Who Would Win? And Why?

[Oldskooler]

1980 Falcons vs. 2012 Falcons?

And the winner against our 1998 Superbowl squad?

Who do you pick as the winner in each round and why?

[MasterBateser]

Me, because i am awesome!!

No but in all seriousness i didnt start watching games until Week 2 of the 2010 season so i have no idea

[k-train]

1980 vs 2012 - After taking a commanding lead, they would've both let each other back into the game late & ended up in a tie.

[raysnill1]

1980 vs 2012 - After taking a commanding lead, they would've both let each other back into the game late & ended up in a tie.

[FalconFanSince1970]

2012 team would have rolled the 1980 team. They had a weak pass defense.

1998 team would have killed the 2012 team. I even think the 2010 team could have beaten 2012 and 1980. That was a strong team.

[falconfansince66]

Playing by '80's rules, the '80 team would've mauled the 2012 team. Andrews would've probably gained 150 yards and 3 TD's with "Bombs Away" Bartkowski throwing for 3 more. 2012 team almost completes a comeback but FS Tom Pridemore's uncalled hold of Roddy White on fourth down and goal allows the '80 team to move forward. Score: '80 team: 42 '12 team: 38

[Moist Words]

i say the 2012 team

the 1980's team is well in their 60s and the 1998 team are in their 40s so i doubt they have the speed and strength to compete

This was actually funny.

I don't know how to feel about this.

[Papa's Home]

Today's players are so much bigger and faster it wouldn't even be close with the 1980 team, and I loved that team. What close on old replays of that Falcon"s team or any team frof that era, today's team would run them out of the stadium. If you don't believe it, take off the rosy glasses.

[Oldskooler]

I would pay good money to see an in-his-prime William Andrews with a head of steam and nothing between him and paydirt--- except an also-in-his-prime Jesse Tuggle.

[EB2124]

I just got William Andrews and Buddy Curry's autographs last Thursday. They were putting on a football camp that my son was attending.

[B_Lo_Touchdowns]

2012

[WornOutFalconFan]

Today's players are so much bigger and faster it wouldn't even be close with the 1980 team, and I loved that team. What close on old replays of that Falcon"s team or any team frof that era, today's team would run them out of the stadium. If you don't believe it, take off the rosy glasses.

I guess men weren't men 'til after 2000.

[Oldskooler]

Today's players are so much bigger and faster it wouldn't even be close with the 1980 team, and I loved that team. What close on old replays of that Falcon"s team or any team frof that era, today's team would run them out of the stadium. If you don't believe it, take off the rosy glasses.

I knowfor a fact that Bartkowski was a better passer than Ryan.

I onow for a fact that William Andrews would be a dominating rb in any era.

I know for a fact that the 1980 offensive line would be a really good line in today's NFL.

I admit that the secondary would be abused by Roddy.

[egoprime II]

Our lines in 1998 would be dominant playing against our Falcons of 2012. Especially our D line playing against our O line. RB Jamaal Anderson would have steamrolled the D, similar to how Frank Gore tore thru our D in the NFC Championship Game. The 1998 defensive front seven featuring Jesse Tuggle in his prime, would have stomped the blocking of our 2012 O line. Matt Ryan would have been forced to throw the ball, which would have been murder with Chuck Smith, Lester Archambeau, Travis Hall and Cornelius Bennett rushing the passer. Advantage: 1998 Falcons.

[egoprime II]

The problem with comparing 1980 to more current teams is, back then 275 lbs was considered a good size for an O lineman. Now, OTs are over 300, with guards at 315 plus. 19890's Don Smith was around 275 or so as an NT. And our DBs in 1980 were runts compared to Julio Roddy and Gonz. I do not think the 1980 team would fare very well against either the 1998 or 2012 teams.

[paulitik]

I knowfor a fact that Bartkowski was a better passer than Ryan.

I onow for a fact that William Andrews would be a dominating rb in any era.

I know for a fact that the 1980 offensive line would be a really good line in today's NFL.

I admit that the secondary would be abused by Roddy.

Steve Bartkowski had a better long ball, otherwise Matt was better in every aspect. Steve would agree. Matt's worst year wasn't nearly as close to some of the terrible years Bartkowksi had.

I still think the 1980 team would've rolled the 2012 team.

[FalconFanSince1970]

I know for a fact that Bartkowski was a better passer than Ryan.

I onow for a fact that William Andrews would be a dominating rb in any era.

I know for a fact that the 1980 offensive line would be a really good line in today's NFL.

I admit that the secondary would be abused by Roddy.

Based on what facts?

Bart - 55.9% completion rate, 4.5% TD percentage, 4.2% INT percentage, 7.0 ypa, 12.5 ypr, 187.0 ypg, 75.4 passer rating

Ryan - 64.0% completion rate, 4.6% TD percentage, 2.3% INT percentage, 7.2 ypa, 11.2 ypr, 256.1 ypg, 91.1 passer rating

I believe you forgot Bart blew chunks his first five years in the league with 47 TDs and 54 INTs. Ryan by contrast had 127 TDs and only 60 INTs in his first five seasons.

I would have thought an OldSkool mofo like you would remember that.

[delaigle]

Playing by '80's rules, the '80 team would've mauled the 2012 team. Andrews would've probably gained 150 yards and 3 TD's with "Bombs Away" Bartkowski throwing for 3 more. 2012 team almost completes a comeback but FS Tom Pridemore's uncalled hold of Roddy White on fourth down and goal allows the '80 team to move forward. Score: '80 team: 42 '12 team: 38

playing by today's rules --it would be called off at half time

all the LBs, CBs, Safeties from the 80 team would be ejected from the game --(2 personal fouls each)

but then all the WR, TEs, RBs from the 12 team would be injured and unable to continue

plus I do not believe the 12 team O-line would hold up--- sooo they would probably lose all 3 QBs as well.

note --I've been around since 66 myself--- reallly miss those early days even though the team struggled much then

[Vandy]

Based on what facts?

