The Fans' Favorite Falcon series, presented by Ford, rolls on with the first matchup of the second round.
How do you decide between No. 4 Steve Bartkowski vs. No. 12 Jeff Van Note?
Steve Bartkowski
If there's a record for it in Falcons lore, chances are, Steve Bartkowski owns it. The definitive quarterback of the Falcons in the late '70s and early '80s, Bartkowski still holds the Falcons record for all-time passer. By a lot. He threw for 23,470 yards in his career and there's no one within 6,000 yards of him. Bartkowski is a favorite for a lot of reasons, namely for securing more than 50 victories during his Falcons career and guiding the team to its first playoff victory in franchise history in 1978. It's not uncommon to walk through the Georgia Dome today and see a slew of Bartkowski jerseys among the crowd.
Jeff Van Note
If you think of the word "longevity," Jeff Van Note's face should pop up in your mind. The Falcons Ring of Honor member played an unheard-of 18 seasons, all with the Falcons. He is second in the Falcons record books with 246 games played and 225 games started. With six Pro Bowl appearances in those 18 seasons, Van Note is the definition of a Falcons legend. Van Note was originally drafted to play linebacker, but then-head coach Norm Van Brocklin shifted Van Note to center, where he earned the starting spot in 1970 — and never gave it up until his final year in 1986.
The Matchup
If you thought voting was difficult in the first round, you're probably really troubled by this matchup. On one side, you have the best quarterback in Falcons history in several all-time records categories — a man who is as synonymous with the Falcons as any player who has ever come through the franchise. On the other side, you've got a guy that Bartkowski never would have been able to accomplish any of his achievements without — a man who played the game with a blue-collar, lunch-pail attitude during a career that spanned nearly two full decades. This match could easily be a championship bout, but this just goes to show how many great players have spent all or part of their careers in the Falcons' red and black.
Download the entire bracket here. * Visit the Fans' Favorite Falcon main page
