Until the finish...

A city back on its football feet

The Atlanta Falcons (6-0) have finished up their bye week and are ready to hit the field again. They started yesterday game planning for a showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles (3-3) in Philly. As we all know the Falcons come into this weeks game as the only undefeated team left in the NFL this year. But in some of the national media's eyes, that's still not good enough. I guess it's because it's a team that is based out of Atlanta. They keep on saying that all the Falcon's wins are against below .500 team. Well, that might be the case now, but at the time the Falcons played these teams, they might have been pretty good. I don't buy into that notion. Any team can win in any given game. I don't care if you are undefeated or haven't won a game. These players are all professionals. When the Falcons played the Denver Broncos back on September 17, the Broncos almost came back to win, but the Falcons' defense held strong and stopped the Peyton Manning lead Broncos. And last I heard, this Manning guy is pretty good. And then lets take a look at the San Diego Chargers game just a week later. The Falcons controlled the game from the opening whistle until the last whistle sounded, winning the contest 27-3. And if I recall, at that time, the Chargers were ranked #3 in total defense.

So in this upcoming week's game, the Falcons are going up against the one player that ultimately disgraced the entire Falcons' organization, and city for that matter. Eagles QB Michael Vick still doesn't hold on to the ball well, with at least two turnovers a game this year. The defense, though ranked well, still fired their Defensive Coordinator Juan Castillo and promoted Defensive Backs Coach Todd Bowles as the new DC. I still believe the Eagles D is going to be tough this game. The only way the Falcons will win big is if they contain Vick from running, and cause him to turn the ball over 2+ times. My prediction, Falcons 24, Eagles 20. What, did you think I was going to pick the Eagles? Well, I am a Falcons fan.  Bowles will still use Castillo's scheme, and the Eagles will not look confused for the first game for the new DC.

The Falcons hold the key to the rest of their season. If they continue to win, then the media can hush about them being a team that shouldn't be in a position that they are in. But again, the media might say the other team had an off game, and that's why the Falcons won. As if to say if that team had a better game, they would have won. Give the credit where the credit is due. The Atlanta Falcons are playing great, wining big, winning, pretty, and winning ugly. And that's the sign of a good team, when that team can win in all phases of a game. Now the Falcons may not win the Super Bowl, but they have a good shot to get there. Don't forget to follow me on twitter @makirkley.

Mark A. Kirkley: twitter @makirkley
I am a loving husband, father.  God and family are #1 in my life.
Academic Librarian/Cobb Game Day Magazine Contributor/Sports Writer/Sports Blogger. "Your thoughts are better organized 
when they are written."