Would you be okay if Atlanta's ceiling was the Tennessee Titans of the last five years?

[Kaptain Krazy]

Arthur Smith came from a franchise that has been a consistent winner over the last several years. 9-7 has been the floor, 11-5/12-5 has been the ceiling. The Titans have played in the AFCCG and been the #1 seed. Actually very similar to the first five years of the Ryan era in Atlanta (2008-2012). 

While Tennessee has consistently been good, they've never been great. They reached the AFCCG in a season where they finished 9-7 and when they did earn the #1 seed, they lost their first playoff game at home in the divisional round.

The easy answer is to say "nothing short of winning SBs is good enough," and I'm not disparaging that mentality. But in reading thread after thread where TATFers say "it's a building process, gonna take another couple of years," I'm recognizing that Tennessee may be the ceiling for that kind of approach under Smith (same last name as the Falcons HC who had a similar track record). 

As a Falcons fan, would you be satisfied with the franchise getting back to a respectable status, making the playoffs and being lauded for being tough and well-coached, even if the team never wins the SB (or plays for it)? 

[midas_whale]

I'd be fine with that.

[Norwood all the way!]

If it never wins a SB, then no. I'm fine building this team to that level but in the end, SB or bust.

[Banana Bandit]

Nah. We already did that with Smitty. I want us to be great, not just good.

[Dr Long Shot]

Silly question. Every regime's goal should be the same. Win a superbowl. Was TD and Quinn a success? Almost, but not quite. It's why we fired them. 

[Beast-N-Da-Sheetz]

I'm only cool with rings. Don't wanna be  compared to or follow in the footsteps of any other mediocre @zz teams if they didn't go all the way.

So no that's not acceptable and I hope that's not the ending fate of this regime. 

[kiwifalcon]

If our QB situation doesn’t improve and we stay with this type and Ridder doesn’t amount to anything yes I am.As this is still a QB driven league until we find that next guy the Falcons will always be limited and that doesn’t matter who we have on either side of the ball.

[PriMeTiiMe]

If it does not involve a ring, no.

[Francis York Morgan]

Ehhhh. This isn't a nuanced question at all. Titans realistically had a ceiling of SB winner with Art there if they had a better defense. And the goal is always winning the Superbowl. Still - something to be said about consistent winning.

More specifically? If we run the ball well AND have an excellent defense, it'll be fun to watch, so I'll be down with it. Like, the Ravens haven't won a SB in a bit but they're still a blast to watch most years (though the D is kinda dead this year). But they're still a THREAT to win it all pretty much every year. So give us that and I'll be happy. It's entertainment at the end of the day.

[Dark Bird Rising]

If fans be patient, this team will make them proud for many years to come with a SuperBowl or 2. Trust the brain trust, our new era truly begins in 2023.

[Sun Tzu 7]

I don't know if this is the best example.

This version of the Titans kind of started in 2014 when they drafted Lewan with the 11th pick.

They've gone through the same number of head coaches as the Falcons through that time BUT they fired the previous head coach after he went 9-7 TWICE and lost a playoff game.

There's no ******* way. People here lose their minds if you mention AS getting fired after 3 consecutive losing seasons.

The Titans fired their last coach after 2 consecutive winning seasons. They guy they fired before him didn't even get the chance to have 2 losing seasons. They fired him the year they took a QB in the first round, (who happens to be starting for the Falcons)

So you want to be like the Titans? Then it's time to fire Arthur Smith.

[Drunken Minotaur Zebra]

35 minutes ago, Norwood all the way! said:

If it never wins a SB, then no. I'm fine building this team to that level but in the end, SB or bust.

The only answer. 

 

Stability and talent can and will combine to win a SB. However once a "ceiling" is established then it's hard to break. Think Hawks circa 2008-2016. Playoff appearance practically guaranteed... not huge hopes of a chip, though. 

[Kaptain Krazy]

43 minutes ago, Dr Long Shot said:

Silly question. Every regime's goal should be the same. Win a superbowl. Was TD and Quinn a success? Almost, but not quite. It's why we fired them. 

Well technically, I was asking about the fans' satisfaction with the team, and the "regime" is a different group of folks. Yes, the coaches and front office should have the ultimate goal guiding them. 

My question was for TATFers. 

[Kaptain Krazy]

28 minutes ago, Francis York Morgan said:

Ehhhh. This isn't a nuanced question at all. Titans realistically had a ceiling of SB winner with Art there if they had a better defense. And the goal is always winning the Superbowl. Still - something to be said about consistent winning.

More specifically? If we run the ball well AND have an excellent defense, it'll be fun to watch, so I'll be down with it. Like, the Ravens haven't won a SB in a bit but they're still a blast to watch most years (though the D is kinda dead this year). But they're still a THREAT to win it all pretty much every year. So give us that and I'll be happy. It's entertainment at the end of the day.

Thanks for treating it as a nuanced question, even if you don't recognize it as such.

Your second paragraph was what I'm interested in knowing about our fans. Are Falcons fans okay with "being a contender" even if the team doesn't achieve the "ultimate goal." Like you, I'll take being a threat to win it all. As a STH who's witnessed Falcons teams winning huge playoff games at home and blowing big playoff games at home (even lucky enough to be there for road playoff wins), I'm pleased with that level of achievement and don't go nuts if they fall short of hoisting the trophy. 

[Mister pudding]

Marty Shottenheimer says YES!

[falcndave]

This question was settled for me after SB51.  

