The Falcons are one of the NFC's superior teams, yet still after almost 3 quarters of the season is through, seemingly not many still give them much of a possibility to make any noise in the playoffs. Everyone seems to waiting for the big stinker, somewhere along the way, Ryan will throw a terrible pick, there will be a costly fumble, their defense will get lit up like a Christmas tree, something has got to give, right? This is what Atlanta does, apparently year after year.

Much has been made of the Falcons schedule so far this 2012 season. With only 2 games played against opponents with winning records, many feel they could be frauds, once more. Going by season records at this specific moment, their opponents they have played so far, combined with their opponents coming up have a collective win percentage of just 40%. Keep in mind still, the AFC West is horrific; with only a 36% win pct in the division as a whole.

Not the strongest case of playing top quality opposition so far. In 2011 they went 10-6 and quickly got blown out vs the Giants, 24-2, where Manning ripped up their secondary, giving up 277 and 3 TDs. In 2010, the 13-3 Falcons got crushed 48-21 to the Packers, where Rodgers owned the secondary as well, and “Matty Ice” was average once more.

They have won by an average of 7 a game so far, which out of those teams, played, hardly any are considered offensive powerhouses, where their defense has to step it up. So essentially the Falcons are doing what they must be doing, beating their opponents pretty handily, thus far.

But with that being said, this isn’t NCAA football, where teams select their opponents, its pro ball. And your schedule is dependant on your division, and your years to play outside the division and conference. There is no option, if it happens to be a down year for some of those teams, then it is what it is. And it will constantly bring debate from doubters, but for the team it can also build either enormous pressure to shrug off those doubters, or build up a vicious self-confidence that the team is a very good squad.

The Falcons have well-built offensive ability, and we have all witnessed it before. Ryan has become a top end QB in the league, without question. And he deserves to be considered more as a top QB, in addition to his WR combo of Roddy White and Julio Jones, who are the best tandem in the NFL right now, warrant better as well. Offensively they can score on anybody.

But their defense is unpredictable, particularly against the run, where they permit 123+ a game, including 8 games so far of 116+ or more on the ground. as well as 5 giving up 135+. At this time, being up 4 games in a very average division is a good place to be in, fighting for home field in a few weeks, a pretty appealing spot to be in at the moment.

Truth behind it is this. Regular season is all a build up to the big dance. We have seen mighty oaks collapse after a perfect regular season, the New England Patriots, ask them if they would trade their 16-0 season for a 10-6 season and a Super Bowl win, I would bet on yes.

The best thing, in my opinion, to inspire a team is doubters, a little more spring in your step, a little more zip on the ball, you grind a little harder for the extra 4 inches for the 1st down. They have the making to certainly be a great team, but to be justly great they absolutely need to make it passed their 1st game, beyond question. Preferably at least to the Conference championship, they need to win games in the playoffs, to have the respect they feel they ought to have in the NFL. 0-3 over their last 3 trips isn’t going to make many believe this year will be different.

Tony Karpinski- World Champ- VegasTopDogs