The Falcons win the kind of game they’ll play in January
Jacquizz Rodgers, shown gaining actual rushing yards. (AP photo)
Tampa – The 8-0 start was nice, but we all know the Atlanta Falcons won’t be judged on what they did in September, or November. Heck, even Mike Smith, the buttoned-up coach, spoke these words in August: “When we get there (meaning the playoffs), we’ve got to play better football.”
We can’t know how these Falcons — or those Packers or Patriots or any team — will fare in the playoffs until 2013 arrives, but we have a bit better feel about the local franchise today. The Falcons just left here having won a game that wouldn’t have seemed out of place if you stuck it in January. They played a hot team. They fell behind three times. They won 24-23.
They won with a sprinkling of flash — the 80-yard pass to Julio Jones that overrode a Tampa Bay lead in 11 seconds — but mostly they won with force, and that was a heartening sign. This team had risen to 8-0 and then 9-1 without doing much in the way of running the ball or stopping the run. On Sunday they did both. They nudged the NFL’s No. 1 rushing defense for 79 vital ground yards, and they limited the splendid Doug Martin to 50 yards on 21 carries.
Afterward linebacker Sean Weatherspoon would dismiss Martin as just “a rookie running back,” but Weatherspoon was laughing and playing to a gaggle of fellow linebackers in the corner of a festive locker room.
“He said it!” Stephen Nicholas said. “You write it!” (Done, sir.)
Said Weatherspoon: “Mike Peterson got the stop!”
Said Nicholas: “Yeah, Mike Pete!”
In a game that featured a dozen massive plays, the aging Mike Peterson’s second-quarter takedown of the rookie running back ranked near the top. The Falcons had just been smacked on consecutive downs: The similarly aging Ronde Barber had intercepted yet another Matt Ryan pass, and Buc receiver Mike Williams had thrown a deep ball to Buc receiver Vincent Jackson, who was halted by Nicholas at the Falcons’ 3. On third-and-goal from the 1, Martin ran left and had only Peterson, who’s 36, to beat. Peterson grabbed him and hung on.
That was the game in miniature. One side would make a play, and the other would counter. The Falcons countered last and hardest. Said Weatherspoon: “We were able to show our DNA again … Whenever there was a sudden change (meaning a turnover), we showed our defensive resiliency.”
Twice the Bucs took the ball beyond midfield off Ryan turnovers. Twice the defense controlled the damage, yielding a field goal each time. And when the Falcons nosed ahead by a point with 7:55 remaining, the D — by then working with two banged-up cornerbacks, Dunta Robinson having suffered a head injury and Asante Samuel lugging a bum arm — forced Tampa Bay to try a 56-yard field goal that had no chance.
Then it was down to the offense to kill the final 3:55, and it burned off all but eight seconds. Three runs — the first a 14-yard burst by the backup Jacquizz Rodgers — took the game beyond the two-minute warning, and a nerveless Ryan completion to Roddy White on third-and-five all but sealed the deal. Said guard Justin Blalock: “When we needed to run and control the clock, we did a fair job of nearly running the clock out.”
The Falcons didn’t push Tampa Bay backwards, but they did run the ball when they needed to run it, which is what Smith has said was the idea all along. Why run so much against an opponent that was No. 1 against the run but dead last against the pass? Smith: “We felt like we needed to try it, and we felt like we could do it, too.”
This was far better than the 46 yards rushing this team managed in the loss to the defenseless Saints two weeks earlier. This was good enough to make Sunday one of the two or three victories this 10-win team has seen. “It felt like we played pretty decent,” center Todd McClure said. “Not great, but this is definitely a better feeling.”
And now the Falcons get the Saints again, this time in the Georgia Dome on Thursday night, and they welcome the opportunity. They won here on a day when the outcome was in doubt until the final whistle, and they’ll have to win more such games if they plan to play into February. “It was a playoff atmosphere,” said general manager Thomas Dimitroff, and for once the Falcons held steady in the rarefied air.
Said Peterson: “That was coach Smith’s message all week: ‘Don’t blink.’ He talked to us about not getting down and not pointing fingers when they made a big play. And when you go on the road and beat a hot team in its place, you can take that win and use it as momentum.”
It sounds a little odd, given that the Falcons have played 11 games and lost only once, but as December awaits they were in need of a kick-start. They might have gotten it here.
