Well break out your Dirty Bird shirts and start making plans for Tampa — the Atlanta Falcons appear to be one of the greatest teams in NFL history

            Perhaps that’s a little bit of a stretch, but Atlanta sure did look impressive on opening week. They also made me look like a fool for saying they’d go 0-16 while looking bad at doing it. There’s no shame in admitting I was wrong.

            The Falcons, surprisingly, have a shot at a pretty good first half of the season. Outside of the NFC South, Atlanta has home games with Kansas City and Chicago and road trips to Oakland and Philly. If the Birds play the way they did Sunday, three of those are winnable games. Break even in the division and everybody could be talking Matt Ryan and Mike Smith.

            But let’s not get carried away. Beating Detroit into submission is one thing. Going on the road to Tampa Bay is another.

            Fal-cans take a step back, lose 27-10.

Overall mark for the Chad: 26-28.

Escapism

            For those that didn’t make it out to Paulson Stadium on Saturday, the 34-20 final might make you believe Georgia Southern had everything under control in its win over Austin Peay. Nothing could be further from the truth.

            The Eagles (1-0) played lackluster, just-going-through-the-motions        football against their Ohio Valley Conference foe, and it almost cost them a fourth straight loss in a shocking upset.

            But for some reason, after every fumble bounced the Governors’ way and after every little yellow flag indicated a mistake on GSU, the Eagles woke up, recovered and came from 20-13 down in the final quarter to win.

            Some who may have been thinking playoffs after the loss to Georgia could be tugging at their collars for air after this one. Pulling out a late win against a team which, on paper, was overmatched could spell trouble.

            I’m here to tell you it doesn’t.

            Finding a way to win, even on your worst days, can build confidence for a young team which has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

            The Austin Peay win was big for this team. That momentum should carry over against our friends from Boston — Northeastern.

            Eagles find a way again, 38-21.

Bucks vs. Men of Troy

            Some of the luster for this one has certainly dimmed since the start of the season. Ohio State at Southern Cal appeared to be a national championship preview in September. Now it just appears to be a USC showcase against an overrated Buckeye team.

            I do believe Ohio State will get better and most likely win the Big Ten. But to my father the OSU alumnus, I’m sorry to do this to you:

Trojans 40, Ohio State 17

Georgia at Calling all Quarterbacks

            This is Georgia’s first true test. On the road in the Southeastern Conference with a big bull’s-eye on your back. Good luck.

            Luck, however, probably won’t be needed for this one. Carolina can’t find a QB and Georgia can’t find someone to stop them — yet.

            Another Dog day: Georgia 35, South Carolina 7.