That 34-0 thrashing of the world champs indicates to me this could be the year Matty Ice gets over the hump and wins at least 1 playoff game. Btw, that was the worst shutout defeat a defending champion has taken in NFL history.
Take all of the teams who could get the 4-6 seeds in the NFC and which one could come into Atlanta and win in the divisional round? Maybe the Redskins if they get in and win in the 1st round...... they would be red hot if they get to 10-6 and win an opening round game. The Giants could certainly do it despite getting beaten so badly last week by Atlanta. They are the champs for a reason. But, you gotta like Atlanta's chances against either of those 2 teams and especially anyone else.
The NFC Championship game will be tough. If Matty Ice wins that divisional round game, they will likely host a GB vs SF winner. I think Atlanta would beat SF and GB would be the tougher game for them.
This will be only the 2nd playoff game this Falcons team has hosted. They take a helluva beating over being 0-3 the last 4 years, but the only home game they had was vs. GB the year NOBODY stopped GB. That Packer offense lit everyone up. Its not like Atlanta was some kind of lone chump. Green Bay won the SB by scoring a ton of points on everyone in the playoffs that year.
The other 2 games were road losses agaisnt teams that also went on to win the NFC and play in the SB. The Giants won it and the Cards lost that close one to the Steelers. So its not as if Atlanta is coming up short against weak teams that didnt deserve to be in the playoffs. They went out against teams that all went on to the SB, two of them winning it.
Lets see what happens this time. Again, I like their chances to win at least get to the NFC title game. I predicted Atlanta vs Denver in the SB at the beginning of the season. I will stick with that. I think Atlanta hosts the GB/SF winner in the NFC championship and the Denver vs. NE matchup in the divisional round producing the AFC champion.
