Welcome to Atlanta, the city of peaches, peanuts and Coca-Cola.
Welcome to Atlanta, the city of gridlock traffic, Snowpocalypse 2014 and unbearable summers.
But most importantly, welcome to the city of upsets.
Yes, you heard that right and football fans all across the city can agree, there’s no place in sports that gets your heart racing only to let it fall back down quite like the glorious city of Atlanta. Only an Atlanta Falcons fan can truly understand the pain and tears that came from the 2012 loss to the San Francisco 49’ers that would have led us to the first Superbowl since 1999. Or how about all those times they were 4th and inches and still couldn’t manage to get it across the line. I won’t even get into the mistakes and penalties that have cost the team countless games they were projected to win. Every year it’s the same: The team either starts off shaky, amps things up and then falls back down again. Or, they give you a false sense of hope in the beginning of the season only to crush your spirit in the second half. Hint Hint: No one can forget Dan Quinn’s first season last year as head coach where they started off on a winning streak, only to become the 1st NFL team to lose five games in row after being ranked number 1 in their conference.
The timeline of each game goes a little something like this:
You wake up and realize “IT’S GAMEDAY!” so you grab your Falcons jersey and a cold one from the fridge and settle in for the game.
The Falcons win the toss, but defer because getting the ball first in the second half is a great advantage. Smart move on their part. Then the game starts and their defense puts a big stop to the other team’s offense and you think “Hey, they look good. Let’s get the offense on the field and get something going”
The offense enters the field. No. Get the offense off the field. They go 3 and out. Or maybe, IF we’re lucky, they get in field goal range and they kick for 3 points. Better than nothing, right? (A common phrase among fans)
As the game goes on, Matt Ryan throws some decent passes and Julio Jones has some great catches, but how many of them actually result in touchdowns? Each move down the field has you biting your nails until there’s nothing left.
However, when they do score, it's like Christmas, New Year's and winning the lottery all at the same time. That burst of confidence makes your entire Sunday afternoon.
Ok, ok. The game is close and I think they may have a chance to win it…GO, GO G-…nope, they lost it.
Ok, so maybe not every game turns out like this. I will admit, as a die-hard Atlanta Falcons fan I want them to do great and see them win, that’s why I’m a fan. I get beyond excited when they complete an incredible play or pass down the field. And don’t get me wrong, Matt Ryan is a great QB and has some impressive stats this year and deserves all the credit.
But let’s face the truth, each year brings a new set of nerves and anxiety that only a true fan can explain. And only a TRUE Falcons fan understands the meaning of “Well, there’s always next year." But I sure am hoping this year, they can prove me wrong.
