The Scariest Scenario for the rest of the NFL ...

Picture, if you will, standing in front of a gypsy, sitting in her flowing robes at a table.  On the table is a crystal ball, held on a pedestal of carved falcons.  Look closer ... see her scarves ... they are all red, black and white.  And, what is that underneath? A glimpse of a #2 jersey!

"Sit." she says.

You sit.

"You seek to know the way.  The way that the Falcons can end the season covered in confetti, wearing t-shirts over their jerseys, a mix of tears, sweat and eye black running down their faces.  Let me show you ..."

She moves her hands over the crystal ball, it clouds, then becomes clear.  Inside, you see things as she narrates.

"The team needs to stay under the radar to end as winners this year.  Starting this weekend, however, they need to position themselves for a Wild Card.  That means beating the Saints, but having it seem more like a game the Saints lose than one Atlanta wins.  Maybe Drew Brees is knocked out of the game for a bit, maybe they have odd turnovers and bounces of the ball.  At the end of the game, Atlanta needs to win, but in a way that keeps them in the shadows."

An image of a satisfied, but not happy Matt Ryan flashes in the ball.

"Then, they need to take care of business with the low end teams - win by 10 at Washington, by 7 at Carolina.  The Giants game they will lose ... in a big way, and the media will all hail the Giants and the Saints as the 'Class of the NFC'.  Two more weeks of easy wins, and the Saints come to town.  Motivated and healthy, the Saints will then beat the Falcons, but in doing so, reveal a weakness in their pass blocking and deep routes.  Mike Smith will store this away for later.  Wins through the rest of the season, and Atlanta will sit before the playoffs as 'The quietest 12-4 team in the league'.  But, thanks to the Saints' early run, they will have to go into the playoffs as a Wild Card."

Her hands tremble as the crystal ball lights up with images from games.  Touchdowns, field goals, Dirty Bird dances ...

"Finally, in the playoffs, Atlanta will meet with an Arizona team riddled with running back injuries.  The Falcons will win, in a close game at home.  Then, they will play the Vikings ... with Tavaris Jackson at QB.  Tavaris will throw four picks, and the Falcons will roll easily.  In the NFC Championship Game, it will then be the Saints they face.  Drawing on the game tape from early in the season, Mike Smith will have them blitz when it is a surprise, and max cover when it is a surprise, effectively neutralizing Drew Brees.  After a season of record numbers ... the glam quarterback will fall to the young protege ... Matt Ryan will throw for five TDs. 

"And last ... the Super Bowl.  From the AFC, fluky scheduling means the Colts play the Broncos in Denver, and they lose.  The Bengals knock the Patriots out, then immediately lose to Pittsburgh by 40.  Hot off that win, the Steelers will underrate the Falcons, and in a game for the ages, Matt Ryan will remain NASA-calculation precise, Roddy White will hold on to catches as Tr0y Polamalu dives in to hit him, and this time, Santonio Holmes doesn't make the tiptoe catches in bounds.  In a well played championship game, the Falcons get just one turnover late, the defense returns it for a TD, and the new kings are crowned."

"YEE-HEHEHEHEEEE!" she cackles as she leans back form the table.

"Beating the teams they should beat, getting a break or two with one dimensional teams getting ill-timed injuries, and standing up to the big test at the end of the year.  That is the way the Falcons win the Super Bowl.  And the high liklihood it happens?  THAT should scare the rest of the league ... YEE-HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEEE!"

Happy Halloween, all.

--NATE HENDRIE