Live from Tampa Bay: The Falcons seek to Buc(k) a trend
I'm not exactly sure what this evocative image evokes, except a thirst for Gatorade. (AP photo)
Tampa — The Falcons are 9-1, but by my reckoning they’ve played one really good game in their past seven. (The one: At Philadelphia ahead of Hurricane Sandy.) Then again, they’ve won five of those six not-really-good games, so what’s the problem?
This: A team wants to be playing well in December, so as to keep playing well into January/February. The Falcons know this better than anyone, having seen consecutive seasons ended by teams that weren’t, as of Thanksgiving, anywhere near locks to qualify for postseason fun and frolic. We know already that these Falcons will make the playoffs. What we don’t know is if they’ll fare any better once there.
Today marks Game 1 of a loaded (and shortened) week. They play the Buccaneers, who’ve won four in a row, and then they play the Saints, who’ve won five of six, on Thursday night. Sweep the week and we won’t be quibbling, at least not so much. Get swept and the carping will be unconfined.
Confession: A couple of weeks back, I suggested this would be the venue for the Falcons’ first loss. As we know, the Saints interceded. Part of me thinks the Falcons are pointing toward this game as another checkpoint, same as they were the game in Philly. Then again, they wanted badly to win in the Superdome, and they didn’t. So here’s what I’m saying, kind of:
If the Falcons are as good as they (and I) think they are, they’ll win this one. But they can’t beat Tampa Bay by half-stepping, or by turning it over six times. They’ll have to play well, and it has been a while since they’ve managed that.
Whatever happens, I’ll be here to watch and comment, and I’d appreciate the company. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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1,274 comments Add your comment
Randy14
November 25th, 2012
3:15 pm
No huddle!
Your Comment is awaiting moderation
November 25th, 2012
3:15 pm
What’s amazing is Tampa has built their team primarily through the draft so they are set for the future. When Tony and Abe are done this team is in trouble.
DawgPrint
November 25th, 2012
3:15 pm
This team, as constructed, and led, cannot win a playoff game.
SOS Falcons
November 25th, 2012
3:15 pm
My GOD Turner just plain sux.
dean
November 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
“Nowhere to go”
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
I cannot deal with this 2nd and long anymore. I am about to lose it.
Roy
November 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
I’m so tired of Turner. He is no good for this team. It’s obvious yet we keep running him only to lose yardage!
Randy14
November 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
Ah yes there it is…Turner for a 3 yd loss
Section 212
November 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
We didn’t go for the kill and we paid for it. Like I just said, Sit Turner now is not his time.
Mr C
November 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
Michael Turner … negative yds
J.J.M.
November 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
falcons playing to lose
rm
November 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
We are good but not sure we are great. Just haven’t played well the last 4 weeks or so. Now the d is banged up. Starting to see a frustrating pattern of average play. And our run blocking is pathetic
playmeortrademe
November 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
My god Turner cannot cut to save his life
Randy14
November 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
I’m sorry to dog on Turner…he’s just toooo slow….can’t anyone see that????
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
“This team, as constructed, and led, cannot win a playoff game.”
Bullshirt.
Section 212
November 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
ONCE AGAIN, WE COME OUT WITH CONSERVATIVE PLAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Real Falcon
November 25th, 2012
3:17 pm
big play
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
3:17 pm
Ryan to Gonzalez. First down. How many times have I typed that?
SOS Falcons
November 25th, 2012
3:17 pm
Keep the ball away from Turner.
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
3:17 pm
When your DBs fly around like missiles with their helmets/shoulders and try to either dislodge the ball or knock out the opposing players, they will get shoulder injuries and concussions. Period.
scfalcon
November 25th, 2012
3:17 pm
Wasting plays on Turner.
The Real Falcon
November 25th, 2012
3:17 pm
GONZO!
Randy14
November 25th, 2012
3:17 pm
Gonzalez to the rescue
DawgNole
November 25th, 2012
3:17 pm
They finally throw another to TG–old reliable.
me
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
The 1st down run by Turner and then his run in space after the screen was enough for anyone to see he has lost it. That first down run was pathetic.
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
JSS, was that 4 yard Turner screen due to a “lack of blocking” or a stunning lack of mobility in the open?
Your Comment is awaiting moderation
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
I guess all those dirty head hunting missions Dunta has dished out is coming back to roost.
Section 212
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
Keep feeding the beast!!!
FALKONFAN13
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
Still trying to figure out why the Falcons run a stretch play????? 2 stretch play runs = – 7 yards!!!
Mr C
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
Turner negative yd
Randy14
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
Just keep passing the freakin ball……Turner again?
Section 212
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!1
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
holy mother of….stop with Turner up the middle!
tmc
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
what was that?
SOS Falcons
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
GD it. Keep the ball away from that loser Turner.
DawgNole
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
Spin move by Turner–and still loses yardage.
Dt
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
I have always been a turner fan but his time is gone. These 1st down runs for negative yards are puzzling to me.
J.J.M.
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
turner again
Walker the Infant Falcon
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
How many yards does Turner have?
me
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
My God why do we keep giving the ball to the slowest back in professional football who runs like he weighs 190 lb.s
Dilla
November 25th, 2012
3:19 pm
All you have to do to bring Turner down is take his legs out, easy tackle.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 25th, 2012
3:19 pm
Don’t blame Turner so much. The run blocking is simply not there.
jerry
November 25th, 2012
3:19 pm
Turner has as many touches as White, Jones, and Gonzales combined.
Roy
November 25th, 2012
3:19 pm
Tampa has the worst secondary in the league yet we run Turner. Ballgame.
JSS
November 25th, 2012
3:19 pm
Boom!!!
Augusta
November 25th, 2012
3:19 pm
that’s it…there it goes…
Saints R.E.A.M.
November 25th, 2012
3:19 pm
Falcons running game = comical.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 25th, 2012
3:19 pm
Is Ryan blind?
dean
November 25th, 2012
3:19 pm
That hurts big time
me
November 25th, 2012
3:19 pm
OLine coming through in the clutch.