Rise Up! Why Atlanta is Better Than: Minnesota

Recently our Bleacher Report Correspondent Falcon Bob wrote "5 Reasons Why Atlanta is Better Than Your Team" a satirical look at what made the Falcons such a great team. It was a humorous discussion, however I do believe that the rest of the NFL has yet to truly realize just how much better the Falcons are this year. There is a reason that ESPN's Colin Cowherd picked Atlanta to win the Super Bowl, it's because he knows that this organization, from top to bottom, is top notch.

This is not a series just to praise the Falcons, or to bury all other 31 teams, but to make YOU, the NFL fan, understand why Atlanta is positioned to hoist the Lombardi Trophy come Feb. 2011 above all others.

We will begin our series with an opponent that is familiar with defeat at the hands of Atlanta on numerous occasions, the Minnesota Vikings!

1) No Diva Quarterback

This picture is the perfect microcosm of why Atlanta is better than Minnesota. 40-year old QB Brett Favre thinks that he is the center of the NFL universe, and even though he is spinning the ball on its axis, he still has this notion that the Vikings should build everything around him and his gunslinger attitude. Matt Ryan would never try to play politics with owner Arthur Blank or upstage his coach on national TV.

Favre may bring in more viewers at this point, but that's about it. What happens when he is in the big game? His last two championship games have ended with him throwing interceptions at the most costly time, just to serve his desire to want to be the hero.

I really do hope that Atlanta plays Minnesota in another NFC championship game. It would be nice to take bets on whom Favre will throw the big INT to in a critical moment. Meanwhile, Ryan showed that he can deliver when counted upon. Just look at his two 4th quarter TDs in the Meadowlands last year.

2) Spineless Coach

Football is a game played on the gridiron by warriors of brute force and skill. It is a game that's won by toughness and grit, even in this pass happy league. The championship teams are often led by great men like Lombardi, Walsh, and Parcells.

Now take a look at this man. Does he look like the kind of guy that can lead men to a championship? He looks like my old English professor from VCU!

Think he'll ever throw a punch at a player the way Coach Mike Smith did when Atlanta played Washington last season? More than likely he'll run towards the water cooler.

Besides, Childress lost a lot of credibility last year with the way he cowered to Brett Favre's whims during the "will he or won't he" drama that's played out every year around this time. Recently, Childress went so far as to criticize RB Adrian Peterson for missing a voluntary workout, even though it was an excused absence.

Smith has the respect of his players, and they will run through a wall for him. Minnesota players would just laugh at Childress and ask him to get their towels for them.

3) Fumble Prone Running Back

Don't get me wrong, I think Adrian "All Day" Peterson is one of the best backs in the league. Unfortunately, he puts the ball on the ground way too much to be relied upon in the big moment. He has 20 fumbles in his first three seasons. To be honest, I'm surprised he didn't fumble his food while taking this picture.

Meanwhile, Michael "The Burner" Turner has lost the ball only 9 times in his six-year career. Also, he doesn't take nearly the pounding that Peterson does, meaning he will have a longer career.

All Day may be spectacular for the Sunday night highlights on NBC, but Turner is more solid. Give me solid over spectacular anytime in crunch time.

4) Aging Defensive Line

It has been said that Minnesota has one of the league's best defensive lines. It is also known that their line is aging and will not be able to produce at the level of last year. Pat Williams and Kevin Williams (no relation) are in the latter stages of their career, with the former Williams still starting at age 37.

What's more, they may still be suspended 4 games for the Starcaps debacle from two years ago. If that happens, DE Jared Allen will not be able to bring the pressure that he did last year on his own.

Atlanta has budding stars on the defensive line such as Kroy Biermann and the return of last year's 1st round pick Peria Jerry. They are younger and will be playing alongside a rejuvenated John Abraham, who is looking for a rebound after a 5.5 sack season. That alone makes them better!

5) No Stadium Issues

I will just say this: I bet that if they were playing outside in Minneapolis come January these fans wouldn't be as vocal. They'd be freezing too much from the cold.

Vikings owner Zygi Wilf (what a name) is still threatening to move the team if they don't get another publicly funded stadium while playing the "well, the Twins got a new toy" card. That's loyalty for you in today's gotta have it bigger mindset of the NFL.

Meanwhile, there are no such issues with Atlanta's Georgia Dome. Even though there were rumblings of a new stadium, most people feel that the upgrades that Arthur Blank has done has made it more than viable for an up-and-coming NFL franchise such as the Falcons.

Besides, if Minnesota does get rid of the Metrodome, I will miss all of the times Atlanta used to own the Vikings in that stadium.