Why Atlanta v. Detroit is the Most Important Game This Weekend

The mainstream media is telling you that the biggest game of the week is Indy v. New England. Really, what's the story in this game? If Denver wins? Okay, I guess they continue to be a viable contender for the Superbowl - just like they were the week before and the week before that. If Indy wins? They'll just have to figure out another way to implode, ensuring that Peyton Manning will never win a Super Bowl. (Yeah, I said it.) Indy, Denver, Chicago, Dallas, NY Giants, Saints, Carolina, New England and all you other so-called contenders, keep your eyes on the Atlanta v. Detroit game. Now, after Michael Vick's rampages against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, a lot of Michael Vick slurpers have come out of the woodwork. Let's see, we've got:

Len Pasquerilli at ESPN.com.

Terry Foster at the Detroit News.

Michael Smith at ESPN.com.

Chris Schmidt at The Daily Texan.

Terry Bradshaw at Fox Sports.

John Erardi at the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Just to name a few... This is the deal. If Vick and the rest of the Falcons dominate this game, you have a reasonable basis to say that Vick's recent emergence as a serious passing threat is for real. This is reason for concern on its own. But if Vick unloads on Detroit, not only will he have established himself as a marksman, it might be the burgeoning of something that should be even more of a concern to the NFL - Michael Vick's killer instinct. The Falcons don't need Vick to have a great game in order to beat Detroit. But if Vick gives it to 'em anyway, watch out. Vick is talented and everything, but all Atlanta fans know he's been inconsistent and probably a little bit emotionally immature in his reaction to some of the challenges he has had to face. If the Giants game was truly the turning point for Vick in terms stepping up, watch out. Indy, New England and the like may become inconsequential.