Further reading: On the shifty Jacquizz Rodgers and the shifting Mike Smith.
By Mark Bradley
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166 comments Add your comment
Heath
November 25th, 2012
6:02 pm
Aren’t there any running backs on the FA market?
Heath
November 25th, 2012
6:09 pm
Or is Turner such a good passing down blocker that he’s worth it? Love Peterson’s stop. Good for him.
Hillbilly D
November 25th, 2012
6:12 pm
Sean Weatherspoon would dismiss Martin as just “a rookie running back,”
Never have understood giving bulletin board material to a team you’ve got to play again.
Buzziswiser
November 25th, 2012
6:13 pm
Time management at the end of both halves is a concern and if done correctly would have eliminated any chance of the Hail Mary having an effect on the outcome. That’s on CMS, as was the challenge flag last week, but then if were not for Smitty, the Birds would still be trying the have two winning seasons in a row.
misterwax
November 25th, 2012
6:13 pm
the Thursday night should be a wild event….maybe I can scrounge up some tickets….
Mike
November 25th, 2012
6:14 pm
Worry about who is a free agent or not after the season. We have who we have. They will get it done or not. Lets get behind them 100%. Not question their ability.
GoFalcons!
November 25th, 2012
6:20 pm
Sweet win! Exciting, hard fought game.
dean
November 25th, 2012
6:20 pm
That was a helluva game today.
misterwax
November 25th, 2012
6:20 pm
looking forward to the game on Thursday night…should be a wild one.
Todd Grantham
November 25th, 2012
6:21 pm
The Falcons have become a team that one just assumes will win a ballgame. By some miracle, the Falcons will win. Even today with Matt Bryant’s doldrums, they won.
2 > 7
November 25th, 2012
6:21 pm
Aints are losing by 14 pts.
playmeortrademe
November 25th, 2012
6:21 pm
49ers-Saints a combo of good 49ers and terrible mistakes by the Saints. Saints are going to be more beat up than Atlanta for the Thursday game with their season on the line against the Falcons.
Todd Grantham
November 25th, 2012
6:23 pm
If it weren’t for Mike Smith, the Falcons would most likely be stuck in the mediocrity they wollowed in for 38 or so of their 46 year existance.
Coach D
November 25th, 2012
6:24 pm
10-1!!! 10-1!!!!!! The Falcons are 10-1!!!!!!!!! Beat the Saints, get healthy & then get ready for the playoffs! Go Birds!
Jason
November 25th, 2012
6:25 pm
So if no one says first….
Samuel
November 25th, 2012
6:25 pm
I think collectively the Falcons did a good job on both sides of the ball. Game ball should go to Julio Jones and Jaquizz Rodgers. If this team can get it’s running game going consistently going forward,I think they’ll be hard to beat down the stretch and in the playoffs.
Dirtybird
November 25th, 2012
6:26 pm
Absolutely agree….clock management at the end of the game was SO bad. What was Coach Smith thinking? A pass and then a field goal attempt instead of a punt? Lucky man…. Thankfully we didn’t have to learn that lesson the hard way. Hopefully we will learn that lesson….
Mongo
November 25th, 2012
6:26 pm
I have to say, I like seeing “little” Quiz Rodgers putting his head down and trying to run over people. He is kind of fun to watch. Need to get him more involved and have “big” Mikey Turner fresh to pound it near the end. Go Quiz!
Growler
November 25th, 2012
6:27 pm
“a nerveless Ryan completion to Roddy White on third-and-five all but sealed the deal.”
Mark, that was nice of you to call it that.. but passing the ball there with 1:02 to go and the other team out of timeouts was beyond stupid. Attempting a long FG (with a kicker who earlier shanked a 22 yarder) instead of punting only compounded the error. Did anyone on the Falcons’ coaching staff bother to watch how the Bucs won their game last week? I said it on the game blog and I’ll say it again: this head coach makes FAR too many questionable, or flat-out wrong game management decisions at the end of halves and games. Mark my words: it is going to come back and bite them in January, in a big way.
Todd Grantham
November 25th, 2012
6:28 pm
Isnt it so nice that we are no longer hearing “(insert coach and team names here) even lost to Georgia” in critcizing (insert coach and team names here) program.
Todd Grantham
November 25th, 2012
6:36 pm
So sweet to see Chizik get his just reward. No ability, bought players (i.e. Cam Newton), encouraged dirty playing (i.e. Nick Fairley)and was probably the guy that poisoned the oak trees.
