Atlanta Falcons' Super Bowl Chances Have Iced over in Hotlanta

The Atlanta Falcons reached the NFL playoffs, but the season will be over very soon for this young team.

Before the year started, the team was a respectable 15-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. After having the best record in the NFC last season, that appeared like a solid pick.

Unfortunately the season did not go as planned. A 10-6 record gives the Falcons the fifth-seed in the NFC, and it seems they are now a long shot to go all the way.

The first problem is the road to the title. Unless the Detroit Lions reach the NFC Championship Game, every game from here on out will be away from Atlanta. Like many other teams, the Falcons struggle on the road.

This season the team lost only two games at home, but twice as many on the road. In the two previous years Atlanta had a 13-3 record in the comfort of the Georgia Dome compared to only 9-7 otherwise.

There might have been a chance for the Falcons if the competition was a little easier, but winning the NFC will take an impressive run.

Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees just capped off two of the best seasons a quarterback has ever had. Rodgers finished with the best single-season quarterback rating of all time at 122.5 and led the Green Bay Packers to a 15-1 record. Brees broke Dan Marino’s record for passing yards in a season as the New Orleans Saints won the last eight games of the year.

Not only do these two teams have a chance to tear apart the Falcons defense, but Matt Ryan and company could also have to get past the best defense in football, the San Francisco 49ers. That unit let up a bit in the last few weeks, but until Week 16 it had given up the lowest points in the NFL while not allowing a single rushing touchdown.

They will have a hard time getting past the New York Giants who won three of their last four games to win the NFC East.

Besides the competition, the Falcons have their own problems. In 2011 Atlanta was 1-4 against teams currently in the playoffs, so it is obvious the team is not ready for the big time.

The defense gives up 236.6 passing yards per game. While there are worse defenses in the NFC, the Packers will not have to face Aaron Rodgers. The Falcons will.

Atlanta also has trouble running the ball with consistency. Michael Turner is one of the best running backs in football, but the yards per carry mark of 4.0 is among the worst in the league.

The Atlanta Falcons are one of the better teams in football, as they have proven they can beat low-quality teams with consistency. Unfortunately, they are not yet elite and will not be bringing home the Super Bowl this season.