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
DawgPrint
November 25th, 2012
4:01 pm
Another poorly managed win….I’ll take it though. Beats a poorly managed loss.
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
4:01 pm
May God bless us and keep us… we have but a few days to rest from this smackdown before going into the new Roman arena – the NFL Network’s Thursday game – against the Saints.
Ted Dawg
November 25th, 2012
4:01 pm
Falcons will finish 3rd in NFC south behind TB and NO – pifitul. Where is Vick when we need him?
DawgNole
November 25th, 2012
4:02 pm
me
November 25th, 2012
3:58 pm
FYI, the Saints game doesn’t matter to the Falcons, other than it is another game.
___________________
Strong candidate for dumbest post of the day.
ALL games matter–ESPECIALLY when it’s the Saints!
JSS
November 25th, 2012
4:02 pm
The only thing that shutdown Martin was a penalty…
dean
November 25th, 2012
4:02 pm
TB=50yds rushing. Very nice
Kelly
November 25th, 2012
4:02 pm
That was hardly impressive.
JSS
November 25th, 2012
4:03 pm
Contained him, not a shutdown…
Growler
November 25th, 2012
4:03 pm
A great win.. and Ryan was great except for the INT.. but boy oh boy that head coach is gonna cost them a big game this season… when everyone is watching…
DawgNole
November 25th, 2012
4:04 pm
DawgPrint
November 25th, 2012
4:01 pm
Another poorly managed win….I’ll take it though. Beats a poorly managed loss.
____________________
Beats a well-managed loss, too.
dean
November 25th, 2012
4:04 pm
hey me. Eff you. Have a great week!
Once Recent Reader
November 25th, 2012
4:04 pm
JSS, I don’t get that? Did I miss a big run that was called back? He at 50 yards on 21 carries. Seems to me that would equate to a shut down.
Arthur
November 25th, 2012
4:04 pm
I cannot understand why we ran the clock down towards the end of the 1st half and took a timeout instead of try to score a touchdown and turn it over to our defense. In the end Bryan missed the field goal. Mike Smith needs to make better decisions if the team is to progress throughout the playoffs.
Pigskin
November 25th, 2012
4:04 pm
Thursday night against the mighty Saints…..on national TV??
God help us.
well
November 25th, 2012
4:05 pm
ok…so the defense did their job and stopped the run. The offense still need to get going..why have we stopped running the no huddle?? and throw out all the plays for Turner on 1st down…what am I saying?? all the plays for Turner….
Joey
November 25th, 2012
4:05 pm
Boy I sure miss “CHOKE.”
He is just all that is good about competitive sports.
A true sportsman . . .
Section 212
November 25th, 2012
4:05 pm
Defense earned their stripes this game. Much more aggressive with Spoon back out there
me
November 25th, 2012
4:06 pm
All these ignorant fools talking about who the Falcons have/have not beaten and by how much. Too funny. Who have the “great” Bears beaten who had winning records at the time? Zero.
PMC
November 25th, 2012
4:06 pm
Solid Road win first NFC team to 10 wins.
Joey
November 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
What’s up with that “…moderation” thing, MB?
Answer This
November 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
See you haters on the blog next week!
me
November 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
Kelly
November 25th, 2012
4:02 pm
That was hardly impressive.
Looking in the mirror? You miserable clown.
Kelly
November 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
Only bright spot (aside from the win) was the run defense. And what’s up w/ Bryant now?
JSS
November 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
ORR, both teams are in the same boat on luck… TB blew 2 chances to come away with TDs… The Falcons left a ton of opportunities on the table… The Julio play erased 3 of those…
PMC
November 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
They fit the run much much better today and ran the ball effectively.
Pigskin
November 25th, 2012
4:08 pm
Anyone who thinks this football team is playing well and with conviction……needs to have a moment with themselves. Seriously..
Kelly
November 25th, 2012
4:08 pm
What’s the matter me? Tape your co*k to tight to your butthole again?
me
November 25th, 2012
4:08 pm
JSS
November 25th, 2012
4:02 pm
The only thing that shutdown Martin was a penalty…
You fool. You clown. You miserable idiot.
