Are Falcons the second coming of 'Greatest Show?'By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch
HOUSTON • These Atlanta Falcons are exciting, fast-paced, high-scoring — to the point that some observers think they are reminiscent of the “Greatest Show on Turf.”
The Falcons piled up 540 points during the 2016 regular season, tied for the eighth-most in NFL history, coincidentally, with the 2000 Rams. That was the Rams team between the two Super Bowl squads in St. Louis, both of which also topped 500 points.
There have been other high-scoring teams since the Rams set the league on its ear at the turn of the century with their high-risk, high-reward approach. From 2010-12, the New England Patriots matched the 1999-2001 Rams as the only teams in NFL history to score 500 points in three consecutive seasons.
Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints guided teams above 500 points in recent years — a barrier that’s been reached only 20 times in league history. Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos scored a league-record 606 points in 2013.
But somehow, the 2016 Falcons are the first team to really be compared to the Greatest Show Rams.
Maybe it’s because of the multiple options in the passing game for Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan. Or the aggressive approach by offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Or the big-play ability of wide receiver Julio Jones.
Ryan was only 14 years old in 1999, the year the Greatest Show burst on the scene and won Super Bowl XXXIV over Tennessee.
“Oh, I remember the team,” Ryan said. “They were fun to watch. I saw Kurt Warner (Monday) night and remember how great of a player he was. The surrounding cast that they had. Marshall Faulk. Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt on the outside. Just unbelievable players. So many guys that could make plays.
“As for the comparison, it’s certainly nice to be compared to them because they were so productive. But we don’t think about it too much. Really, we’ve got a narrow focus, and we’ve had that all year just trying to figure out what we’re gonna do week to week.”
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