Atlanta Falcons gave their 2019 schedule announcement the full Game of Thrones treatment (video)

[Chevalier de Saint-George]

Originally Posted by arjay57

So we're supposed to throw the game?

Originally Posted by LTCM

Anyone that played competitive sports will know that you cannot ask a team to throw a game. Even more so with a pro team. That's crazy talk.

I've played competitive before as an amateur. Also, big picture wise, what do the Falcons accomplish from winning? It really is too late and amounts to nothing, you hurt your draft status. These guys are getting older and the window to actually win a SB is shut and locked. I'm really not into mediocrity. They didn't come through when it counted, so these wins are whatever.

[arjay57]

I understand that winning may hurt a team's chances in the next season's draft.

But isn't the draft specifically designed to keep teams from intentionally tanking?

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...draft-position

[Chevalier de Saint-George]

Arjay57, are we really proud of this team being relegated as a squad that's playing spoiler? The Falcons aren't even average record wise. I know most supporters like to be there for bad through good time and keeping the same energy or whatever but these wins don't get me hype. It's like asking for gas money to go on a cross country road trip, collected twenty dollars in two weeks but the kids are excited but we all know $20 won't get you where you need to go from ATL to San Diego. Same thing imo.

[back2atl]

Originally Posted by atlHawks

Trust the process and tank.

Draft pick position per round is overrated. Far from consistent predictor of quality of player or quality of ultimate team.

Also these players and coaches literally have their livelihood / future contracts on the line, of course they won’t lay down and tank. That’s sports talk radio stuff not real life.

Lastly, much of this thread makes me lol at the fair weather falcon fans as usual.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by back2atl

Lastly, much of this thread makes me lol at the fair weather falcon fans as usual.

Lol, at least the Falcons have some fair weather fans.

The reality is that NFL football is pretty much an afterthought in a very highly transient Atlanta region and state of Georgia where most sports fans are focused on (obsessed with) SEC and (some) ACC college football.

Maybe, just maybe, the Falcons might could gain a larger and more devoted fan following if they won games much more consistently.

But even if the Falcons won more consistently, they probably might still would struggle to keep the public's undivided attention in a college football-obsessed region of the country full of such storied college football programs like UGA, GT, Alabama, Clemson, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, FSU, Florida, Miami, etc.

But with the Falcons consistently being inconsistent, they realistically likely have no shot at keeping the public's attention.

That's especially when many (if not most) metro Atlantans and Georgians (along with many, if not most Southeasterners) not only look forward to, but also seem to live almost entirely for college football Saturdays, and especially when the Falcons don't win consistently on a day of the week (on NFL Sundays) that barely places in the hearts and minds of college football-obsessed metro Atlantans, Georgians and Southeasterners.

[Chevalier de Saint-George]

This is unreal, Falcons Fans are happy with the team being a Spoiler and not a Contender. At the very least, be in the playoff mix. The squad is 5-9 the season is a failure...it doesn't matter who played what in the past, if you aren't affiliated with the team or on staff with them, the other things don't concern us paying customers. I'm too old to be investing in this trash season and I don't care if the second string punter perform well enough to remain on team for next year. I get no fun in trying to affect the Saints playoff seedings or upsetting the 49ers. At the end of the day, the season is has been over. Armchair scouts should be doing stand up.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

Lol, at least the Falcons have some fair weather fans.

The reality is that NFL football is pretty much an afterthought in a very highly transient Atlanta region and state of Georgia where most sports fans are focused on (obsessed with) SEC and (some) ACC college football.

Maybe, just maybe, the Falcons might could gain a larger and more devoted fan following if they won games much more consistently.

But even if the Falcons won more consistently, they probably might still would struggle to keep the public's undivided attention in a college football-obsessed region of the country full of such storied college football programs like UGA, GT, Alabama, Clemson, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, FSU, Florida, Miami, etc.

But with the Falcons consistently being inconsistent, they realistically likely have no shot at keeping the public's attention.

That's especially when many (if not most) metro Atlantans and Georgians (along with many, if not most Southeasterners) not only look forward to, but also seem to live almost entirely for college football Saturdays, and especially when the Falcons don't win consistently on a day of the week (on NFL Sundays) that barely places in the hearts and minds of college football-obsessed metro Atlantans, Georgians and Southeasterners.

Good point. We've never been much of a pro football town.

But competition from other pro--not college--teams is farther away. No other NFL team in the state, and the nearest one--Charlotte--is at least 4 hours away.