Taking Flight: The Atlanta Falcons No Longer Flying Under The Radar

Coming off a shocking 11-5 season in 2008, many saw the Atlanta Falcons as a fluke. That may be changing soon.

In Week One of the 2009 season, Atlanta faced off with the Miami Dolphins in a "Battle of the Overachievers" from the previous year. Atlanta showed off their newly acquired TE, Tony Gonzalez and rolled to a 19-7 victory.

Still, the Falcons had not convinced the masses.

Week Two saw Atlanta go head to head with the division rival Carolina Panthers. The Falcons defense stymied a Panthers comeback, intercepting a Jake Delhomme pass and preserving a 28-20 win for Atlanta.

Doubters remained unmoved.

In Gillette Stadium for Game Three Atlanta did nothing for their case, losing 26-10 to the New England Patriots.

Falcons haters were quick to write off this team after a loss to the best team of this decade.

Following the Week Four bye, Atlanta faced an undefeated San Fransisco squad on the road in what many saw as a tight matchup. The Falcons dominated the 49ers to the tune of 45-10.

QB Matt Ryan hooked up with WR Roddy White eight times for a franchise record 210 yards and two TDs. Michael Turner also found the end zone three times himself.

The naysayers scoffed that the 49ers were simply exposed as the team they were supposed to be.

This past Sunday, on NBC's "Football Night in America," the Falcons had their first prime time moment to shine.

Taking full advantage of the big stage, Atlanta was able to stop Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears in a 21-14 slugfest. The Falcons D was able to stop Chicago from scoring on their final drive and sealed the deal.

Maybe now the Atlanta Falcons can get some much deserved respect in the NFL.

At 4-1, Atlanta is five wins away from doing something they have never done before—post winning records in consecutive seasons. That's astonishing for a franchise that's been around since 1966.

This Falcons team is different. That's what the outsiders are overlooking.

Owner Arthur Blank has remodeled this franchise in all aspects, but bringing in GM Thomas Dimitroff from the Patriots front office was the most pivotal step.

The team struck gold by luring former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith in to be the head coach. Smith brings a fiery intensity to the Atlanta sideline that the players and fans can get behind.

Coach Smith has made the most of a defense that lacks big names, with the exception of John Abraham.

Last season the Falcons underwent a major face lift at the most prominent positions.

First, Atlanta signed RB Michael Turner, officially ending the DVD (Warrick Dunn, Michael Vick, and T.J. Duckett) era in the backfield. With "the Burner" Atlanta has their first true workhorse halfback since Jamal Anderson went down in the 1990's.

The drafting of QB Matt Ryan was the next turning point for the franchise. Sure, he has a strong and accurate arm, but more importantly Ryan is a leader.

Had the team drafted DE Glenn Dorsey, things might have gone differently. The team might still be searching for an identity, personality, and a reliable signal caller.

Kudos to the team management for building a solid foundation. This Falcon team is for real. Adopting a new attitude, Atlanta is getting used to their winning ways.

Doubters be damned. The Atlanta Falcons have taken flight and will be spreading their wings for years to come.