When The Season Started, Would You Have Been Happy With 10 Wins?

[Rev_Hal]

If you told me on day 1 that the Falcons would win 10 games, I would have been satisfied with that.

But there are "eyeball" tests that dont show up in the stats. This is not a Super Bowl contending team yet, but we are young and moving in the right direction. As long as we continue to build upon 4 winning seasons, we will be fine.

But it does concern me that Coach Smith called last night's game an abberation. It looked like a lot of what this season looked like. We are good, but not yet elite, and I hope the front office does not think we are elite. We are above average to good, but we are not ready to make a run deep in the playoffs.

From where I sit, the Falcons:

• have problems with consistency
  
• do not have the "killer instinct"
  
• are missing some pieces, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
  

We aren't bad, but we are not going to contend for a title until those things are fixed.

So, to answer my own question, I think we took a step back this year, and I have a twinge of disappointment. But 10 wins (if we beat the Bucs) is still a solid year. It was just not what I was expecting.

[twright21]

My expectation this year was to take a step back in the win total column but to be moving along at playoff time. My expectation was to win at least one playoff game and be in the discussion for the conference crown. Things had went about as I expected. We started off slow as we tried to find an identity on offense. The defense came around, and the offense started coming together. Last night was a big speed bump to get over. I guess we'll see what happens in a couple of weeks.

I think at this point we are in the upper quarter of teams in this league. I think we can beat anyone at any time. However, we're not in the upper class of teams who are above thinking they can compete and have moved on to expecting to dominate. We've just got to find the right things to do to move from good to great.

[birdz4i]

i called 10-6 in the predictions, so i figured 10 would be the max for us anyways.

[Bart2Ryan+beyond]

If you told me on day 1 that the Falcons would win 10 games, I would have been satisfied with that.

But there are "eyeball" tests that dont show up in the stats. This is not a Super Bowl contending team yet, but we are young and moving in the right direction. As long as we continue to build upon 4 winning seasons, we will be fine.

But it does concern me that Coach Smith called last night's game an abberation. It looked like a lot of what this season looked like. We are good, but not yet elite, and I hope the front office does not think we are elite. We are above average to good, but we are not ready to make a run deep in the playoffs.

From where I sit, the Falcons:

• have problems with consistency
  
• do not have the "killer instinct"
  
• are missing some pieces, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
  

We aren't bad, but we are not going to contend for a title until those things are fixed.

So, to answer my own question, I think we took a step back this year, and I have a twinge of disappointment. But 10 wins (if we beat the Bucs) is still a solid year. It was just not what I was expecting.

I honestly thought this team was 11-5 at best, so if we finish up 10-6 then it's what I expected.

My biggest concern is the inconsistency from series to series and quarter to quarter.

[lasher1116]

season started I was thinking 12-4.....after the first 2 games...figured 9-7. If we get 10-6...not too bad...but for the most part...we will be a one and out team...and waste next years draft picks on something stupid again....cant wait to see it...its the only exciting thing that happens to our team anyway...how badly can we mess up the draft!!!

[THE-Falconlifer]

i'll take the 10..but d@mn getting stroked like that on Monday night deserves an apology letter from Blank...oh well another....

[kiwifalcon]

If you told me on day 1 that the Falcons would win 10 games, I would have been satisfied with that.

But there are "eyeball" tests that dont show up in the stats. This is not a Super Bowl contending team yet, but we are young and moving in the right direction. As long as we continue to build upon 4 winning seasons, we will be fine.

But it does concern me that Coach Smith called last night's game an abberation. It looked like a lot of what this season looked like. We are good, but not yet elite, and I hope the front office does not think we are elite. We are above average to good, but we are not ready to make a run deep in the playoffs.

From where I sit, the Falcons:

• have problems with consistency
  
• do not have the "killer instinct"
  
• are missing some pieces, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
  

We aren't bad, but we are not going to contend for a title until those things are fixed.

So, to answer my own question, I think we took a step back this year, and I have a twinge of disappointment. But 10 wins (if we beat the Bucs) is still a solid year. It was just not what I was expecting.

Fair comment I really wonder with the lockout and what not the shorter prep time to get the team ready did have an effect on us but I guess it was the same for everybody though.

It is clear to see we are'nt elite but are in the above average catagorie so where does that leave us 6-10 area is my guess and if we play well inside the top 6.

Our identity who and what are we as now I am confused are we still a run first team and if we get behind why do we abandon the run.To me this is what gets me I think a bit of panic sets in and we get to pass happy its clear to me we can't win without the balance so I ask myself why are we so quick to shelve the run.

A step back you say Rev well I think at times I think we are lost and my above is the reason for theis thought.

Edited December 27, 2011 by kiwifalcon

[swift]

this team needed PLAYOFF success this year ...I didnt care if we got 9 wins and got in and had some playoff success

with that being said this team will be 1 and done

rebuilding needs to be done ..we are not a legit contender..this team needs to be retooled

[bfarmer1980]

To honestly answer the question posed in the thread title, I can't say that I would have been satisfied or dissatisfied.

The Falcons have done the winning seasons thing. They've done the playoff appearance thing. They've done the #1 seed thing. Having accomplished all that at the end of last season, going into this season and moving forward, there's really nothing less than a Lombardi Trophy that will satisfy me. But, that's just me, and that's not to say that I'll root any less for them if that doesn't happen.

[NOVAFalconFan]

No, I wouldn't have been, and I'm not now, either. I thought we would build off of last year and finish 11-5 at the absolute worst. I also thought we would build off of last year's Ravens win and GB playoff loss to overcome the big game, prime time nationally-televised failures I have grown to know and hate. In essence, I thought we would start to resemble the San Francisco teams of the 80s. Ha! I've thought that before, and I was wrong then, too.

