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
Dilla
November 25th, 2012
3:31 pm
Good play Ryan
nodefense
November 25th, 2012
3:31 pm
I just said that Harry had to do more.
DawgPrint
November 25th, 2012
3:31 pm
Oh my goodness!!
dean
November 25th, 2012
3:31 pm
Assuming the PAT!
Mr C
November 25th, 2012
3:31 pm
Did Turner just had a non-negative yd?
ramblinwreck80
November 25th, 2012
3:31 pm
TD TURNER!!!
falconsrus
November 25th, 2012
3:31 pm
Micael Tuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrerrrrrrrr the Burneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!!!
Roy
November 25th, 2012
3:32 pm
Falcons are so much better on sweeps than trying to pound it right up the middle.
DawgNole
November 25th, 2012
3:32 pm
ANOTHER break. Good teams take advantage of breaks–in this case, by holding on to the slim lead.
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
3:32 pm
Great, Turner got a TD. Now Smith will think he’s a viable option again.
Growler
November 25th, 2012
3:32 pm
Another one coming down to the wire. This was the best of today’s early games on paper, and it’s playing out as such…
Andy
November 25th, 2012
3:32 pm
Mark
It sounds like there is a fair number of Falcons fans there. True?
FALKONFAN13
November 25th, 2012
3:32 pm
About Dam time! Can the defense hold up?
tmc
November 25th, 2012
3:32 pm
That’s the way it should be down on the goal line…
it aint that difficult.
Answer This
November 25th, 2012
3:32 pm
Nice run!
ramblinwreck80
November 25th, 2012
3:33 pm
okay “D”…let’s get a “pick 6″ and put this game away!!!
Hummon
November 25th, 2012
3:33 pm
TV color man credits Ryan with drawing defensive holding flag by throwing pass to HD despite him not being open. If so, cagey play.
Roy
November 25th, 2012
3:33 pm
Falcons defense has to step up now.
Dt
November 25th, 2012
3:33 pm
The falcons at least keep u watching every week till the very end..makes for good tv
jerry
November 25th, 2012
3:33 pm
Prediction: That run will get Turner another 100 carries up the middle…….with the same results as before.
rm
November 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
Whos wearing that 33 jersey? Dude had speed
dean
November 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
Y’all DO know how this is going to play out?
Randy14
November 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
How many on here think we can stop them before the 50 yd line?
The Real Falcon
November 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
Now can we play D?
me
November 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
Falcons D with their 2 cover corners. Lets see if we can get a crazy play from someone.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
Falcons in good shape. Even if Tampa Bay scores, the Falcons will get it back.
Not seeing a seven-minute march
Section 212
November 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
Okay defense, if you are unable to stop them to punt, then allow them to quickly move down the field and hold them to a FG with 3 minutes left. Hey defense, TB is going to run the ball to attempt to shorten the game.
Growler
November 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
So Ryan is 24-30 for 338 yards with the INT and lost fumble. Hard to overlook the turnovers but that’s a pretty good day, so far.
NORRIS CHUCK
November 25th, 2012
3:35 pm
Wish i knew what was going on, im stuck watching the Titans/Jaguars stink up the place while the commentators are saying “got some upsets brewing today” but they havent shown one gamebreak today!
And might i add the commentators are horrible!
Valdosta Falcon Fan
November 25th, 2012
3:35 pm
Julio needs to touch the ball more, his running after catch is deadly.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
3:35 pm
Both Samuel and Robinson are playing, FYI.
Charles Davis
November 25th, 2012
3:35 pm
As the color man, I am paid to make those astute observations…..some people will actually believe them.
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
3:35 pm
Make a play defense!
Roy
November 25th, 2012
3:35 pm
Martin only has 50 yards rushing. Good day against him.
DawgNole
November 25th, 2012
3:35 pm
david
November 25th, 2012
3:27 pm
Quizz has got to play more. I know it’s not just fans who see this; hoping the coaching staff catches up soon.
_____________________
Apparently it IS” just fans who see this.”
me
November 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
@Hummon
“TV color man credits Ryan with drawing defensive holding flag by throwing pass to HD despite him not being open. If so, cagey play.”
It was obvious holding. Regardless of fools claiming ‘bailout’.
Dt
November 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
See dunta is back
well
November 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
the Falcons score and I didn’t even cheer….
J.J.M.
November 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
pass rush is getting their late
me
November 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
Again no pass rush. Nothing from big Abe. And Falcons continue to rush 4.
JSS
November 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
Guess who got faked out?
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
Very little confidence in our no pressure/suspect LBs/hurt DBs defense here…
jo
November 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
Need Defense to hold, worst a fg…nothing more. Giving up 15. Yds a pop wont get it done.
Augusta
November 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
can’t understand it…we’re getting decent pressure on freeman, then our pass defenders nodd off…
Roy
November 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
Hope the Bucs don’t run the clock all the way down on us.
FALKONFAN13
November 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
No Decou or J Abraham yet????? One of them will have to make a play for us to win this game!
Charles Davis
November 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
Both Samuel and Robinson are playing, FYI.
It’s my job to inform the audience, thank you.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
Robert McClain with the breakup
The Real Falcon
November 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
cannot give up any points. need a turnover
Roy
November 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
Can we actually PICK a ball off!!??!