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
Eric C.
November 25th, 2012
1:52 pm
Falcons have the worst punt returners in the league
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
1:52 pm
That was a pitiful effort by Franks.
JSS
November 25th, 2012
1:52 pm
The worse punt blocking in the league
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
1:52 pm
Can Jaquizz return punts?
JSS
November 25th, 2012
1:53 pm
“worst”
Eric C.
November 25th, 2012
1:53 pm
If he just takes off running straight ahead…he gets at least 10 more yards, way too timid
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
1:54 pm
JSS, while the line blocking on running plays and on punt/kickoff returns probably isn’t great…your utter failure to lay any blame at the feet of the guy running the ball is amazing.
DawgPrint
November 25th, 2012
1:54 pm
Franks is pitiful,
tyler
November 25th, 2012
1:54 pm
That was pathetic- get Franks out of there
Eric C.
November 25th, 2012
1:54 pm
I will say, that probably would have been -2 if Turner ran
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
1:54 pm
We should keep running on 1st down, it is working so well.
Falcaints
November 25th, 2012
1:55 pm
Roddy is to slow to run backwards
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
1:56 pm
*sigh*
dean
November 25th, 2012
1:56 pm
Ronde. Surprised?
Falcaints
November 25th, 2012
1:56 pm
I see the real Ryan has shown up, epic choke.
JSS
November 25th, 2012
1:56 pm
The Ryan Killer AKA Ronde
KenDawg
November 25th, 2012
1:56 pm
Bad throw by Ryan – not a good trend the past few weeks
lees
November 25th, 2012
1:56 pm
jeeeez
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
1:56 pm
Ronde Barber intercepts the 7,000th pass of his NFL life — all against Atlanta.
Old Man Peabody
November 25th, 2012
1:56 pm
Matty Melt
Eating Boogers For The Protein
November 25th, 2012
1:56 pm
Dammit
Sid
November 25th, 2012
1:57 pm
will never win anything of importance with this QB.
KenDawg
November 25th, 2012
1:57 pm
Ouch!!
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
1:57 pm
Tampa Bay seizes the day.
That’s a rhyme.
J.J.M.
November 25th, 2012
1:57 pm
Ryan is a idiot…had quizz in the flats AGAIN
Falcaints
November 25th, 2012
1:57 pm
Nice Defense on that play, Falcaints overrated.
dean
November 25th, 2012
1:57 pm
I dunno Kendawg. Ronde makes good qb’s look baf
tyler
November 25th, 2012
1:58 pm
Matt Ryan missed a guy wide open to his left- bad pass. He does that alot
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
1:58 pm
Falcons force a third and goal.
J.J.M.
November 25th, 2012
1:59 pm
Tyler that was quizz in the flats
Roy
November 25th, 2012
1:59 pm
Good goal line stop defense!
dean
November 25th, 2012
1:59 pm
D!
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
1:59 pm
Now fourth and goal.
That’s a nice stand. Bucs should have scored on the flea flicker.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 25th, 2012
1:59 pm
Good D … forced a FG
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
2:00 pm
Great job by Petterson, out playing the younger Dent already.
Roy
November 25th, 2012
2:00 pm
Should have could have Mark!
Eric C.
November 25th, 2012
2:01 pm
Will need more of those today…good job.
lees
November 25th, 2012
2:01 pm
How bout them commercial breaks
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
2:01 pm
Falcons are playing better today. Don’t know if it will be enough, but this is an improvement over recent Sundays.
Eric C.
November 25th, 2012
2:01 pm
Well, when you throw the ball 50+ times a game, you are going to have interceptions. It stinks not having a running game.
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
2:01 pm
Hopefully this doesn’t spiral out of control for Matt in the confidence area. Obviously we need him.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
2:02 pm
Tied. But that’s a Falcons victory.
JSS
November 25th, 2012
2:02 pm
Well, here comes your defining moment…
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
2:02 pm
Run, injury, commercial. FG, commercial. Kickoff, commercial. Inerception, commercial.
tyler
November 25th, 2012
2:02 pm
Thanks JJM- I thought so but wasn’t sure, 20 plus YAC if he finds him. Oh well- nice redzone D.
Roy
November 25th, 2012
2:02 pm
Matt Ryan doesn’t lose confidence. He led a game winning drive vs. Arizona last week after throwing 5 picks. He never wavers.
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November 25th, 2012
2:03 pm
That’s 6 picks in 6 quarters and 13 for the season. Pick machine?
J.J.M.
November 25th, 2012
2:03 pm
As many times ryan look at them photos on the sideline you would think he learned to use quizz in the flats against a backer
dean
November 25th, 2012
2:04 pm
Amen Roy.
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
2:04 pm
Ryan isn’t the first or last QB to miss open receivers. Happens all the time. But perhaps some tendencies that were successful in the first half, against inferior competition, are catching up..