Because of the time and place, Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux may appreciate the team’s Super Bowl trip more than any other player on the roster.
Babineaux is a Falcons lifer, drafted in 2005. So he’s been part of some very good Falcons teams that didn’t make it this far. Babineaux, 35, is also in the final year of his contract. He said he keeps coming back to play because his body feels good, but also because he keeps chasing an NFL championship.
That ring now is closer than ever for Babineaux. And he’ll get to reach for it in Houston, about 90 miles west of his hometown of Port Arthur, Tex.
“It’s a great feeling to be one step closer to the goal as a player,” Babineaux said after the Falcons beat the Packers on Sunday in the NFC Championship game. “Knocked on the door a few times and wasn’t able to cash in. To have that opportunity now, it’s truly unique.
“Throughout the game, I had some thoughts and emotions. It’s kind of numb right now trying to sink it all in and enjoy the moment.”
The Falcons soon will begin preparation for the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 against the Patriots. But first they soaked in the glory of the second NFC championship in franchise history.
The celebration started even before the game ended, when Babineaux and teammate Eric Weems hoisted a cooler and gave coach Dan Quinn the traditional bath.
“I had no idea that Weems and Babineaux were up to tricks behind me,” Quinn said on Monday. “That was a really cool experience. That had never happened (before). That was a moment I won’t forget.”
The party continued on the field immediately following the game. Players, coaches, staff and owner Arthur Blank danced on a stage after a dominating 44-21 victory over the Packers that electrified fans for the final game at the Georgia Dome.
Those good feelings continued into Monday. The Falcons had a team meeting to review the game, like always, but had some lighter moments during the session.
Quinn said the team ribbed quarterback Matt Ryan for his awkward touchdown celebration. Quinn said the Falcons also presented a game ball to guard Andy Levitre for his wife Katie, who went into labor during the team’s divisional playoff victory over the Seahawks.
“We did have a lot of fun today,” Quinn said. “The energy was right, as you would expect it to be.”
But Quinn said the Falcons got down to business. They will follow a plan that Quinn said he put together during the playoff bye week. His goal is to make this week as normal as possible, an approach he’s maintained even as the games have grown more important.
The purpose of the Monday game review is to make honest assessments about the team’s performance. The players are off on Tuesday. The theme in Wednesday practice is competition, the focus on Thursday is turnovers (preventing and forcing them) and Friday, the Falcons emphasize finishing.
“Week 4, Week 8, Week 16, Week 19 — when you are inside these walls, it should feel the same,” Quinn said.
The Falcons are set to travel to Houston on Sunday to begin a week of practice and heightened media attention. It will be a new experience for all players except for the five on the active roster with Super Bowl experience on previous teams: Dwight Freeney (Colts), Phillip Wheeler (Colts), Courtney Upshaw (Ravens), Dashon Goldson (49ers) and Joe Vellano (Patriots).
The Seahawks made two Super Bowl appearances with Quinn as defensive coordinator. They beat the Broncos in the 2014 Super Bowl and lost to the Patriots the following year.
Quinn said he won’t dwell on those games because they were with a different group of players and coaches. But he said he’s already begun to share the lessons he learned.
“I’ve gone when it’s gone well and I’ve been a part of when it hasn’t,” he said. “I wanted to really outline the keys to playing well in the game and managing some of the things on outside. That’s part of the process that I can help share with guys … but the most important thing is relying on one another.”
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