Answer This
November 25th, 2012
4:09 pm
So funny when we win people find the bad in it….now with this win we let everyone else in….whi gives a fuDge who is in all that matters is we WON!
me
November 25th, 2012
4:09 pm
@Kelly
You are a miserable idiot.
dean
November 25th, 2012
4:10 pm
The only “miserable fool” I see around here right now is the poser posting as “me”
JSS
November 25th, 2012
4:10 pm
ORR, Martin had a 42 yard slip screen called back on a unnecessary hands to the face & hold in the first qtr…
Answer This
November 25th, 2012
4:10 pm
Just let people talk….we 10-1
Joey
November 25th, 2012
4:11 pm
Right Sonny.
Lots of geniuses on here calling folks idiots . . .
Kelly
November 25th, 2012
4:11 pm
No. I’m not. It’s obvious who the miserable idiot is.
me
November 25th, 2012
4:11 pm
@Answer This “So funny when we win people find the bad in it…”
Calling this miserable and ignorant fools as people is a stretch.
#VICKTEABAGGERS
Kelly
November 25th, 2012
4:12 pm
Anyway, glad the Falcons won but they’re going to have to get better. They’re not inspiring confidence right now.
Ol skAtl
November 25th, 2012
4:12 pm
Good
JSS
November 25th, 2012
4:12 pm
So, that 42 yard screen should have counted in his stats
JSS
November 25th, 2012
4:12 pm
Let him go Dean, it’s been about football all afternoon… That is until they always have a set until January…
Dilla
November 25th, 2012
4:13 pm
Turner averaged 1.3 yards today, how about moving him down to backup running back
Gunner
November 25th, 2012
4:14 pm
Don’t forget Julio Jones was hurt in the New Orleans game and, I suspect, was playing hurt against Arizona plus Spoon was out both games.. Thje Falcons still have some weaknesses in their backups, hopefully Mr. D. will take care of that going forward.
Ga it's our time
November 25th, 2012
4:14 pm
Good wknd. Next aints then bama. Gotta handle biz
me
November 25th, 2012
4:15 pm
@jo
“Should have been a lot easier….”
What I flushed this morning has more intelligence than someone who would make that statement.
MSU mother
November 25th, 2012
4:15 pm
Well, Ben, you dropped a bundle when the Falcons won today. What’s your wife say about you losing the mortgage payment?
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 25th, 2012
4:16 pm
Even with the pick, Ryan had a more than respectable day, completing 26 of 32 with a TD … for a rating of 110. The Falcons’ defense held Tampa Bay’s all-rookie RB to 50 yards (exactly half his average). Overall, the visiting team had nearly 100 yards more offense than the home team, in large part because we converted more than 60% of 3rd down opportunities, while allowing the Bucs to convert only 40%. When you consider that TB had won four in a row, and five of their last six, this was a good and impressive win for the visiting team. Virtually every prognosticator I heard or read said that the Falcons would lose this game. I’m glad we still allow the guys to play it out on the field rather than relying on the “experts’” opinions.
DawgNole
November 25th, 2012
4:16 pm
Answer This
November 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
See you haters on the blog next week!
_____________________
Is that all you EVER do on a blog–moan about perceived haters? If you’re so bent out of shape about the inevitable “negative” posts, why don’t YOU contribute something positive for a change?
What a whiner!
Eddie Ray
November 25th, 2012
4:17 pm
I think today was the beginning of the Rodgers era and the end of the Turner dynasty. Defense played great!
me
November 25th, 2012
4:17 pm
JSS
November 25th, 2012
4:10 pm
ORR, Martin had a 42 yard slip screen called back on a unnecessary hands to the face & hold in the first qtr…
Which is the only reason the play worked. But some idiots call that a bailout. That is because they are clueless and miserable in their stupidity.
Joey
November 25th, 2012
4:17 pm
I don’t understand Turner getting carries when he cannot see holes develop. Play Rodgers – he keeps his head up and finds the gaps.