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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,274 comments Add your comment
Pigskin
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Crap!
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
I was wrong. Thank goodness. Nice job offense!
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
TD by our feature back.
KenDawg
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Well, that was nice.
dean
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Nice.
Go away Patel
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Yes!!
falconsrus
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
JaQuizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!
The Real Falcon
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Nice pulling by Clabo
Times a changin
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Turner is just outta gas. Hello Mr. Rodgers.
dean
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Harry D had a nice block
The Hitman
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Can we leave Quiz in? Bench Turner for the rest of the game
Groundhogday
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Nice drive. Really need to get the running game going off-tackle just like that.
tyler
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
There you go- nice job guys
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Nice blocking by HD in the endzone there and clear out by Clabo.
tmc
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Not a chance in hell Turner gains positive yards on that play.
and THAT is Turner fault!
Dilla
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
Turner would have never made it around that corner
Kew
November 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
ROGER is our man
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
1:40 pm
A nice response. And I note we’ve yet to have a punt.
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
1:41 pm
Quiz is cute and cuddly on certain plays but we still need some beef in the backfield.
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
1:41 pm
Who’s the guy/gal on here who always throws out that Jaquizz has 4.8 speed?
Roger
November 25th, 2012
1:41 pm
What happened to Lamar Holmes? As bad as our line is, he must really be a dud to not be able to EVER get to play even a snap.
mountain_jim
November 25th, 2012
1:41 pm
maybe coaches are learning something – Turner up the middle for 1 yard does not work.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 25th, 2012
1:41 pm
Turner would have gotten stuffed on that play.
DawgPrint
November 25th, 2012
1:41 pm
Nice block Clabo! Yay!
KenDawg
November 25th, 2012
1:42 pm
Clabo doing a Jerry Kramer impersonation on that run.
vesaversa
November 25th, 2012
1:43 pm
I am growing very impatient with these falcons they drive the ball down the field eating up over 6 minutes and only get 3 points .Tunner legs is gone the man can’t hit the holes like he once did i would get rid of him next year. I would get rid of a bunch of these guys if they win the NFC South but still left going home .What a bunch of underachiever.
Roy
November 25th, 2012
1:43 pm
O-line seems to block better for Rodgers.
dean
November 25th, 2012
1:44 pm
vesa…sarcasm I hope
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 25th, 2012
1:44 pm
Turner just slid down the bench six feet or as we know it, lost two yards.
vesaversa
November 25th, 2012
1:44 pm
The falcons have no heart .
Big Daddy
November 25th, 2012
1:44 pm
FINALLY, Falcons running the ball in with a well designed, well executed play that gets Rogers to around the corner and into the end zone. My faith in these guys continues to grow. Let’s get these guys.
JSS
November 25th, 2012
1:45 pm
No. 56
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
1:45 pm
Martin falls forward for 5 yards. Turner falls backwards for a loss of 3.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
1:45 pm
Offsetting penalities. William Moore with a late hit.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
1:45 pm
Something else this game hasn’t featured: An incomplete pass
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
1:46 pm
Julio and one of the coaches in a long conversation on the sidelines…
JSS
November 25th, 2012
1:47 pm
Holmes is raw…
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
1:48 pm
Hot damn, that was beautiful!
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
1:48 pm
Predator Junior
dean
November 25th, 2012
1:48 pm
Ahem. Unpredictability bears fruit
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
1:49 pm
Flag will wipe out a huge Martin gain
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
1:49 pm
Have to make that tackle, even if it comes back.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
1:50 pm
No wonder that one worked. The Bucs were guilty of two fouls
dean
November 25th, 2012
1:50 pm
Spoon needs to pick up his jockey. That Martin kid is good
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
1:50 pm
Was that Dent on the missed tackle? And spoon not at full speed.
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
1:50 pm
WOW, this is what 3rd down feels like!
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
1:51 pm
Another sack. Biermann this time.
DawgPrint
November 25th, 2012
1:51 pm
These guys cannot tackle.
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
1:52 pm
Ray Edwards would have made that sack…LOL!
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
1:52 pm
Franks had a long way to run. And didn’t.