Come on now, you had the Falcons going 4-2.
You knew Matt Ryan was a legitimate NFL quarterback.
You never really wanted Glenn Dorsey.
You have plans for the playoff party and reservations for Tampa Bay.
Well maybe not.
But one thing is clear, the Falcons season - no matter what happens the rest of the way - has marked the return of pro football to Georgia after a year hiatus. Through six games, it’s safe to conclude that they are going to play and compete each week.
Too many times last season, you know they didn’t stand a chance entering the games. Things could be going well and then a sack would come or a real bad interception. You don’t get that sense of doom with this team.
Even after cornerback Chris Houston left Rashied Davis cross through his zone, while they were playing quarters, without clinging to him like static guard, you sensed something could still happen. Norwood could bust another return. A reverse or something. There was still time. Not a lot of time, but some time. 11 seconds.
With coach Mike Smith’s team, you know they are going to fight and are going to play the whole game. They went toe-to-toe with the Bears. Lost in the mix was that Michael Turner was still running hard on his 25th carry, despite the hits he was taking.
For right now, the Falcons (4-2) are running with the big boys in the NFC: the Giants (4-0), Tampa Bay (4-2), Arizona (4-2), Washington (4-2), Carolina (4-2) and Dallas (4-2).
In the second group of teams are Green Bay (3-3), New Orleans (3-3), Chicago (3-3), Philadelphia (3-3) and Minnesota (3-3).
The bottom of the NFC includes San Francisco (2-4), Seattle (1-4), St. Louis (1-4) and Detroit (0-5).
After the bye week, the Falcons play at Philadelphia and at Oakland to reach the halfway point. Can they keep it going? Can they find a red zone offense? Will the secondary tighten things up? Is it too early to start thinking about the P-word? (You know, playoffs!)
