The only undefeated team in the NFL remains that way, after the Atlanta Falcons beat the Dallas Cowboys 19-13 on Sunday night. Many of the Falcons believe they are not getting enough recognition for their 8-0 start to the season. They are probably right, but there is a good reason for the lack of a great deal of recognition. Two years ago, the Falcons were the #1 seed in the NFC. They had a first round bye, then were blown out at home by the sixth seeded Green Bay Packers 48-21. Of course, the Packers went on to win Super Bowl XLV a few weeks later.
The Falcons haven’t exactly been blowing everyone out either. Only 3 of their wins have been by more than 7 points, and only 1 of the last 5 games. It’s good to win any game, especially the close ones, but if most of your games are close, it doesn’t really give an aura of invincibilty. The remaining schedule for the Falcons, is almost a cakewalk. Only one winning team remains on their schedule, the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, and that game is at the Georgia Dome.
I wouldn’t be too surprised if the Falcons finish the regular season undefeated, then lose in the playoffs. The Chicago Bears are 7-1, the San Francisco 49ers are 6-2, and both the Packers and Giants are 6-3. Getting through the NFC playoffs unscathed will be a formidable challenge for any team, even the undefeated Falcons, if they remain that way. Wild cards have represented the NFC in the Super Bowl the last two years, and both teams won. So being the top seed in the playoffs isn’t everything. The hottest team at the end of the season has been the one who wins it all lately.
The Atlanta Falcons should enjoy their relative anonymity as an unbeaten team, and just focus on the next game. That next game is against a 3-5 New Orleans Saints team, but after starting 0-4, the Saints have won 3 of their last 4, so this game at New Orleans on Sunday might be more difficult than it looks. It’s a division game, and the Saints are trying to keep any playoff hopes alive, so they be desperate for a win. We will know how good the Atlanta Falcons really are by the first week in February, at the latest, not halfway through the season. If they win the Super Bowl, they will get all the attention they could want and deserve.