Answer This
November 25th, 2012
6:36 pm
First….does that count Jason? Hahahahaha.
Alpha9
November 25th, 2012
6:38 pm
Hey Growler with such astute opinions on coaching decisions why are you blogging today and not coaching????.or did you coach on Fri or Sat…Didn’t see anybody on Espn named Growler or local or national sports talk radio…do you have a podcast..or sirius show we don’t know about…you are a hater and a douche
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
6:40 pm
Not too cool with getting taken out of fieldgoal range in the end and then trying to kick a fieldgoal anyway and giving them the ball at the 38-39. Why not punt it out of bounds? I know they didn’t have much time left but one defensive pass interference penalty could have gotten them in range for a FG and we would have handed it to them. Bonehead call by Smith to go for FG. We were lucky to get the win. Defense looked great. Offense looked pretty good too. Bryant was a little off. He has spoiled us by being “money in the bank”. It was a really good win all the way around. One that we needed for confidence rolling into the end of the year. Coach Smith has these Dirty Birds in every game…
Todd Grantham
November 25th, 2012
6:40 pm
Mark’s had a busy weekend and is probably at this very minute dashing to the airport to catch a flight back to ATL.
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
6:43 pm
growler..it wasnt stupid with the played they called, it was nice and safe and tampa wasnt expecting it. if they dont get it they just punt it away anyway. instead they get the first and take more time iff the clock. the field goal try wasnt stupid either ..it left 10 seconds left and it wasnt like bryant hasnt made 48 yarders before even after missing 30 yarders. just quit hating and 2nd guessing a head coach of a pro team.
Dave
November 25th, 2012
6:43 pm
I’m not yet a believer; but, while we don’t win big or pretty, we are beating good teams. Keep it up.
hatetheaints
November 25th, 2012
6:43 pm
Where are all the trolls 10-1 baby…….seenthisb4
2 > 7
November 25th, 2012
6:44 pm
One SF lineman is offside every snap…
Todd Grantham
November 25th, 2012
6:44 pm
After careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of our football program, I have recommended that Coach Chizik not be retained,” Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs said in a statement. ”
Did the guy not have enough guts to say “I recommend we fire Gene Chizik”? I guess he was trying to spare the coach’s feelings.
Growler
November 25th, 2012
6:45 pm
“Alpha9″ I really don’t ever get personal with anyone here, but you could not be more wrong about how I feel about the Falcons. And, when someone gets THAT defensive about a criticism without even trying to refute its logic, it says everything about them — and nothing about the poster.
Mora less Petrino
November 25th, 2012
6:47 pm
Good road win! At Tampa is always a tough a game for the Birds.
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
6:48 pm
kingdaddy, they could have gotten that pass interference call from anywhere on the field so doesnt really matter where they had the ball as long as it was not on the 50 yard line. they only had 10 seconds left after the kick and the falcons played it perfect… i would have done the exact same thing.
AtlantaDude
November 25th, 2012
6:49 pm
I hope Bryant gets it together. Since he’s been here, we have never had to worry about field goals, until the past few weeks.
Todd Grantham
November 25th, 2012
6:50 pm
Growler, I agree with you. There’s no room on this blog for personal insults. Not whether or not I necessarily agree with what you’ve written, but Alpha’s stuff is uncalled for.
Roy
November 25th, 2012
6:50 pm
Falcons are a good team. The Bucs were hot, trying to make a statement in their home stadium…gave the Falcons their best shot yet the Falcons still found a way to get it done. It’s not pretty, and I hate these close wins but we got it done. As far as respect from the media? F em!
Growler
November 25th, 2012
6:51 pm
atlxman: Okay since you actually provided a scenario (unlike the troll above) I’ll explain why it was such a bad play call:
With a run up the middle at 1:02 to go, it guarantees the clock will run down to under 20 seconds. So what if it’s just a yard gain? Or even a loss? If you punt with 18 seconds to go.. then…at worst, Tampa has the ball at the 20 yard line. No way to even get in position for a Hail Mary. What if the pass was dropped? Then there is an extra 40 seconds to go and no choice but to punt! It’s all about risk vs. reward. If Tampa had even ONE timeout, then the risk was worth the reward. But with no timeouts?! No ohter coach in the NFL would have allowed a pass attempt in that situation.
