Will birds fly high next season?

Everyone wants to know what happened to the Falcons last year. Finishing 8-8, the team’s decline from the previous season’s 11-5 record when they made the playoffs was not as dramatic as it seems. The biggest difference was the unrealistic expectations of their fans fueled by the successes of the previous season. With a more difficult schedule, they lost three games by three points each, so they had a shot at matching last season’s record.

Frankly, the Falcons are a middle of the pack team. They defeated weak opponents and lost to good teams. The most telling statistic was their 0-7 record against teams making the playoffs. Their other loss was the inexplicable defeat to Green Bay. Although showing signs of improvement under the new coaching regime, they still have a long way to go in their goal of becoming a consistent top tier team.

The Falcons weaknesses were conspicuous on the field last season. They didn’t stop the run, the safeties didn’t tackle and the offensive line didn’t protect Michael Vick very well. Speaking of Vick, he finished 25th in the quarterback ratings statistic. Teams have learned how to defend against his running artistry, so he must morph into a competent passing QB for the Falcons to reach the next level.

The Falcon’s strength is their running game. They led the league in rushing yardage the past two seasons. If they can patch the holes in their defense and develop a complimentary passing attack, they could return to the playoffs in 2006. Those are some big “ifs”, but diehard Falcon fans never give up hope.