Well This Is Different

[2_legit_2_legit_2_quit]

NFL Power Rankings: No, for real, the Falcons are a Super Bowl threat

Atlanta, led by the likely NFL MVP, is the NFC team no one seems to be talking about

There have been 17 teams since 1990 that have scored 500 or more points in a season.

 

The Atlanta Falcons became the 17th this past Sunday. If they can get their average of 33 points this week against the New Orleans Saints, the Falcons would finish with 535 points. That would put them as the eighth-best scoring team in the NFL since 1990.

Read More

So how come so few think they are a legitimate threat to win it all?

Maybe it's because of the seven teams that scored more than 535 points in a season, only two made it to the Super Bowl -- but none have won it.

The two that made it and lost were the 2013 Broncos (all time scoring leader with 606 points) and the 2007 Patriots (second with 589 points). Both were upset in the Super Bowl.

The other teams that scored more than 535 points failed to make the big game, but the 1999 St. Louis Rams, who scored 526 points, did win it. That makes them the highest-scoring team to win a Super Bowl. The only other teams to score over 500 points and win a Super Bowl were the 1994 San Francisco 49ers, the 1998 Denver Broncos and the 2009 New Orleans Saints.

The 500 points puts Atlanta into some elite company, which is why they are up to third in my Power Rankings. Their improving defense, with pass rusher Vic Beasley becoming a force, gives them a real chance in the postseason. Quarterback Matt Ryan, the likely MVP, is the biggest reason they will be factor. He's playing great football.

If the Falcons beat the Saints this week, the Falcons will have the No. 2 seed, which means they will get a bye, then play at home, and maybe play the title game on the road. With that offense, they can be electric inside the Georgia Dome and then could be 60 minutes from a Super Bowl.

The Falcons are legit. It's time to start paying attention and giving them a real Super Bowl shot.

It's hard to score 500 points in a season.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-no-for-real-the-falcons-are-a-super-bowl-threat/?linkId=32788235

[PK Manley]

22 minutes ago, 2_legit_2_legit_2_quit said:

So how come so few think they are a legitimate threat to win it all?

Maybe it's because of the seven teams that scored more than 535 points in a season, only two made it to the Super Bowl -- but none have won it.

Okay, how about if we go with a larger sample size than just seven?

Of the top 20 offenses of all time, 14 have made it to the conference championship (70%), 10 have made it to the Super Bowl (50%), and 5 have won it all (25%).

[PK Manley]

If anyone is curious which teams those are...

 

8	St. Louis Rams	1999	WIN
12	New Orleans Saints	2009	WIN
13	San Francisco 49ers	1994	WIN
16	Denver Broncos	1998	WIN
21	Washington Redskins	1991	WIN
1	Denver Broncos	2013	SB
2	New England Patriots	2007	SB
11	New England Patriots	2011	SB
14	St. Louis Rams	2001	SB
17	Carolina Panthers	2015	SB
4	New England Patriots	2012	CC
5	Minnesota Vikings	1998	CC
19	Arizona Cardinals	2015	CC
20	Green Bay Packers	2014	CC
6	New Orleans Saints	2011	DIV
3	Green Bay Packers	2011	DIV
9	Indianapolis Colts	2004	DIV
10	New England Patriots	2010	DIV
18	San Diego Chargers	2006	DIV
7	St. Louis Rams	2000	WC

[Dr_truth189]

8 minutes ago, PK Manley said:

Okay, how about if we go with a larger sample size than just seven?

Of the top 20 offenses of all time, 14 have made it to the conference championship (70%), 10 have made it to the Super Bowl (50%), and 5 have won it all (25%).

I know it wasn't you who wrote that quote, but let's be real, it's not because we're scoring too much that we're being ignored.  It's that the media just ignores the Falcons unless something news worth happens.  

[PK Manley]

5 minutes ago, Dr_truth189 said:

I know it wasn't you who wrote that quote, but let's be real, it's not because we're scoring too much that we're being ignored.  It's that the media just ignores the Falcons unless something news worth happens.  

Yeah, I know, but I wasn't really addressing that.  I like flying under the radar anyways.

I've just been seeing this idea lately that historically great offenses haven't fared well in the playoffs.  Just saying that if you look at more than just the top few, they've largely been pretty **** successful.

[SyCo]

Lol prisco always showin us love 

[Ezekiel 25:17]

23 minutes ago, PK Manley said:

Okay, how about if we go with a larger sample size than just seven?

Of the top 20 offenses of all time, 14 have made it to the conference championship (70%), 10 have made it to the Super Bowl (50%), and 5 have won it all (25%).

Now you have brought facts to the table again and even a larger sample.. You have ruined another good story! 

Thanks a lot mr.!

[MilleniumFalcon]

I want to know the scoring margins for those teams relative to league average for those seasons.

[knomercy]

2 hours ago, PK Manley said:

Okay, how about if we go with a larger sample size than just seven?

Of the top 20 offenses of all time, 14 have made it to the conference championship (70%), 10 have made it to the Super Bowl (50%), and 5 have won it all (25%).

1 in 4 chance of winning it all? I'm fine with those odds.

[WornOutFalconFan]

The Falcons are a scary team. It might not be popular to speak positively about our team in the media, but any coaching staff playing against us in the upcoming playoffs will lose sleep, guaranteed.