For me, at least, being a Falcons fan has always involved a little irrational hope. When I first became a fan the Falcons were solid and my hometown Patriots were abysmal, but I understood very well that the Falcons were not one of the league’s elite franchises. I hoped they could become one.
That hope has colored every step of my journey as a fan and, eventually, as a writer about this football team. Even on the darkest days, I have a hard time letting go of the idea that excellence is right around the corner, perhaps because I saw those awful Patriots teams turn into something special.