I will NEVER be satisfied with anything less than a championship. That said, I have the abilityto comparmentalize and get great joy out of something as minor as a single unexpected win. 

I've seen everything short of a SB win. That is the only checkmark left for me as a fan. I reflect back to the NASCAR career of Mark Martin. He had a decade of greatness, but there was always one guy that was having a career year that would finish one spot ahead of him in the championship (finished 2nd 5 times). About two years before his career ended, Martin said: "When I started this, nobody ever told me I was going to be the best of all time." That is kinda where I am with the Falcons, I didn't start rooting for them because they were the best team. I started rooting for them because I grew up in Metro Atlanta and they were my hometown team. 

Are they frustrating as heck at times: Absodarnlutely!

Did I ever feel like they didn't win when they were the best?  Yes, in 1980. 

Have I even felt cheated as a fan?  Never.

Do I think they are underachieving now? Nope, just the opposite. 

Do I think they will ever win a Superbowl?  Not really, but I wouldn't be shocked if they did. The odds of winning are pretty low even for the best teams entering each season. Of course, that means someone other than the best team can win it in any given season. 

[tbhawksfan]

I'll take the record but not the lack of chips

[Geneaut]

I lived through the 80s with this team. I'm fine with just consistently winning.

[PokerSteve]

1 hour ago, Norwood all the way! said:

If it never wins a SB, then no. I'm fine building this team to that level but in the end, SB or bust.

Agree. I could handle two or three years of moderate success after the last six years of embracing the suck. But not as a substitute for a Lombardi Trophy. The franchise needs to put on its big boy pants and get a trophy, and not next decade.

[RetroRoq]

Winning can sustain a fanbase even during tough times.

Look at the Braves last season, coming off their championship year and for the first 2 months they stunk the joint up and got really far behind to a really well built team. But I think because of the winning of the last few years, Braves fans were incredibly patient and a bit cocky cause they knew the wins were coming.  And when the Braves started winning, the fanbase was not only happy that they were winning... they were confident that the Braves were going to catch the Mets.  The Braves had a lot of excuses for a losing season this year, but they just kept winning instead.

When the dust cleared and the Braves lost in the playoffs, fans pointed to that division banner and are looking at the NL East and saying, "this is ours".  I dont think the fanbase is disappointed and they (we) are just locked into the confidence and possibilities of next year.  Thats what winning gives you.  That confidence that at any moment, you can make the playoffs and go on a run.  Really, thats all any team in any sport is striving for.

[Spts1]

2 hours ago, Kaptain Krazy said:

Arthur Smith came from a franchise that has been a consistent winner over the last several years. 9-7 has been the floor, 11-5/12-5 has been the ceiling. The Titans have played in the AFCCG and been the #1 seed. Actually very similar to the first five years of the Ryan era in Atlanta (2008-2012). 

While Tennessee has consistently been good, they've never been great. They reached the AFCCG in a season where they finished 9-7 and when they did earn the #1 seed, they lost their first playoff game at home in the divisional round.

The easy answer is to say "nothing short of winning SBs is good enough," and I'm not disparaging that mentality. But in reading thread after thread where TATFers say "it's a building process, gonna take another couple of years," I'm recognizing that Tennessee may be the ceiling for that kind of approach under Smith (same last name as the Falcons HC who had a similar track record). 

As a Falcons fan, would you be satisfied with the franchise getting back to a respectable status, making the playoffs and being lauded for being tough and well-coached, even if the team never wins the SB (or plays for it)? 

Since 1966.

[Killing Floor]

Only 1 wins the Super Bowl. 
 

The Titans haven’t been able to close the deal but certainly they are close. And certainly they are aiming for it. No team is great every year. 
 

Titans is a weird comparison except that’s where Smith was before ATL. 

Titans became the Tennessee Titans in 1997 so let’s compare since 1997.  

Not accounting for postseason:

Titans since 1997, 13 winning seasons, Falcons since 1997, 10 winning seasons.  
 

Short Answer:

YES, I’d rather have more winning seasons. 
 

Note the Oilers never won a Championship either.  But knowing your team is close is better than knowing your team is finally rebuilding on the 5th consecutive losing season. You can’t get to the Super Bowl without finishing the season ahead of the division OR with a winning record.
 

Titans are 6-3. We’re not.
 

Also, and I have said this before…

Long Answer:

When my daughter was born my wife was on the mom drugs. I carried our baby into the LDR room and my wife was watching her favorite NFL team, Tennessee.  Steve “Air” McNair rolled over the O lineman and the first words my child heard from her mom were “go Titans! Touchdown!” And yes, I have it on video and also yes, my daughter reminds her every chance she gets that Titans football was more interesting than meeting her baby for the first time.  In my house it would be really easy to be a Titans fan.  Only one who would ever know is me.

 

 

Also, just because I hate where we are even though I love the Falcons,

2019 was the horrible Bucs rebuild year. Do the math. If winning was the only objective all that posturing and cap and draft talk goes out the window. There is always a way. Everyone on the Falcons is good enough to be in the NFL. 

[Falcons Fan MVP]

It all depends on how good the QB is. 

[gambysquared]

I'll take flashbacks of Mike Smith's Falcons. Cleaning up the mistakes and at least rolling out a contender.

[Tribal Chief]

Nah. The Titans haven't done anything but choke in the playoffs the last 5 years. Regular season success is fun and all but it's pointless when you don't win in the playoffs