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
jo
November 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
No pass rush!
Hummon
November 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
McClain! He was a find.
dean
November 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
27 is turning into a player
Augusta
November 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
abe had got to make a play…
me
November 25th, 2012
3:38 pm
A little presuure would help.
Dt
November 25th, 2012
3:38 pm
Weather spoon has been quiet
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
3:38 pm
There’s that Dallas Clark
Roy
November 25th, 2012
3:38 pm
Defense sucks!!!!
KenDawg
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Been watching the game and happy that the Falcons are fighting, but every week that goes by shows that this is a good team – but not a great team. I hope we get a good seed in the playoffs, but don’t hold much hope of going deep in the postseason.
Roy
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
NO pressure on Freeman! Damn it!
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Regrettably, the Falcons’ 3rd down defense reminds me too much of the Georgia Tech 3rd down defense.
nodefense
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
No pressure!
falconinduluth
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Why run when you can play catch all day?
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Conservative defensive calls killing us on 3rd down. You know they are passing but rush 3?
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Conservative defensive calls killing us on 3rd down. You know they are passing but rush 3?
KenDawg
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Been watching the game and happy that the Falcons are fighting, but every week that goes by shows that this is a good team – but not a great team. I hope we get a good seed in the playoffs, but don’t hold much hope of going deep in the postseason.
jo
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
As I said…no pass rush…and they are a few yards from FG range.
falconinduluth
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Why run when you can play catch all day?
FALKONFAN13
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
So they rush 3 guys and a guy is still wide open in the secondary?????? You might as well put some pressure on this guy! What are we doing?
atlfalconsfan0125
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Defense is swiss cheeze!
phil
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
We’re beaten.
jo
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
As I said…no pass rush…and they are a few yards from FG range.
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Conservative defensive calls killing us on 3rd down. You know they are passing but rush 3?
JSS
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Nicholas is a gem but Clark is wearing him out
me
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
So our LB keep getting killed on over the middle routes. Bucs leaving 6 in to protect.
Pigskin
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Warm up the fat lady.
J.J.M.
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
draft another LB thats not slow
The Real Falcon
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
NO PRESSURE!
falconinduluth
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Why run when you can play catch all day.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Too much time…every time.
FALKONFAN13
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
So they rush 3 guys and a guy is still wide open in the secondary?????? You might as well put some pressure on this guy! What are we doing?
Roger
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Need a turnover something fierce
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Big play now — it’s a 54 yard field goal as is
The Real Falcon
November 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
Dent still after contact
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
Stopped
Brought the pressure
Roy
November 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
Another dropped pick. Smh.
Randy14
November 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
2 interceptions he’s dropped!!
The Real Falcon
November 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
2 missed INTs by 22
me
November 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
My god another pick dropped. Nice pressure on that play by the rush.
J.J.M.
November 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
damn it samuel arm must really be killing him
FALKONFAN13
November 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
Samuel 2 dropped interceptions! Stop talking so dam much and make a play!
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
Credit to Samuels for playing in pain
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
I would have punted.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
no good
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
3:41 pm
HUGE MISS. Wew.
falconinduluth
November 25th, 2012
3:41 pm
Samuel drops two easy picks.
Randy14
November 25th, 2012
3:41 pm
Whew!
The Real Falcon
November 25th, 2012
3:41 pm
now let’s run out the clock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Falcons65
November 25th, 2012
3:41 pm
YES!!!!!
Pigskin
November 25th, 2012
3:41 pm
Dodged a bullet.