Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, NFC South
The Falcons lost to the Steelers to start the season and lost to the Packers to end the season, but Atlanta would have a hard time sizing up the Super Bowl and picking a winner.These are two different teams that beat the Falcons.
Atlanta lost to a team that relies less on its quarterback than most NFL teams. That would be the Steelers.
They lost to a team that relies a lot on its quarterback. That would be Green Bay.
The Falcons were a pretty solid team (13-3), but it was obvious they lacked a playmaker on the back end of their defense against both teams.
It was Rashard Mendenhall who burst off right tackle and went 50 yards in overtime to beat the Falcons, 15-9, in Week 1.
Aaron Rodgers dissected the Falcons' with the passing game in a 48-21 drubbing in the playoffs.
It's easy to say the Falcons would rather play a rock em-sock em game with the Steelers than be put through what happened against the Packers. But the Pittsburgh defense could clamp down on Michael Turner and force the Falcons to be a pass-only team. That wouldn't be any fun either.
That's what happened in Week 1 when Turner got 42 yards. The Falcons couldn't score a touchdown and didn't even feel comfortable going for it on fourth-and-one.
What Atlanta needed in both games was a splash-play outside linebacker to get his hands on the ball and make something happen. They have the makings of a truly gifted strong safety in William Moore, who will be a third-year player in 2011.
Now they need one playmaker opposite linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Atlanta could go for defense with their first round draft pick, but they could also try to grab a top-shelf free agent. They are on the cusp of a Super Bowl, no matter what that game against Green Bay suggests.
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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/06/falcons-fans-will-watch-two-teams-that-exposed-glaring-weaknesse/
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