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
DawgNole
November 25th, 2012
5:06 pm
Answer This
November 25th, 2012
4:57 pm
You win Dawg nole you are the know it all….wont address you anymore
___________________
Promises, promises.
Rick in Macon
November 25th, 2012
5:06 pm
Once again the defense was embarrassing. No pressure on the quarterback, no stopping the run, and no pass defense. Once again Asante Samuel and Dunta Robinson didn’t show up to play. I am sure the play that sent Robinson to the locker room was a fluke…he accidentally ran into the runner and then ended up hurt more than the runner. Dunta is a joke…get him out of there. The Falcons will get to the playoffs and peter out again because they have no defense.
Gulf Coast Rising News | Live from Tampa Bay: The Falcons seek to Buc(k) a trend – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
November 25th, 2012
5:09 pm
[...] Follow this link [...]
G-Man
November 25th, 2012
5:11 pm
Falcons may not win a Super Bowl. They may not win a playoff game. But if you don’t think they have heart – @#$% you.
FalconsfaninAugusta
November 25th, 2012
5:15 pm
Falcons win but I question:
a) Starting Turner as the #1 back… they need a change to Quizz next week and give him a lot more touches;
b) Ryan’s confidence and the team’s confidence in him in the red zone… the pucker factor goes up and they just can’t seem to get into the endzone;
c) Bryant has a bad back… he’s been on the injury report for a few weeks, so how is he going to kick going down the stretch?; and
d) Mike Smith seems to also go ultra-conservative at times…. need to be like the Patriots and keep the pedal to the metal!!!
Answer This
November 25th, 2012
5:16 pm
U are right Dawg. Now on to bigger things…..26 of 33 353 yarda 1 touch 1 int. Nice game Matt. D after the first drive way to take the air out of the running game! Nice D! Tough to win on the road against any NFL team….especially one that had won 5 in a row and was playing for playoff position! Not to mention the only turnover came on the last play of the game! Great to see Quizz playing when it counted the most! Missed two field goals one a chip shot and another a distance! Hey Birds winning games like this make you tough….make you ready for the playoffs! Thursday is here soon keep riaing!
Iluvnutella
November 25th, 2012
5:16 pm
I am wondering why falcons play down/up to their opponents. It makes no sense. Not to take away from the great game TB played, but we should have beat them soundly. Our D gave up too many big plays, and I think that facet(sp) is what will be our undoing come playoff time. Two dropped ints by Samuel, missed tackles by down lineman, poor TE coverage by Milbs, it all will add up gainst the likes of GB,NY,SF or God forbid NO, when those teams come callin come playoff time.
FalconsfaninAugusta
November 25th, 2012
5:17 pm
Rick in Macon: not sure you watched the same game that I watched. Dunta and Asante were terrific and played tough all game; that was a helmet-to-helmet hit and Dunta was very good against the run today. AND the defense got some good pressure on Freeman…. you must’ve been drinking, man.
Falcons Rule
November 25th, 2012
5:19 pm
Tampa Bay got their bucs kicked for the fifth time this season.
Falcons Rule
November 25th, 2012
5:22 pm
All the other sorry NFC teams only wish they were 10-1.
Josh
November 25th, 2012
5:26 pm
I agree with all those that have said that the Falcons are gritty and tough and have heart. The D played tough – especially Samuel (the dropped INTs not withstanding). However, I’d feel a lot more confident if they could get some kind of aggressive edge, like a killer instinct. They seem to play just well enough to win – which is good. I’m NOT complaining. A win is a win. But, before they get to the playoffs I’d feel a lot better if they would just put someone away when they have the chance. It seems they just let teams hang around until the other team runs out of time. When they’re on the ropes, knock them out.
Esquire
November 25th, 2012
5:26 pm
WE ARE THE MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS……………..!!!!!
Esquire
November 25th, 2012
5:42 pm
Saints may not have RT Bryce Harris for Thursday night………………….
Number 2
November 25th, 2012
5:53 pm
Obviously I’m glad the Falcons won the game. It’s a good road win against a quality opponent. All that being said, it worries me that we can’t seem to put teams away. Every team in the playoffs will be a good so we can’t afford to “sleep walk” through the first 3qts of the game. Good teams will capitalize on our mistakes.
Schadenfreude
November 25th, 2012
6:04 pm
Blah blah blah blah blah 10-1 blah blah blah blah win blah blah blah blah.
Great Falconi
November 25th, 2012
6:04 pm
The best team we’ve beaten all year was Denver. We’ve played better on the road than at home, though we haven’t yet dropped a game at the Dome. As far as this game goes, I try to take this approach with my view on it: We were on the road against a winning team within the division. We didn’t play great, but we did manage to the game. I knew this game would be really tough and I half-expected to lose it. The fact that we didn’t lose it means that we are much closer to finishing off the division and have made it even tougher for anybody else to catch us for homefield advantage. We’re 10-1 and can be better in our overall play. I will take that whenever I can get it.
Kramer
November 25th, 2012
6:07 pm
DawgNole
November 25th, 2012
4:48 pm
Kramer
November 25th, 2012
4:25 pm
Don’t know what the haters are saying on here and don’t care. This was supposed to be our second loss today according to the “experts” and the afore mentioned haters. Instead it was our 11th win.
___________________
Actually, it was our 10th win. Maybe you should care more about those haters–even “Answer This” knows what the team’s record is.
DawgNole, thanks for the correction. Maybe you should kiss my Brees before you act obnoxious with your posts slapnut.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
6:11 pm
Here’s the game column, if you’re interested.
Answer This
November 25th, 2012
6:33 pm
Heheheheh slapnut….hahahahahah
Pigskin
November 25th, 2012
6:54 pm
Your comment is awaiting moderation
Really?
What did I say?
Once Recent Reader
November 25th, 2012
7:03 pm
FalconsFaninAugusta. . .I agree, I don’t know what game Rick in Macon was watching either. I mean we held them to 50 yards rushing. Had almost 100 more yards overall. The Defense did just fine take away a couple of drives.
DawgNole
November 25th, 2012
7:13 pm
Answer This
November 25th, 2012
5:16 pm
U are right Dawg. Now on to bigger things…..26 of 33 353 yarda 1 touch 1 int. Nice game Matt. D after the first drive way to take the air out of the running game! Nice D! Tough to win on the road against any NFL team….especially one that had won 5 in a row and was playing for playoff position! Not to mention the only turnover came on the last play of the game! Great to see Quizz playing when it counted the most! Missed two field goals one a chip shot and another a distance! Hey Birds winning games like this make you tough….make you ready for the playoffs! Thursday is here soon keep riaing!
_____________________
Can’t disagree with you there, AT. An NFL road victory over a winning team is ALWAYS a worthy accomplishment. Plus, this Falcons team is winning almost all the close ones–and they can avenge that only loss Thursday night in the Dome. Another huge game under the national spotlight.
DawgNole
November 25th, 2012
7:19 pm
Kramer
November 25th, 2012
6:07 pm
Actually, it was our 10th win. Maybe you should care more about those haters–even “Answer This” knows what the team’s record is.
DawgNole, thanks for the correction. Maybe you should kiss my Brees before you act obnoxious with your posts slapnut.
___________________
Now don’t go gettin’ all defensive on me just cause you don’t know how many wins we have. And I’ll let you keep that Brees to yourself.
LOL at the Aints
November 25th, 2012
10:37 pm
JSS is an idiot. that is all, LOL