AP: d58e1778-58e1-460d-8298-9a671192f981
The Falcons ended the regular season with a home loss to the Buccaneers despite playing their starters. (AP)
The Atlanta Falcons have the best record in all of professional football. Only the Denver Broncos, who the Falcons defeated 27-21 back in September, can equal their record of 13-3. They have the No. 1 seed in the NFC and are waiting to start their run to the Super Bowl with back-to-back wins in the playoffs. The road to the Super Bowl flows through Atlanta, Ga.

There's just one problem.

The Falcons may have the best record in the NFL but the best team in the NFL right now is coming to Atlanta on Sunday. In the NFL, it's about who is playing well right now. Statistics and a six-game winning streak indicate that the Seahawks are that team right now.

Which team would you rather be?

The Falcons are 13-3 but lost twice in December and haven't won a game since Dec. 22. They lost their last game of the year at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team they tried to beat by leaving their starters in for most of the game. Atlanta's high-powered offense managed just 278 yards and didn't score a touchdown until late in the third quarter that day.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, have put together one of the most impressive runs not only in franchise history, but NFL history. They outscored opponents 193-60 in December and, unlike the Falcons, put up some impressive numbers during that stretch.

In December, Atlanta's offense averaged just 332 yards per game, 85 of those yards coming on the ground. During that same period, the Seahawks' offense averaged 425 yards with 211 coming on the ground.

The defensive statistics tell a similar story. The Falcons have given up an average of 411 yards over the last five games whereas the Seahawks have yielded an average of just 299 yards. Furthermore, the Hawks have played a tougher schedule than the Falcons during that period.

Throw on top of that the pressure the Falcons must be feeling right now. The past two seasons they've lost in the playoffs after successful regular seasons. This must feel like the 2010 season all over again for their fans. Much like this year, the 2010 Falcons finished with a 13-3 record and enjoyed a first-round bye. Then the hottest team in the league came to town and the Green Bay Packers put the Falcons down 48-21 on their way to a Super Bowl victory.

I'll give you this – the loss of Chris Clemons does concern me. The worst thing you can give a quarterback like Matt Ryan is plenty of time to find his big targets like wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones and all-world tight end Tony Gonzalez.

Clem's 11.5 sacks will be missed. The Seahawks may have to dial up some pressure as defensive coordinator Gus Bradley did late in the game last week against the Redskins' backup quarterback, Kirk Cousins.

But the Seahawks have been here before. When linebacker Leroy Hill was down with an ankle injury, backup Malcolm Smith filled in for him and the defense didn't miss a beat. While cornerback Brandon Browner served his suspension, no one threw the ball deep against backups Byron Maxwell and Jeremy Lane. I expect that rookie defensive end Bruce Irvin will follow suit.

The Seahawks are on a roll and when that happens it means you're playing with confidence. You expect to play well and when you don't, like the Hawks' first quarter in Washington last week, you know that you will eventually.

They did it in Chicago against a playoff-caliber team at that time. They came back twice against the Bears to win in overtime. They did it on the road in Buffalo by scoring 50 points. They did it last week by scoring 24 unanswered points in a playoff win in Washington.

The Seahawks know they can win this game. The only thing the Falcons know is that they've lost in the playoffs the past two years and they have a 13-3 record against some pretty ordinary opponents.

Again, I ask: "Which team would you rather be?"

Follow Dave Wyman, 710Sports.com contributor

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Comments (10)


