Missing Piece?

[ThunderHorse]

I still feel Matt Ryan needs to step it up, Last year Atlanta's offense didn't even score. The year before that, They were the #1 seed and Green Bay came into Atlanta and flat out whipped them. I still vividly remember the pick 6 Matt Ryan threw at the end of the first half. The year before that they got bounced by Arizona, Ryan threw 2 int's that game but Falcon Fans are still blaming Keith Brooking for that loss.

The Beginning of Ryan's career and his playoff failures somewhat reminds me of Manning when the colts started becoming competitive around 2002. Mostly because (as most Falcon fans can already point out to you) every team they've lost to in the playoffs has ended up running the table and going to the superbowl (and in two cases, winning it). Indianapolis had this relationship with New England for a couple of years, and the one year they didn't have to deal with New England and were probably the best team in the NFL (and easily the best Colt team I'd ever watched, 2005) they lost a really shitty game to Pittsburgh which I still remember to this day, Vividly. Pitt went on to win that superbowl against Seattle and Indianapolis would get their turn next year when they smacked around Sexy Rexy and Cedric Benson and Manning was able to cement his legacy.

I think Atlanta needs some luck but I'm also starting to think that if Matt Ryan isn't the issue then there's a coaching issue. If they don't win a playoff game this year then something needs to be done. it would be 4 straight years of "one and dones". I don't know if you fire the head coach, but someone's head is probably going to have to roll.

[Maynard]

regardless of record, i feel like the falcons are not a SB team. matt ryan doesnt feel like a leader. and they dont have anyone that stands out as a leader other than the soft spoken tony g.

i think this team needs someone who stands out as a leader of this team. it should be ryan, but its not and thats why they wont go anywhere

[JTRaines92]

Like Aso said, we have a weak run D... that's our only flaw imo.

[shag773]

I dont see any flaws today...

[Maynard]

not a surprise they beat up on philly. no doubt Atl is an upper tier team where as philly is not. philly has alot of over paid talent that isnt really that good. they have an over rated coach and are 500 team imo.

i found it amusing that atl was a 2 point dog in this game....lol

[Point Blank]

First time they won if Philly in who knows.. Atlanta was slept on all week because of Andy Reid's 13-0 record after BYE week.

[ram29jackson]

everyone is a missing piece.

A team sucks one weak and is great the next and sucks the following week. This is annoying and stupid. No one is consistant except Atlanta and I still doubt they make it all the way.

At least Chicago and Detroit didnt choke, but Minnesota blew it...

[Cornelius]

I don't even need to argue against you, i have seen enough of your posts on this forum already to know you are a ignorant and retarded poster.

Good to see that BBIB is back with a vengeance. Can Vick still literally throw while running?

[Bane]

Good to see that BBIB is back with a vengeance. Can Vick still literally throw while running?

who is BBIB? if it is a previous poster you are mistaken. i can have other posters vouch for this too.

[Tailback U]

Patrick Kerney.

But really, the Falcons need a better run D and running game. Too one dimensional for my liking. A team like the Giants that can get to the qb and match them offensively will beat them.

[seaplus]

Peyton Manning

[Senser81]

Head Coach

[Senser81]

The Beginning of Ryan's career and his playoff failures somewhat reminds me of Manning when the colts started becoming competitive around 2002.

Terrible analogy. Manning turned the franchise around almost singlehandedly. Ryan is just another piece in the Falcons puzzle. I don't see him as being the clear leader of the team, which I think is Atlanta's biggest problem when they face adversity. They don't have any leaders to look to.

[ThunderHorse]

Terrible analogy. Manning turned the franchise around almost singlehandedly. Ryan is just another piece in the Falcons puzzle. I don't see him as being the clear leader of the team, which I think is Atlanta's biggest problem when they face adversity. They don't have any leaders to look to.

I won't argue that to the death because when it's all said and done Manning probably was the biggest piece of the puzzle. Manning was clearly a huge part of the turnaround and in hindsight we now understand how important Manning really was to Indianapolis. However Manning didn't do it by himself entirely in the early days, Marvin Harrison was a great player, Maybe that had more to do with Manning but the man is still going into the HOF. Drafting Edgerrin James was huge for Indianapolis and James immediately took the league by the throat, winning the rushing titles his rookie and sophomore seasons.

However, at that time the perception was Manning had all the weapons but a bad D and still couldn't get it done in the playoffs (and was constantly compared to Brady, who had no weapons and was always getting it done with his "will to win"), full of one and done's. Now Matt Ryan has all the weapons in the world and he can't get it done.

This is the only similarity I'm trying to point out. I think it will be interesting to watch what happens with Atlanta from here on out.

[Senser81]

I won't argue that to the death

I will.