The Atlanta Falcons found multiple ways to lose to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, in a game that many felt the Falcons should win easily. That’s why division “rivalry” games are different. The Saints were coming off of a week where they just lost to the supposed “worst team in the NFL” Carolina Panthers, and fired their head coach as a result of it. Even with this game being played in New Orleans, the Falcons had the momentum, and better roster headed in to this game that is always a tough one, regardless of either team’s win and loss record. The Falcons knew going in how big of a game that this was going in, so what happened?
All of the momentum that the Falcons had going in to the game seemingly disappeared as soon as the opening kickoff happened. Between allowing completed passes to a guy that just joined the team, missing three field goals, and several other instances where the Falcon just didn’t seem to be focused on winning the game, they were still in it until the end, because they were the better team. Despite losing to the Saints on Sunday, the Falcons still have a 2-game lead in the NFC South, and will likely win it, but is that enough? While winning the NFC South will be great for the Falcons, it should only be a stepping stone to the greater prize, right? This team was assembled to make a run at the Super Bowl, or at least that is what Falcons fans were told. But you don’t lose games like this one if you are a championship team. The Kansas City Chiefs were able to do exactly as much as they needed, again, to get to 9-0 on the season. The Detroit Lions found a way to come back and beat the Houston Texans after their quarterback threw five interceptions. While these were only a couple of examples of championship caliber teams winning close games, they provide examples of championship teams doing what championship teams should do: beat teams that they are better than.
Andy Bunker and Randy McMichael explore this Falcons loss further, and what it could mean for them moving forward.