  • Add A Comment

  • grow up/get real wrote...
    In the NFL playoffs it's all about who it hot. . .
    January 10, 2013 10:06 am
    and the Hawks are smoking right now. Atlanta has all the pressure and everything to lose in this game. They are EXPECTED to win, yet they have a legacy of one and done in the playoffs. They have not played well in their last few games, including a home loss to Tampa Bay. If they come out tight and the Hawks jump an early lead, it's over.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rajuseattle wrote...
    hi Dave nice article....
    January 10, 2013 11:00 am
    Yeah I agree with you, Atlanta will cripple under the pressure to WIN the playoff game,if you lsiten to the interviews from Atlanta players, you will notice their level of confidence is not very high, they are scared to death to face the RED HOT seahawks in the playoff game. Sports Psychology tells me this underlying pressure on top seeds does play a very big role and more often Underdog teams like Seattle Seahawks can upset # 1 seed. My prediction for this game is , it will be a big blowout like Bills in toroto, Seahawks D will get about 3 pick 6 and we win 42-3, it will be all dominance by Seahawks D....Go Seahawks and all the Best, Go get W and be ready to travel down to Frozon Tundra.....Next week it will be GB playing aginst Seattle for NFC championship game...Go Hawks.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    Easy answer
    January 10, 2013 11:13 am
    The Seahawks.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Inspector12 wrote...
    BEAST MODE !! and Ball control
    January 10, 2013 11:31 am
    The Falcons struggle against teams with Mobile QB's, Check 1. Good Running Games Check 2 and Strong D.Check 3.We should see Beast Mode Go Bat Crazy on this team...Don't get me wrong Atlanta IS a Good team and Plays well at Home, But to me this is the best matchup of the playoffs for us. We should be able to do "enough" on D to Slow down that passing game to allow for our O to go to work...Long time consuming drives resulting in Points, Exhaust that falcons D and watch for another Huge 4th QTR for the Hawks offense. Keep that Falcons Offense on the sidelines..It will be close for 3 Qtr's then Hawks Finish the Deal 30-17 and bring home the WIN..Look for the Beast to have another signature run that takes the crowd out of the game.GO HAWKS!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rasta Hawk wrote...
    Hands Down
    January 10, 2013 12:51 pm
    HAWKS WIN Thanks for playing, be safe on the way home.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • clevesside wrote...
    In the battle in the trenches...
    January 10, 2013 8:07 pm
    ...as long as our defensive "bandaid" front and LBs can keep pressure on the Falcons OL and Matt Ryan, literally contain him in the pocket with nowhere to go, he can't simply pass. Our 2ndary has their work cut out, if a pass can get beyond 10 yards, maybe. As the 2nd half goes, the Hawks certainly know how to finish. The Falcons-who knows?! I like our chances, as long as Lynch can stay healthy footwise. We're younger and tougher, and modestly put, certainly more deserving of the Lombardi than anybody, good as they are. As you know, Mr. Wyman, it's indeed hard to humble when you're THIS good.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cascadedavid wrote...
    I'll take the Hawks, Dave.
    January 11, 2013 3:25 am
    The ability we have to pound the ball, and make big plays throughout the game I think will take its toll on them. The Hawks have so many different ways to come at them and stop them and I feel that we will be testing what works on both sides, then in the second half I can see them being a step behind trying to adjust to one gashing while we move to another... Matt and his receivers will make their plays, but as the game wears on, and they wear down I can see them taking some chances that will give us opportunities to make some big plays. I can't wait to see the game plans that Gus and Darrel will implement. Dave, you called this one a few weeks ago. You seemed like you wavered a little Monday (maybe because Clem went down). I know that we have to show up and make more big plays than them and I think that we will. We are too complete of a team for these guys. As always I really appreciate what you bring to the shows as we face each opponent. You have hit the nail on the head over and over this year, I value your ability to articulate what happens on the field, and what each of these players bring to the team. It would be awesome if you could put together a segment with you, Paul, Mack, and maybe someone like Mike Tice,or Dave Krieg, for a discussion if we go far into the playoffs. Clayton as the only non player would be good in the mix too. Starting this last off-season we could tell that this was going to be a special year. We're now where we hoped to be then, but man what a ride. Go Hawks!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MainEvent wrote...
    Beast!!!
    January 11, 2013 6:14 am
    Lets Go Hawks!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Toughact52 wrote...
    We're a very tough team to beat.......
    January 11, 2013 8:23 am
    now that our offense has taken shape & our O-Line is playing LIGHTS OUT!NOBODY wants any parts of US right now. Reason why is that, the offense is taking better care of the ball,committing less penaties & converting on 3rd downs, which keeps the other teams defense on the field & their offense off the field. Also,we're protecting the BALL better and not TURNING IT OVER!ALL 3 phases of the game is clicking now. Offense, Defense & Special Teams.When a team is dialed in as this team is,they've shown they can turn GOOD TEAMS into ORDINARY TEAMS and BAD TEAMS into TERRIBLE TEAMS!Everytime they step on the field now, they're confident that they're going to WIN! That's their mind set and that's how they ROLL!You got to love their chances of reaching the BIG GAME! Have faith Hawk fans, the FUTURE IS NOW!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • WhidbeyHawkDawg wrote...
    More Wyman!
    January 11, 2013 10:37 am
    Love your work on the radio and occasional articles, Dave. How do we get 710 to give you a permanent gig with Bob & Groz or Jim & Danny?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }








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