Tony Gonzalez is having yet another Pro Bowl-caliber season in what is sure to be a Hall of Fame career. But the Atlanta Falcons' tight tend has yet to add a single postseason victory to his resume. That task will be a lot easier if his team wraps up home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs with one more victory, something Gonzalez said his team is focused on when he spoke to reporters earlier this week.
The Falcons can assure Week 17 won't matter if they defeat the Detroit Lions on the road Saturday night. Gonzalez said that while the Lions (4-10) have struggled, they won't lay down:
"It's definitely part of our focus that we control our destiny this weekend where we can get home field throughout the playoffs. It's going to be tough. Watching them on film, they're playing their butts off. They're high energy. They're very good at home. We obviously went up last year and snuck one out, so we're up for the challenge though."
Gonzalez said he was anxious to see how his team responds to such a dominating win over the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants last week. A loss to the Lions just a week later would certainly be a letdown, and not something his team wants as they gear up for a deep postseason run:
"That's what I'm kind of anxious to find out how we respond to as well. I think judging from what we did yesterday at practice and the focus around here, this is that time. This is what you work so hard in the offseason for. ... Let's keep the momentum that we have and see how we come out against a really good football team in Detroit."