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| Photo: www.atlantafalcons.com |
It's getting that time of year where the season is winding down, and both the AFC and NFC playoff pictures are taking shape. And a trip to Hawaii is at stake for a lot of players. The Atlanta Falcons come into this week's game tied for the best record in the NFL at 12-2 with the Houston Texans of the AFC. So that puts the Falcons the best in the NFC. Looking around the league there are many deserving players to earn the surf at Waikiki Beach, but I'm all about talking Falcons football. I'm going to give you my vote on which Falcon players have earned that right.
Starting on offense, you have to look at who runs the show, the general in charge, QB Matt Ryan. Ryan led his team to a franchise record 8-0 start, and from many was considered MVP after that start. But has cooled since and has had two games where he threw a total of 8 interceptions (3 vs Raiders, 5 vs Cardinals). But Ryan bounced back during those games and the Falcons still won both games. Ryan has also set his own franchise mark from last year where he threw for 4,177 yards. So far this year, still with two games remaining in the regular season, Ryan has thrown 4,202. So far he has 27 TD's and has been picked off 14 times. The interceptions are high, but his leadership surpasses that to me. He also has a career high passing percentage at 68.5. I can't leave out the man that gets Ryan the ball for his leadership, football knowledge and protection of Ryan, center Todd McClure. McClure has spent his entire career in Atlanta and is deserving of this first honor. All three receivers are deserving among that honor; Julio Jones, Roddy White, and Tony Gonzalez. You might ask, Gonzalez is a tight end, not receiver? Well, you are correct. He is much as good and a threat in the passing game as he is in the blocking game. Jones has caught 69 passes for 1071 yards and nine TD's so far, and catching his first two home touchdowns of the season last week in the 34-0 beat down of the NY football Giants. White is vying for another Pro Bowl trip with 79 catches with 1,156 air yardage and five endzoze catches. Gonzalez, who is 95% certain that he is going to retire at season's end, has a team leading 87 receptions for 880 yards and eight goal post dunks. But if Gonzalez is selected, I don't think he would mind not going, because that would mean his team is playing in New Orleans. And Gonzalez has been to the All-Star dance plenty of times. If that was the case, that would mean he has a playoff win under his belt. Something that has plagued him his entire career with no playoff wins.
So let's take a look at the other side of the ball. This defense has turned the corner drastically since last year under D Coordinator Brian Van Gorder. This year under Mike Nolan, with the same players from last year, he has turned this subpar defense into the 4th best defense in the league allowing opposing points. The new hybrid defense that Nolan has installed fits well for defensive End John Abraham, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, and the two players that man the middle of the secondary, safties William Moore and Thomas DeCoud. All these defensive players are deserving of the cool waters of the Hawaiian Pacific. Abraham has 31 tackles, 10 sacks, and five forced fumbles. He was virtually non existent last year, but has played like he was back in his prime this year. Weatherspoon is emerging as the defensive leader on this team. My vote is for him, but missing a few games might set him back in votes. Missing games could also set Moore back. But his eye for hard hitting and taking the ball away with 75 tackles and 4 interceptions will give him more votes than expected. Last but not lease is DeCoud. All he does is find the ball and attack it with six takeaways.
I would love to see all nine of these players in Honolulu for the Pro Bowl. But with this game being an offensive minded game nowadays, look for more of these offensive players suiting up for this All-Star contest.
Oh, and by the way, don't for get that the Falcons go for their 13th win of the season tonight in Mo Town as the Falcons play the Detroit Lions. Kickoff set for 8:20pm est on ESPN, locally in the Atlanta area on ABC. With a win, the Falcons clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Rise Up Atlanta!!!!
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