Mark Bradley
November 25th, 2012
6:51 pm
Tampa Bay wasn’t out of timeouts when Ryan hit White. In fact, it had two left.
CC
November 25th, 2012
6:51 pm
And what is it with the Falcons, with 3 top receivers, still having to resort to field goals for scores when in the red zone? Trouble scoring inside the 15 could mean an early exit, again, from the playoffs.
Todd Grantham
November 25th, 2012
6:52 pm
Yep, Matt Bryant’s theme song could have been the Pointer Sisters’ Automatic until lately.
Growler
November 25th, 2012
6:53 pm
Sorry we’re talking about different plays Mark. I meant the 3rd down completion to Gonzalez on 3rd and 18. My bad there. But my point on that one, I am not backing down,
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
6:54 pm
growler…tampa had 2 timeouts left.
Todd Grantham
November 25th, 2012
6:54 pm
like i said Mark, I didnt necessarily agree with what Growler wrote.
Falcon James
November 25th, 2012
6:54 pm
Great win today. We have got to find a running game. Turner is not cutting the mustard. Save the 3 yard dash to the end zone that anyone could have ran in, he is practically useless.. I would love to see him on the bench Thursday night and not costing us yards and plays. I am over him.
Pigskin
November 25th, 2012
6:55 pm
Still looked bad doing it (winning.)
lees
November 25th, 2012
6:56 pm
Hey Tech…….There’s this guy named Gene Chizik who’s lookin’ for a job. He doesn’t live too far from here. He’s been accused of maybe poisoning an oak tree, but I’ve never heard a bad thing he’s ever done with insecticides.
John
November 25th, 2012
6:56 pm
I think Mike Smith should have punted there at the end.
I’m worried about Matt Bryant, he’s been missing a lot of kicks lately. He has a bad back, hope it isn’t chronic.
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
6:57 pm
growler..im talking about the pas to white on the 3rd and 5 where matt stepped up and made a nice easy pass to roady for a first down. tampa then had to burn the rest of their time outs. think there was like a little over min and 20 seconds left.
Alex Hawkins
November 25th, 2012
6:57 pm
Growler Babe, you stick to it.
Growler
November 25th, 2012
6:57 pm
Talking about the 3rd down pass with 1:02 to go. At THAT point, the Bucs had no timeouts. Okay so that isn’t mentioned in the above write.. so now that I’ve clarified and admitted my mixing up the plays I am more than curious to hear Mark B’s opinion on that play call. That is the one I’m talking about….. (and I was clear about the time left in the game)
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
6:57 pm
atlxman
Would have made more sense to pen them deep with seconds left, than to hand them the ball @ the 40. Don’t know where you played ball or why you think you’re “more right ” than me or anyone else in here, lol. Geeze Louise, at least make them work fo it, as it was, they had a shot at the endzone. Doesn’t sound too smart to me…
Falcons #RiseUp
November 25th, 2012
6:58 pm
We held on to a needed win go Falcons continue to pull out wins when it’s necessary defense did an excellent job stopping the run & we did pretty well on the ground ourselves but I still think Antone Smith deserves a shot in the backfield he can bring a running game Atlanta needs
Growler
November 25th, 2012
6:58 pm
atlxman. Right sorry MY bad! At that point that was absolutely the correct call. But the story above never mentioned what happened after that…….
78dawg
November 25th, 2012
7:00 pm
As long as Turner is our back we will never win in the playoffs…period.
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
7:00 pm
i think matt should have made the filed goal to put atl up 6 and then tampa would have had to score a td ..but again..coach thought it through and figured with 10 seconds left tampa would have had gotten very lucky to pull it out
Paul Johnson
November 25th, 2012
7:00 pm
I have, for obvious reasons, had the “Beat Georgia” sign removed from Georgia Tech’s practice field. It has been replaced with a sign that reads “Real Men Drive Trains”.
Paul Johnson
November 25th, 2012
7:02 pm
And I must say I’m really glad that Dan guy is no longer our AD. I never could pronounce his last name.
