As unlikely as it seemed just a few short months ago, we’re mentioning “playoffs” and “Atlanta Falcons” in the same sentence. In August, the possibility of a 2009 No. 1 overall draft pick appeared to be the biggest positive on the horizon. This year was supposed to be the first step of Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff’s “process,” the first of many steps. Instead we’ve seen them take several steps this season, and now the postseason looks like a reality for a team that has played as well as any in the NFL over the past two weeks.
WHO WOULDA THUNK IT?
Everyone was feeling good in the locker room after yesterday’s thorough beating of the New Orleans Saints. But I don’t think anyone was happier than fullback Ovie Mughelli. Atlanta made Mughelli the highest paid fullback in the league during the 2007 offseason, but he hardly even saw the field in Bobby Petrino’s aggressive offensive scheme.
Then came the prospect of a “rebuilding season,” an incredibly young roster, and a rookie starting at quarterback. Mughelli admitted he didn’t have high expectations early in the offseason.
“At the beginning of OTA’s no,” Mughelli said about his expectations at the time.
When the OTA’s were over, Mughelli had altered his view.
“After seeing Matt work, see our team jell, and to see people buy into the offseason scheme, I knew we had something special.
Mughelli was ahead of the curve by realizing that this team is “special,” but outsiders are just starting to get an idea of what they’re all about.
RYAN AND RODDY
Roddy White is loving his rookie quarterback. Ryan continued to throw his way early and often yesterday, and he scored his sixth touchdown of the season.
“It’s just the most consistent,” he said of the two’s chemistry, “I’ve been with a lot of guys and we haven’t been consistent. Matt’s a good guy and he likes to learn.”
White and Ryan have clearly been on the same page from day one. But like Mughelli, he never could have foreseen having this kind of chemistry with a rookie quarterback.
“You never expect those kinds of things like that,” he said. “But when it happens you love it.”
And what does the future hold for Ryan and White? White is hoping for great things.
“We can do a lot in the years to come,” he said. “Hopefully one day we can put up a lot of records around here.”
PLAYING BEYOND THEIR YEARS
Mughelli, a sixth-year pro, said he’d never seen a young team come together like the 2008 Falcons. But he was quick to explain the main reason why it happened.
“I think a lot of it has to do with our young quarterback stepping up and being that leader we need. Not taking any crap from anybody and holding everyone accountable. The vets, we hold ourselves accountable, but for the vets and the rookies to do it? That’s why we’re doing so well, that’s why we have such great team chemistry, that’s why we’re winning,”
Ryan isn’t the only youngster playing well. Curtis Lofton has become a fixture at linebacker, an incredibly inexperienced offensive line has over-performed, and a young secondary stepped up to the plate and kept Drew Brees (who threw for the vast majority of his yards with Atlanta playing prevent defense in the fourth) in check.
“We were just playing ball, man,” said rookie cornerback Chevis Jackson. “It started Wednesday. Coach stressed getting to Brees and trying to create turnovers.”
Brees threw three picks against the youthful secondary and had to deal with constant pressure from the defensive line. It’s safe to say that Jackson and company executed Smith’s gameplan perfectly.
NOT PLAYING LIKE UNDERDOGS
The Falcons have been underdogs a lot this season, but they don’t play like it. Their four home wins have come by a total score of 128-75. Plus, the only contested home victory probably shouldn’t have been that close (a 22-20 victory Chicago). Meanwhile, the Falcons led the Packers by double digits after putting the game away in the middle of the fourth quarter (the Pack scored a garbage TD late), and blew out the Raiders in Oakland last week.
The conventional wisdom for an underdog team is to hang around, then make a run in the fourth quarter to squeak out a victory. That’s not the case here. Atlanta has often cruised to victory after dominating in the first half. In fact, the Falcons have gotten on the board first in seven of their nine games, and in all six of their wins.
“Our coaches kept telling us we’re better than we think we are,” said White.
That doesn’t sound like a Cinderella story to me. It sounds more like a juggernaut.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
I’ve got to give big-time props to Herm Edwards and his decision to go for two at the end of the Kansas City-San Diego game. I know that the Chiefs could have sent it to OT with a field goal, but their season is all but over anyway, so why not send a message that you’re still coaching to win? As Herm would say: “You play to win the game.” Even though the conversion failed, I still liked the call.
The Panthers maintained their one-game lead in the NFC South. Of course that was against the Raiders, and we all got to see what they’re all about last week. They managed a couple of field goals, losing 17-6. As for Carolina, they’re a good football team, but it’s hard to consider them the favorites after seeing what Tampa Bay did to them a few weeks ago.
The Patriots are still rolling along, if you haven’t noticed. They were inexplicably labeled as a team likely to miss the playoffs after Tom Brady was injured. I guess everyone forgot who Randy Moss was? In a weak division, all the Pats need to ask of QB Matt Cassell is to manage the game, and distribute the ball around to a hell of a receiving corps. In the meantime, Bill Belichick continues to get the most out of everyone. Undrafted rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 105 yards yesterday, and was anybody really surprised? This is definitely not a Super Bowl team, but I can’t see why a lot of folks are so shocked that they’re 6-3.
Bagriansky can be reached at jbagriansky@scoreatl.com.
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