The Beginning of the Falcons Dynasty; Part 2

To recap Part 1...The Atlanta Braves, after 25 years of futility with only 2 playoff appearances and no playoff wins, finally made it to the World Series in 1991. The Braves suffered a devastating loss in the 7th game of the World Series that year. They were defeated 1 to 0 in extra innings. Little did we know in 1991 that the Braves would win 14 Division Titles in-a row, Win 5 NLCS (1991, 92, 95, 96 & 99), and a World Series Championship in 1995.

Part 2
Let's compare the Atlanta Falcons' history and predictions for their future.
In 1966, the Atlanta Falcons entered the NFL as an expansion team. Their first 5 years were disastrous. Finally, in 1971, the Falcons compiled a season record of 7 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie! In 1972, the team would finish with a 7 and 7 record. The 1973 team compiled a 9 win and 5 loss season, and barely missed the playoffs. 1978 would be a water-mark year as the Falcons finished with a 9 and 7 record. This was the very first year of the NFL wild-card playoff game, and the Falcons were a part of the NFC game. They defeated the Philadelphia Eagles by a score of 14-13 for their first ever playoff win! However, the next week the Falcons lost to the Dallas Cowboys in a Divisional game by a score of 27 to 20. After a 6 and 10 season in 1979, the Falcons bounced back with their best regular season in their history to that point. They were 12 and 4, and hosted the Cowboys in a Divisional playoff game. Eerie to say, but the Falcons blew a 4th quarter lead as they lost by a score of 30 to 27! The 1982 was a strike-shortened season. Atlanta compiled a record of 5 wins and 4 losses. They lost to the Vikings in the playoffs by a score of 30 to 24. The next 8 seasons of Falcon Football was pathetic! They had a losing record all 8 years.

Let's compare the Braves' first 25 years to the Falcons' first years.
The Braves reached the playoffs twice with 0 playoff wins.
The Falcons reached the playoffs three seasons with a record of 1 and 3.

Please recall the Braves went from worst to first in 1991. Well, the Falcons under the leadership of flamboyant, second-year head coach Jerry Glanville also had a good season in 1991! They finished the regular season with a record of 10 and 6. They defeated the Saints in the Wild-Game playoff 27-20. The Redskins ended the Falcons' season in the divisional playoff round by a score of 24-7. The Falcons next 3 disastrous years ended with wins totaling 6, 6, and 7. However, 1995 second-year head coach June Jones would lead the Falcons to a 9 and 7 regular season record, but a loss to the Packers in the Wild-Card playoff by a score of 37-20. Once again, the Falcons can't stand prosperity as they have 2 sub-.500 seasons. Lo and behold another pattern continues: under the leadership of second-year head coach Dan Reaves, the Falcons bounce back with their best regular season ever! They compiled a 14 and 2 regular season record! The Dirty Birds (as they became known) defeated the 49ers 20-18 in a Divisional playoff. Then, in one of the most bizarre games ever, Atlanta defeated the Vikings in OT by a score of 30-27! FINALLY, the Falcons are going to the SUPER BOWL! Yahhhhhhh! Then, they were soundly thrashed by the Denver Broncos. In 2002, which would be Dan Reaves final full year, he led the Falcons to 9 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie record. Atlanta defeated the Packers in the playoffs (which was the Packers' first playoff lost at their home, Lambeau Field). The Falcons followed this with a loss to the Eagles in a Divisional round playoff game 20-6. After a 5 and 11 year, Jim Mora would come in as the Falcons' Head Coach and turn things around immediately. In 2004, the team posted a 11 and 5 regular season record, while defeating the Rams in the Divisionals 47-17, followed by a NFC Championship loss to the Eagles 27-10. After a 4 and 12 season in 2007, Mike Smith was hired as the Falcons Head Coach. He really turned the team around! In 2009, the Falcons finished 9 and 7. Then, they went on a run! In 2010, they were 13 and 3 with a Divisional playoff loss to the Packers (48-21). In 2011, a 10 and 6 record gave them a Wild-Card playoff game, but they lost to the Giants by a weird score of 24-2. The 2012 team posted another 11 and 3 record. This time, they beat the Seahawks in the Divisional 30-28, but lost the NFC Championship to the 49ers 28-24.  The next 2 seasons, the team posted wins of 4 and 6, and Mike Smith was fired. Dan Quinn was hired, and the team finished 8 and 8. The pattern for favor for Falcon second-year coaches held! In Quinn's second year, the Falcons finish 11-5. They went on to win the Divisionals 36-20 over the Seahawks, and defeated the Packers 44-21 in the NFC Championship! On to the SUPER BOWL for only the second time in Falcons' Team History! Yahhhhhh! WOW! The Falcons were kicking on ALL cylinders and built a 25-point-4th quarter lead!! UH-OH...you know the rest of the story. The falcons lost in OT to the Patriots 34-28.

Here's the Braves-Falcon Comparison and prediction. In 1991, the Braves had the best GM in baseball, John Shuerholz and a Hall-of-Fame manager, Bobby Cox. Even though the Braves lost the final game of the World Series in extra innings, that was NOT the end! It was only the beginning.
In 2016, the Falcons have one of the very top GMs in the NFL, Thomas Dimitroff, and an awesome, veteran-loving, enthusiastic Head Coach, Dan Qinn! Yes, the Super Bowl collapse was the best collapse in NFL history. But, it is NOT the end! This is the beginning of the Falcons' Dynasty! They will not win the Super Bowl every year, but they will win it within the next 5 years!