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
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
2:04 pm
Hey MB, there sure are a lot of anti-Falcon, fifth columnists here today. Somebody oughta call the G-men.
mathew cream cake
November 25th, 2012
2:04 pm
matty cream cake looks like he’s in post season mode
Saints R.E.A.M.
November 25th, 2012
2:05 pm
Matt Ryan never wavers against weak teams
Rick Patel
November 25th, 2012
2:05 pm
Forget this game. The Failcons only need one win to back into the play0ffs at 10 & 6.That’s what matters.
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
2:05 pm
Will be interesting to compare the touches for Rodgers, Snelling and Turner after this game.
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
2:06 pm
WTG Snelling!!!
Your Comment is awaiting moderation
November 25th, 2012
2:06 pm
Say what you want about the Baltimore defense, but Flacco doesn’t do this. That’s why they have 5 playoff wins.
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
2:06 pm
Matty put a little extra paranoid on that ball, lol.
Roy
November 25th, 2012
2:07 pm
Falcons will win the division if they win these next 3 games vs. Bucs, Saints, and Panthers. It can be done.
dean
November 25th, 2012
2:07 pm
I thought it was my dog’s breath that was stinking. But then I notice an aints fan in the room
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
2:07 pm
3rd and inches. I don’t know about you, but I am scared!
Roy
November 25th, 2012
2:08 pm
The reason why they will is because if they beat the Bucs, Saints, and Panthers, that’ll give the Bucs 5 losses, the Saints 6 losses, and the Falcons would be 12-1 with only 3 games left. No way they could fall behind even if they finished 12-4.
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
2:08 pm
dean – If your dog is that close, you may wanna hide the beer…
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 25th, 2012
2:08 pm
Falcons offense needs to hold serve here and score. Their D isn’t exactly playoff caliber.
vesaversa
November 25th, 2012
2:09 pm
So can we now call Matt Ryan a QB bust now that he is throwing interception all over the place like a prep school player? Bring back Mike Vick !
Roy
November 25th, 2012
2:10 pm
@ Lil Barry, I think the Falcons defense is really good and yes they are good enough to win a Super Bowl. Dominant defenses aren’t needed to win the Super Bowl anymore anyways. The last two SB champs weren’t dominant on defense at all yet they won the SB.
dean
November 25th, 2012
2:10 pm
MFranklin. .. Golden Retrievers only know close and closer.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
2:10 pm
Falcons to the 18. Ryan to White on third and 1.
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
2:10 pm
LOL @ dean
Your Comment is awaiting moderation
November 25th, 2012
2:11 pm
That’s 10 picks in 5 games.
JSS
November 25th, 2012
2:11 pm
Stupid blocking
Draggin Fly
November 25th, 2012
2:11 pm
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
2:04 pm
Hey MB, there sure are a lot of anti-Falcon, fifth columnists here today.
—————–
One very prominent one missing. For that I am thankful.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
2:13 pm
Julio Jones. Offensive INT
DawgNole
November 25th, 2012
2:13 pm
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
2:02 pm
Run, injury, commercial. FG, commercial. Kickoff, commercial. Inerception, commercial.
_____________________
Yup–and if it’s not commercials, it’s network promos. Anything but live action. The greed is nauseating–and only getting worse. No longer as enjoyable to watch live games; best to record and skip over the garbage while seeing entire game in half the time.
Jo
November 25th, 2012
2:13 pm
White had it in his hands after he pushed off….typical self destructive behavior…
JSS
November 25th, 2012
2:13 pm
Pushoff
Pigskin
November 25th, 2012
2:13 pm
More mistakes…..ballgame.
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
2:13 pm
Dang JJ… this ain’t Bama anymore
The Real Falcon
November 25th, 2012
2:13 pm
Jones cannot make the big play. Cannot make the tough catch
tyler
November 25th, 2012
2:14 pm
B.S. call- not any worse than what the defender was doing
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
2:14 pm
Running the clock, now taking time.
Pigskin
November 25th, 2012
2:14 pm
Wow, this is ugly.
Jo
November 25th, 2012
2:14 pm
The Falcons must win today if they have any hope at all to be taken serious as we cant seem to beat good teams…..
tmc
November 25th, 2012
2:14 pm
Kirk Tripplett and his crew should have been retired 5 years ago.
They are horrible.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 25th, 2012
2:15 pm
As annoying as the commercials are if you’re watching on TV, they are even more annoying if you actually attend the game. There is just far too much “dead time” on the field.
Sure would like to see a 12 yard pick-up here.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
2:15 pm
That’s a first down. With 12 seconds left.
MFranklin
November 25th, 2012
2:16 pm
WTG JJ! You are forgiven!
team
November 25th, 2012
2:16 pm
Rick, don’t you want a team.that can win in the playoffs, not just get there?
dean
November 25th, 2012
2:16 pm
Julio’ ankle is feeling much better
Roger
November 25th, 2012
2:16 pm
Running out the clock wasn’t such a good idea now, huh
The Real Falcon
November 25th, 2012
2:16 pm
Easy catch, now make the big,tough catch
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
2:16 pm
Reset to 15 seconds.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
2:17 pm
Julio OOB
The Real Falcon
November 25th, 2012
2:17 pm
Yeah, Julio
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
2:17 pm
Throw away.
ijonathan
November 25th, 2012
2:18 pm
stupid, stupid, stupid running the clock down. cost us a final chance at at TD.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
2:18 pm
That’s the one thing I was wondering — I know this sounds like a second-guess — about running the clock down before the third-down completion. What if they got the first down?
Pigskin
November 25th, 2012
2:18 pm
Another failed drive.
I_Hate_Saints
November 25th, 2012
2:18 pm
Of course. Field Goal Falcons out in full force. Way to trust your team and run 30 seconds off your clock on that 3rd down Mike. Ugh.
stephen
November 25th, 2012
2:19 pm
frustrating to see another field goal