when the perception is that they will struggle. When people underestimate Tech, that is when they are at their most dangerous.
Georgia Tech fans will grow weary of this roller coaster ride and will make a surprise move of letting the long-time coach take his triple option offense elsewhere. Look for the Jackets to make a run at current Colorado State head coach, and former Georgia Bulldog, Mike Bobo as their next coach in 2018.
Tyson Summers will get the Georgia Southern Eagles back to the upper level of the Sun Belt. Look for the Eagles to go 10-4 with a loss in the Sun Belt title game, but win their bowl game.
Brand new Suntrust Stadium will see the Atlanta Braves continue to improve and be more like the competitive team that we saw finish the 2016 season. Having Freddie Freeman, Dansby Swanson, and Matt Kemp in the lineup for a full season will allow the Braves to be the best offensive lineup in the National League.
It will be the pitching that will prevent the Braves from making the post season. Look for the Braves to get to .500 or better in the coming season, with prospects for a strong run in 2018.
The Atlanta Hawks will make a deep run in the NBA playoffs and will finally beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, but only three times. Thus, they will lose in seven games to Lebron James and the Cavs—who will lose to the Golden State Warriors.
On the hardwood in Athens, the Georgia Bulldogs will either win two games in the NCAA tournament, or they will be replacing Mark Fox as the head coach of the hoop Dawgs. Oh, and there will be a new athletic director making that decision at the University of Georgia as well.
Look for Josh Pastner to get the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the NIT and continue to restore the Jackets to respectability in the college basketball world.
Well, that should do it for most of my predictions for the upcoming year. Go ahead and save this article to refer back to, and if I get even half of these correct, you can thank me later, maybe in 2018. Happy New Year everyone!