Bart - 55.9% completion rate, 4.5% TD percentage, 4.2% INT percentage, 7.0 ypa, 12.5 ypr, 187.0 ypg, 75.4 passer rating

Ryan - 64.0% completion rate, 4.6% TD percentage, 2.3% INT percentage, 7.2 ypa, 11.2 ypr, 256.1 ypg, 91.1 passer rating

I believe you forgot Bart blew chunks his first five years in the league with 47 TDs and 54 INTs. Ryan by contrast had 127 TDs and only 60 INTs in his first five seasons.

I would have thought an OldSkool mofo like you would remember that.

Off his meds when he posted that. Confusing having a stronger arm with being a better passer. Like you said, Bart waisted his 1st 4-5 seasons here. Great guy, but not near the career MR has already had.

I do believe that 80 team was best overall team in our history, top to bottom.

Edited June 8, 2015 by Vandy

[PrimitiveJN]

Off his meds when he posted that. Confusing having a stronger arm with being a better passer. Like you said, Bart waisted his 1st 4-5 seasons here. Great guy, but not near the career MR has already had.

I do believe that 80 team was best overall team in our history, top to bottom.

Yea, I'm still wondering why they retired #10 for him... I like #10 and wish it was still in use.

[Monolith2001]

I'm on the "bigger, faster, stronger" train on this one. Nostalgia is great but I think the 2012 team would be unstoppable in 1980 (32 years before) and very difficult to beat in 1998 (14 years before). Human athletes have "evolved" and that probably happens noticeably every decade but certainly has in a generation.

Edited June 8, 2015 by Monolith2001

[Oldskooler]

Off his meds when he posted that. Confusing having a stronger arm with being a better passer. Like you said, Bart waisted his 1st 4-5 seasons here. Great guy, but not near the career MR has already had.

I do believe that 80 team was best overall team in our history, top to bottom.

Read more carefully. I said Bart was a better "passer". Ryan reads defenses better. Then again, he has to.

Bart played in a different era. A run-first era. An era when defenders could mug a receiver all the way down the field.

Offenses in general were much less sophisticated, as were defenses. But they were more physical in what they were allowed to do within the rules. Stats don't mean much when compared in a vacuum.

Watch a Bartkowski pass.

Watch a Ryan pass.

As good as Ryan is (and I am a huge Ryan fan), as a pure passer, Bartkowski one-ups him.

Where the 1980 team's offense would struggle is handling the complexity of a modern defense.

Edited June 8, 2015 by Oldskooler

[g-dawg]

Read more carefully. I said Bart was a better "passer". Ryan reads defenses better. Then again, he has to.

Bart played in a different era. A run-first era. An era when defenders could mug a receiver all the way down the field.

Offenses in general were much less sophisticated, as were defenses. But they were more physical in what they were allowed to do within the rules. Stats don't mean much when compared in a vacuum.

Watch a Bartkowski pass.

Watch a Ryan pass.

As good as Ryan is (and I am a huge Ryan fan), as a pure passer, Bartkowski one-ups him.

Where the 1980 team's offense would struggle is handling the complexity of a modern defense.

Bartkowski had a much stronger arm - maybe the strongest in the NFL back in 1980. No doubt Bart threw a much better deep ball than Matt as well.

As for everything else, Matt Ryan is better in all other categories. How much of it is the evolution of the game? hard to say but Matt is he better QB.

[FalconFanSince1970]

Read more carefully. I said Bart was a better "passer". Ryan reads defenses better. Then again, he has to.

Bart played in a different era. A run-first era. An era when defenders could mug a receiver all the way down the field.

Offenses in general were much less sophisticated, as were defenses. But they were more physical in what they were allowed to do within the rules. Stats don't mean much when compared in a vacuum.

Watch a Bartkowski pass.

Watch a Ryan pass.

As good as Ryan is (and I am a huge Ryan fan), as a pure passer, Bartkowski one-ups him.

Where the 1980 team's offense would struggle is handling the complexity of a modern defense.

Then you must think Jeff George was a better passer than Bart. He had a gun for an arm and his deep ball was just as good.

As for the different era comment, I agree, but the era had little to do with Bart's struggles in his first five years. He sucked in his first five years bro. QB's like Ken Anderson, Fran Tarkenton, Bert Jones, Dan Fouts and Dan Marino played under similar conditions and performed much better.

Ryan came out rolling and hasn't slowed down. My guess is he will surpass all of Bart's accomplishments, if he hasn't already.

[Oldskooler]

Bartkowski had a much stronger arm - maybe the strongest in the NFL back in 1980. No doubt Bart threw a much better deep ball than Matt as well.

As for everything else, Matt Ryan is better in all other categories. How much of it is the evolution of the game? hard to say but Matt is he better QB.

I would agree with that point to a degree. But remember the differences in the era.

Rushers were allowed to club Bart upside the head and roll his knees; both are fines/penalties/possible suspensions today.

Bartkowski's receivers were mugged the length of the field; Ryan's receivers benefit from the 5-yard chuck rule and much more offense-friendly PI calls.

4 and 5 receivers out in the patterns were rare in Bart's day; Ryan routinely has many more receivers downfield to choose from.

So while I agree Ryan is better than Bartkowski as an overall QB, I believe Bart could change eras and thrive more easily than Ryan could.