A week after being dominated by the Carolina Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons served notice that they are, indeed, of championship quality.
The Falcons humiliated the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, 34-0, a thrashing so thorough that even the cynics have to acknowledge their potential.
“They put a pounding and (butt)-whipping on us,” Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said.
As receiver Roddy White said in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “We showed that we can play with the big boys,” said wide receiver Roddy White.
And how. From Asante Samuel’s interception of Eli Manning’s first pass to the final horn, the Falcons dominated the Giants, who now have to get some help to even make the playoffs. Those fans who abandoned Atlanta after last week’s sluggish performance have reason to return now.
“Who’s ready to get back on the bandwagon?” tight end Tony Gonzalez, who had a touchdown catch, said. “Honestly, I really don’t care (about conventional wisdom). . . We know we’re a good football team. But national recognition and validation will come only when we get in the playoffs and play like we can.”
The Falcons have been knocked out of the playoffs in their first game the last three seasons. So, even though they are 12-2 and will seek to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win at Detroit next week, true validation will not come until they make some post-season noise.
“I understand why the media doesn’t have the stomach to pick us,” Gonzales said in the AJC.
“We love the haters,” Samuel said to the newspaper. “The haters keep us going. So keep the hate coming. It makes us play with a chip on our shoulders. We love that.”
He added that playing at home gives the team an edge.
“When you come to the Georgia Dome, this is our house,” Samuel said. “That’s how we have to look at it. We ain’t taking no prisoners in our house. That’s how we are going to take the field. We are going to take the field as champs and you can’t do nothing in our house.”
