Yes, my Falcons lost, but my head will still be high. I hope the team hangs their heads high as wellI’m proud of my team’s effort and accomplishments this season.
Yes, they failed. Yes, they went down rough. Yes, they were completely outplayed, outcoached, maybe even outhustled.
But they showed heart this year, and that I’m willing to accept.
Last year our star quarterback disgustingly refused to play for our horrible coach and (finally) cost him his job.
Last year our team lost to every possible team you could think of, even perennial victories against Carolina and Nawleans.
Last year our greatest achievements came after we had long since been eliminated from the playoffs.
This year we came one game from the promised land, losing a tough 27-10 to a clearly better (and much more experienced) Eagles team.
I’m not dissapointed. Heck, I’m happy for them. They earned it.
Given, I expected humiliation all week so this loss is not surprising, but I truly am happy for the Eagles.
McNabb has earned this appearance, as had Andy Reid and the entire organization. Atlanta should be the ones who have been punished and forced to lose 3 years in a row in the title game, not Phily. At least Phily has occasionally TRIED to be competitive over the last 35 years. Atlanta hadn’t TRIED until the last decade.
Also, Phily was stuffed in a division with the G-Men, The Skins, and America’s team, a total of 10 Super Bowl titles and 14 appearances. The Eagles did muster one appearance, which is equal to the number of playoff victories former division foe Arizona has had since 1948.
Conversely, Atlanta was in a division with New Orleans (need I say more), two annual victories or so they should have been. But Atlanta did not try. Also, The Rams, after five NFC title game appearances in six years from 1975 to 1980 (and one a few years later), fell flat on their faces for the next 18 years. And after all this pathetic happenings, the NFL decided to give Atlanta and their division an expansion franchise in 1995. How the heck did Atlanta win 1 playoff game in just a five appearances from their inception through 1997? I’m sure trading Brett Favre and Deion Sanders did not hurt.
Oh, did I not say that the Atlanta playoff victory happened to come over none other than those pesky New Orleans Saints, or ‘Aints as they are affectionately called?
So while Atlanta spent 28 years battling with cellar dwellars and one powerhouse in San Francisco, the Eagles were trying to compete against the best NFC team of the ’70s and the ’90s in the Cowboys and the second best team of the ’80s in the Redskins and also a 2-time Super Bowl champion in the Giants. Even the Cardinals became respectable through the late 70s. And the Eagles were at least competative.
Oh, and San Francisco sucked during the mid-to-late ’70s and the Rams took over by default.
Atlanta sucked.
So why has Philadelphia had to endure these past few years of heartbreak now that the Cowboys, Redskins, and Giants all suck and Atlanta earned the right to thrive?
It isn’t fair.
But Philly prooved their worth and their toughness. Playing those NFC East badboys have branded them winners, finally.
Atlanta, your time will come.
So I am happy with my team’s performance this year. We turned the corner, faced adversity, lost some huge games (55-10), but made it to the NFC Championship game.
Maybe next year we will break through.
Congrats to the Eagles, but may the Falcon fans wear their colors proudly tommorow. Our team deserves it. Let us show them our appreciation.
Atlanta in 2005.
On a sadder note, there will be no Johnny Carson.
But still, Atlanta in 2005.