Cpt Kirk in Atkansas
November 25th, 2012
7:03 pm
yNice road win vs. a hot team. The running game did pickup but once agin JaQizz, who Ive nicknamed Mighty Mite comes thru big time.. Once again, Turner was slow ro the hole and seemed to have his feet in cement. His touchdown was nice, but the Tv analysts hi lighted the downfield blocking by Roddy & Julio that made the TD possible.. Dont know what theyre savong Snelling or their fullbacks for. Didnt they fracft a FB to replace Ovie?? Would be nice to have someone open up holes n lead for Turner if Smitty remains obsessed with him being the feature back…hard for him to get untracked or any momentum anymore without a lead blocker…I mean its just so obvious that we begin every opening set with Turner off tackle,,luike a computer reset button..its just so wierd that the OC does his given Turners dropoff in ability.. The 2013 draft Must feature a search for a big time RB or several to offset Mighty Mite///, either a big bruiser of a RB FB type or a burner..I dont follow college ball as carefully, so Im cluless if such players are coming out, or available in free agency, but a guy like TB’s Martin would be ideal. Seems as if the Bucs have done real well with drafting Backs in recent yrs. Turners time has passed and its just so obvious to all of the fan base, along with all the other clubs’ DC’s that it should be obvious to Smitty & TD..
Unless our running game improves, aint goin nowhere in Jan, unless we end up with a medoicre wild card opponent IMHO
Mark My Words
CK
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
7:04 pm
SF up 10. Love to see the Saints cry…
todd grantham
November 25th, 2012
7:05 pm
Mark, would you say that the Falcons pirated a win today?
Growler
November 25th, 2012
7:06 pm
Mark, you called out Smith, correctly, on not going for 2 points against the Saints.
There was the erroneous red flag against the Raiders.
There was some very strange strategy (ie.. puting from the Dallas 37)against the Cowboys.
Then there was today. They won 3 of those games, but I see a troubling trend. I want the Falcons to win the Super Bowl but if they don’t, I don’t want them upended by bad coaching decisions. Because Ryan and Gonzalez are as clucth as any duo in the NFL in those situations, they picked up their head coach. Good for them and good for the Falcons and good for 10-1.
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
7:06 pm
kingdaddy..there wasnt a guantee that tampa was going to get pinned back..more than likely they would have had it the 20 which was a difference of about 20 yards in which the way atl was set up they were giving that up . tampa still would have had a shot at hail mary as freeman can throw 70 yards.
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
7:07 pm
atlxman
Just know I love my Falcons and most of their fans…
Dave
November 25th, 2012
7:09 pm
Where, o where is my boy “Chokie?”
lees
November 25th, 2012
7:10 pm
Saints having some difficulties with San Fran
Hillbilly D
November 25th, 2012
7:13 pm
I watched the first half and it was a pretty good game but there’s so damn many commercials, I just can’t watch a whole football game, anymore.
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
7:14 pm
ha..kingdaddy..i know you do but its more fun to just relax and enjoy a good win then sit and 2nd guess someone that gets paid a ton of cash to coach for a living. coach smith knows what he is doing.
William F. Buckley, Jr.
November 25th, 2012
7:15 pm
The Birds of Prey from the Empire State of the South and more particularly the City that is too busy to hate were able to overcome a gallant and valiant effort exerted by that collection of Bluebeards, Redbeards and Blackbeards that form a gridiron team from the hometown of one of my least favorite human beings, that of the late George Steinbrenner.
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
7:16 pm
Aman
A Hail-Mary even if caught would have gotten them to the 10. No help bro. They got a shot at the ENDZONE…YOU SEE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 10 YARD LINE & THE ENDZONE??? Dude, do you just like to argue? You’re wrong. A 70 yard pass from the 20 is what Aman? 90 yards and game over…A lucky shot in the endzone is GAMEOVER FOR US…
Groundhogday
November 25th, 2012
7:16 pm
Saints got a gift there. Looked like a catch and a fumble to me.
Groundhogday
November 25th, 2012
7:18 pm
I too am questioning CMS’s call to kick the FG there, especially if Bryant’s back is still bothering him.
William F. Buckley, Jr.
November 25th, 2012
7:19 pm
To dialte further upon my previously filed blog entry, I found Mr. Steinbrenner to be increadiby boorish, bullying, spoiled, egotistical, self-centered, and at the same time capable of a level of self-loathing that I only thought possible by Richard Nixon.
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
7:19 pm
The refs are going to beat SF…
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
7:22 pm
kingdaddy..they had time plenty of time to complete 1 pass for 20 or so yards and still have time to throw for the end zone.. again atl defense was set up for nothing to get behind them.
