The Atlanta Falcons, the 2017 Playoffs, and the Ghosts of Failure
This version of the Falcons might be the best of Matt Ryan’s tenure in Atlanta. Next weekend, they’ll start their attempt to do what no Atlanta team has done in over 20 years.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Matt Ryan’s career, and how he has often been undervalued. Now, he’s an MVP candidate, and several prominent NFL writers, such as Bill Barnwell (below), are picking him for that honor:
As the second seed in a crowded NFC, and with an elite offense, the Atlanta Falcons are as good a bet as any to win the Super Bowl this season. As the team prepares for their NFL playoff run, they are setting themselves up to try to erase over 20 years of playoff heartbreak.
This isn’t Matt Ryan’s first good Falcons team. Atlanta has made the playoffs several times in the Ryan era, and almost always fields an above-average offense. In two seasons — 2010 and 2012—the team finished with a 13–3 record, eventually losing in either the divisional round or NFC Championship. As strong as those teams were, though, the 2016 Falcons may be better set up to win a championship.
The reason that I argue that this Falcons team is better comes from how the team has developed over the course of the season. Atlanta has some bad losses, like a midseason home defeat to the San Diego Chargers (who recently lost to Cleveland). However, this team also beat the Packers, and won several key games down the stretch of the season to lock up the second seed. As the season progressed, Ryan seemed to get better and better, and Vic Beasley gave an otherwise-lackluster defense a credible pass rush.
In addition to the fact that the Falcons are peaking at the right time, this may also be Matt Ryan’s best chance at a Super Bowl because of the road ahead of the Falcons. Atlanta could play Seattle, Green Bay, or New York in the second round, and matches up fairly well with all of these teams. Atlanta fans may feel nauseated at the prospect of facing Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs again, but the Falcons already beat the Packers once. Seattle looks much more human recently as well, and New York doesn’t have much offensive firepower. In short, all of these teams are beatable.
The same goes for Dallas. As good as the Cowboys have been all season, the team plays in a dome (good for the Falcons), and doesn’t have a great defense (also good for the Falcons). Dallas would put up a lot of points on Atlanta’s defense, but the Falcons are well-equipped to win shootouts, and it’s highly unlikely that Dak Prescott or Ezekiel Elliot will be able to run this team off the field. Dallas would be favored, but this game would be winnable as well.
And yet, there’s a certain segment of the Atlanta fanbase that just expects playoff obliteration. The city has had its share of playoff heartbreak since the Braves won the 1995 World Series, earning a sport on ESPN’s Misery Index. Especially since the Falcons themselves have seen some playoff collapses in recent years, many will expect a blowout at the hands of GB/SEA/NYG in the second round this year.
Undeniably, it’s unfair to saddle this Falcons team with the mistakes of either past iterations or those of other major sports franchises. It’s hardly the Dirty Birds’ fault that the Braves and Hawks have fallen apart in the playoffs, and the roster of the 2016 Falcons team is vastly different from the 2010 and 2012 iterations. However, if this team falls short, there will be a large segment of the fanbase that says “I told you this was coming.” It’s a coping mechanism, but it’s a strong one.
The Atlanta Falcons shouldn’t feel more or less pressure than any second-seeded team getting ready to compete for a Super Bowl. Atlanta isn’t the favorite to reach the championship game, but this team should be one of the top three or four bets. Their playoff road is manageable, the offense is close to historically great, and the Falcons won’t have to play an outdoor game all postseason. However, in the eyes of fans at least, this team is going up against over 20 years of playoff heartbreak. That’s a lot to ask for.
