Battle of the Birds: Round 2

We all know how the first round ended. It's hard to sit here and say the refs lost Atlanta the game, but it's easier to say the refs cost Atlanta an opportunity to win the game. This time, the Falcons can't leave it up to the refs to bail us out. This time, the Falcons are favored and they are the better team and they need to go out and play like it.

We don't know what the Falcons look like in the playoffs yet in the Dan Quinn era because they earned the first round bye. When the Falcons last played Seattle, a reliable second target behind Julio hadn't quite matured yet, but this time the Seahawks will have their hands full with the arsenal that Matt Ryan has at his disposal. Not only do the Falcons have more reliable targets this go-round, but the Seahawks will be down an anchor in their secondary, missing Earl Thomas.

The Lions simply weren't a good enough all around team to beat Seattle, plus the referees didn't help them out (as they consistently do to road teams in Seattle). They missed opportunities to stay in contention in that game, combined with Seattle's ability to control the clock it was a recipe for a first round win by the NFC West champs.

The Seahawks are going to try and run the ball down Atlanta's throat to control the clock and keep the Falcons off the field. It will be a similar game plan to what Philadelphia did, dink and dunk passes trying to rely on the run game. Russell Wilson has the ability to extend plays, but Vic Beasley has closing speed that no other end in the league can match.

The Falcons defense is going to need to grow up this week against a Seattle offense that can have the ability to give us fits. Keanu Neal will need to keep Jimmy Graham tamed and in front of him, Deion Jones and the defensive line will need to manage the run game in front of them and Vic Beasley will need to be breathing down Russell Wilson's neck the entire game.

Robert Alford and Jalen Collins are the biggest concern on defense because their lack of experience, and they'll be tasked with keeping whatever no-name receiver from Seattle tries to take the main stage. They'll also be expected to keep Russell Wilson from getting comfortable with Doug Baldwin. Seattle does a great job with throwing slants over the middle to open up shots and wheel routes down the sideline, but if the corners can maintain the damage, Wilson can remain uncomfortable and the defensive line can get after him.

The offense will be there. Sure, Seattle's defense is great, but Atlanta creates mismatches in the secondary with multiple targets and then out of nowhere #11 gets open across the middle because you've forgotten about him and he's streaking down the field. Matt Ryan looks more comfortable in this offense than he has ever looked, and it starts with the ability to rely on the offensive line and run game. Atlanta's duo of Freeman & Coleman keeps teams off balance and they can both catch the ball out of the backfield.

My prediction for the game is that Atlanta's offense hangs up 38 on the vaulted defense in Seattle, Richard Sherman will undoubtedly get frustrated and yell at his teammates on the sideline at least once. With the defense yelling at each other, they'll be unable to recognize what is hitting them. Seattle's offense is good enough and Atlanta's defense is quite mature enough to shut them down completely, but they can hold them to 21-28 points. I'll go final score 38-25.

Seattle didn't prove enough to me against Detroit, the score in that game was deceiving, as it was closer than it showed. Detroit didn't play well enough on offense, but the difference in the game was new found running game out of Thomas Rawles. Seattle's offensive line hasn't been very good all season and against a more formidable position group, like the Falcons, their true colors will show.

This will be good playoff mid-term for the Falcons, but the tougher tests are waiting for the Dirty Birds in the NFC Conference Championship game. The only thing that could stop the Falcons in this game is themselves. If the playoff demons that have haunted Matt Ryan in the past surface, it could cement his playoff legacy. If they don't, then the Falcons should survive and advance.