[Objective Critic]

If you told me on day 1 that the Falcons would win 10 games, I would have been satisfied with that.

But there are "eyeball" tests that dont show up in the stats. This is not a Super Bowl contending team yet, but we are young and moving in the right direction. As long as we continue to build upon 4 winning seasons, we will be fine.

But it does concern me that Coach Smith called last night's game an abberation. It looked like a lot of what this season looked like. We are good, but not yet elite, and I hope the front office does not think we are elite. We are above average to good, but we are not ready to make a run deep in the playoffs.

From where I sit, the Falcons:

• have problems with consistency
  
• do not have the "killer instinct"
  
• are missing some pieces, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
  

We aren't bad, but we are not going to contend for a title until those things are fixed.

So, to answer my own question, I think we took a step back this year, and I have a twinge of disappointment. But 10 wins (if we beat the Bucs) is still a solid year. It was just not what I was expecting.

In the offseason I predicted the Falcons to to 12-4. After the preseason I predicted 9-7. I do think they will win next week. But I am more concerned how well the Falcons do in the post season.

Regular season is simply a qualifier to get to the post season. The real record is that the Falcons are 0-2 which underminds anything they accomplished in the regular season.

At the end of the season the Falcons will probably be 0-3. Call me "fair weathered" and flame, but I call it as I see it.

[Peyton]

I think 10 wins is about what I expected.

[vdove0926]

I'm happy with 10 wins. The playoffs is where we all want the Falcons to make some noise and in 2 weeks we will find out if they can.

[PokerSteve]

this team needed PLAYOFF success this year ...I didnt care if we got 9 wins and got in and had some playoff success

with that being said this team will be 1 and done

rebuilding needs to be done ..we are not a legit contender..this team needs to be retooled

Yep. You can't look at the team and its present coaching staff and seriously think this bunch is going to be anything but one and done again in the play-offs. I'd also say the present group will struggle to finish above .500 next year. The bloom is off the rose, Arthur. Your team is not competitive against the better teams. Time to do something to show you are at least aware this team is not going anywhere in post-season as it now stands.

[Darkflight]

Meh...coming into the season I wasn't really concerned about the number of wins we would have. I wanted this team to improve in all aspects so that we could make a playoff run. That was my focus this season.

[falconidae]

If you told me on day 1 that the Falcons would win 10 games, I would have been satisfied with that.

But there are "eyeball" tests that dont show up in the stats. This is not a Super Bowl contending team yet, but we are young and moving in the right direction. As long as we continue to build upon 4 winning seasons, we will be fine.

But it does concern me that Coach Smith called last night's game an abberation. It looked like a lot of what this season looked like. We are good, but not yet elite, and I hope the front office does not think we are elite. We are above average to good, but we are not ready to make a run deep in the playoffs.

From where I sit, the Falcons:

• have problems with consistency
  
• do not have the "killer instinct"
  
• are missing some pieces, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
  

We aren't bad, but we are not going to contend for a title until those things are fixed.

So, to answer my own question, I think we took a step back this year, and I have a twinge of disappointment. But 10 wins (if we beat the Bucs) is still a solid year. It was just not what I was expecting.

Yes, I would have been disappointed- had 12-4 in my sig until that became impossible. And considering that Ryan has thrown 2 game winning TD and 1 game tying TD pass that were dropped, I'm still disappointed.

Winning a playoff game will make up for it.

[MilleniumFalcon]

I was expecting around 12 wins (so 10 would be less than expectations). I also expected the Falcons to make some noise in the playoffs but that's not looking too good right now.

[Knight of God]

Yeah, TD has said "urgency" and "explosiveness". I hope he starts saying "killer instinct".

[falken]

I always think we're gonna go 16-0.

(I might be a homer)

[vdove0926]

Yep. You can't look at the team and its present coaching staff and seriously think this bunch is going to be anything but one and done again in the play-offs. I'd also say the present group will struggle to finish above .500 next year. The bloom is off the rose, Arthur. Your team is not competitive against the better teams. Time to do something to show you are at least aware this team is not going anywhere in post-season as it now stands.

And what will you say if we win our wild card game?

[falken]

Yep. You can't look at the team and its present coaching staff and seriously think this bunch is going to be anything but one and done again in the play-offs. I'd also say the present group will struggle to finish above .500 next year. The bloom is off the rose, Arthur. Your team is not competitive against the better teams. Time to do something to show you are at least aware this team is not going anywhere in post-season as it now stands.

lol @ fans expecting perfection.

[Falc_Fan_Since_Six]

I think we still need help on defense. My feeling on the offense is that it's only going to get better and that we are not going to see the true effect of guys Like Julio and Quizz till their second or third year in the league. Also a full training camp and off season programs will make a difference for them, something they didn't really have this year.

As for the original question, I've been a Falcons fan for 43 years. I think 10 wins is always going to make me happy, not that I don't want more, but 10 wins seasons used to be few and far between around here.

[Peyton]

Honestly, this season has been exactly what I expected. I thought the team would lose more games than the regular season last year because they wouldn't be as focused week in and week out. I also expected this team to win enough games to get into the playoffs and play their best when they get there.

We'll see about that last thing. A lot of people are giving up on that, but I am going to tune in and watch anyway.

[ol'_dirty2]

I honestly thought this team was 11-5 at best, so if we finish up 10-6 then it's what I expected.

My biggest concern is the inconsistency from series to series and quarter to quarter.

We have consistently played worse against winning teams this season. We can beat bottom dwellers, but can't close out the good ones.

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

I had the team at 10-6 before the season started, so yes, I'm happy with 10-6 and wild card spot.