The first dream I speak of was for the Atlanta Falcons to make the playoffs despite finishing the regular season with a losing record. If my Falcons could have beaten the Carolina Panthers for the 2nd time this season, that would have given them a 7-9 record, the NFC South division title, and a home playoff game with the Arizona Cardinals. Instead, they got a 34-3 beating at home in the Georgia Dome by the Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers are living the Falcons dream of postseason play by hosting the Arizona Cardinals on Wild Card Weekend on Saturday.
It all started badly when the Panthers got the ball to start the game. Then they proceeded to march down the field any way they wanted to for more than seven minutes. Cam Newton could do no wrong with the ball and with his legs. Mind you, he survived a car crash just a couple of weeks ago.
By air, on the ground, first down after first down, the Falcons survived by allowing only a field goal to make it 3-0 Panthers.
My Falcons had to punt, then the Panthers had another ten play drive that ate up only less than five minutes culminating in a Cam Newton to Ed Dickson five yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Carolina near the end of the first quarter.
My Falcons had hope even though Fullback Patrick DiMarco dropped what could have been a touchdown catch to make it 10-7. Instead the Falcons had to settle for a field goal and make it 10-3 Panthers.
Surely my Falcons could still dream of the postseason, but dreams came to die with my Falcons after Matt Ryan threw the first of his two pick-sixes to Roman Harper to make it 17-3. Former Bulldog Thomas Davis caught the other pick-six for Carolina.
Near the end of the half, Roddy White Fumbled, Cam Newton ran five yards for a touchdown, all hope was lost and my Falcons playoff dream was over.
My Falcons suffered their worst loss of the season; 34-3 was your final where the Carolina Panthers celebrated on the Falcons field this past Sunday.
Another dream went to die on Monday. Mike Smith's seven year tenure as Falcons head coach was over. Arthur Blank and company made it official in a late morning news conference confirming what I and all of the Atlanta Media suspected.
Mike Smith made many Falcons fans' dreams come true when he came here in 2008. He cleaned up the mess that was Michael Vick and Bobby Petrino. He brought stability and consistency (words never previously described about my Falcons). He brought consecutive winning seasons here for the first time EVER. He gave me hope in January 2013 that the Falcons would reach the super bowl (they fell short against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game). He helped make the Falcons lovable again.
Now, the Falcons must dream big just like team owner Arthur Blank does. He's hired three coaches who have NEVER had previous head coaching experience at the NFL level. He must change that and bring in someone who has won something at the NFL level. Rex Ryan (Formerly of the New York Jets) comes to mind.
My Falcons have to dream big and make a big splash at the head coaching position so that fellow fans and I do not have to endure any more consecutive losing seasons. That's the kind of consistency we don't need here anymore.
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