At the same time, there was never a moment when the Falcons seemed anything less than the stronger side. Chris Chandler made enough precise throws. The offensive line and Jamal Anderson killed off five vital minutes near the end. This was good, basic football, the brand Dan Reeves promised upon taking this job as coach. With free agency and the salary cap, the day of the overpowering NFL team is gone.
Every club has similar resources.
The teams that win are those that maximize theirs. You maximize not by gimmickry but by boring old repetition. That's what separates Reeves from Jerry Glanville and Dan Henning and June Jones. The Reeves Method isn't going to erode. This isn't to suggest the Falcons are bound for the Super Bowl, even a wild card.