William F. Buckley, Jr.
November 25th, 2012
7:24 pm
As with Atlas in the Ayn Rand classic, at times I was compelled to shrug at some of Coach Smith’s decisions today.
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
7:25 pm
you guys would have question if smith called for a punt and it got blocked or a returned for a td..thats just how you 2nd guesser”s are.
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
7:26 pm
atlxman
I am a veteran who fought for the right to question stupidity, not follow stupidly. I hope you never question anything Smitty does, LOL. Doesn’t make you a better fan, makes you a blind homer…
drew
November 25th, 2012
7:27 pm
The Falcons seem to play just a little better than whoever they happen to be playing.
If they keep doing that, eventually they’re going to…
…win a super bowl?
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
7:27 pm
just like that..a 50 harder by san fran
misslissasav
November 25th, 2012
7:28 pm
Falcons Baby! Liked what I saw from Rodgers – keep working him in, Coach! Its a short a week, so rest up fellas! Good win on the road!
by the looks of this SF/NO game, we’re gonna get a pretty beaten up Saints in the Dome Thursday night. Thanks to the Niners for tenderizing them for us!
Time to settle up with dem Saints!! GO FALCONS!
DAWGFanInAL
November 25th, 2012
7:30 pm
Hey Mark,
It’s uncanny how similar are our 2 favorite teams wearing red & black. Each has one loss on the way to a great season. Each has a QB that can throw with pinpoint precision, yet can throw INTs just as easily. If the O-lines don’t do their job, the QBs get sacked. Running games that look great at times, but seemingly have to fight for yards. Multiple talented wide receivers that make it difficult for the other team to defend against the pass. Defenses that make plays, but can’t seem to stop the other team at times. Each with a PK that makes FGs and EPs an adventure. And so on ….
Seems like it would make for an interesting column.
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
7:34 pm
Lol…
kerryb
November 25th, 2012
7:36 pm
Nothing better than watching the Saints lose and getting the crap kicked out of them while it’s happening. They are coming to Atlanta Thursday night hurting because the 49ers have been beating the crap out of them.
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
7:37 pm
The sports media love the Saints almost as much as they do ND…
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
7:38 pm
kingdaddy…so your not a coach? never would have guessed that one..lol im not blind homer just know there is more than one way to coach a football team to a win and it seems like coach smith does it better than you so i will side with him 100 percent of the time when going against your coaching. again question all you want you just seems silly to do it.
kerryb
November 25th, 2012
7:38 pm
Nothing better than watching the Saints lose especially when the other team is beating the crap out of them. They are coming to Atlanta hurting from the 49ers beat down.
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
7:41 pm
77 what a dumba$$ and the anouncer is sorta taking up for him…
Pigskin
November 25th, 2012
7:43 pm
Brees looked angry.
He’s going to take it out on us Thurs.
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
7:44 pm
my point is about the hailmary is that tampa was going to have at least 1 shot at the end zone either way. the only way they dont was if bryant makes the field goal because then they would have only about 3 seconds left after the kick off…bryant had made 55 yarders before and 48 yarders plenty of times.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 25th, 2012
7:44 pm
@atlxman … FWIW, I agree with you. In calling for the FG, Smitty assumed that it would be made, giving us a 4-point lead and requiring the Bucs to score a TD in only a few seconds with no timeouts. In hindsight, if he had known the FG was going to be missed, he likely would have punted. However, there are potentially negative consequences from that decision as well, including a punt block or a long return. Remember, since we only had a 1-point lead, all the Bucs would have needed to do was get into FG range to try for the win. I liked the call … but even more importantly, I liked the final result. Seems to me that we should stop arguing so much about the process and celebrating more about the outcome!
Answer This
November 25th, 2012
7:44 pm
Anyone know where SeenThisB4….or4BsihtneeS? Hehehehehhahahahahaha
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
7:44 pm
atxl
you are a first-class koolaid drinking homer of epic proportions. Grow up…
Brent
November 25th, 2012
7:45 pm
Mike Smith’s playcalling is maddening. Putting the game on Bryant’s shoulders at the end was insanity. The obvious call was field goal formation, direct snap to the kicker, then pooch punt. The clock would have run out before any of the Tampa Bay players could down it (assuming it stayed in the field of play), and the WORST case scenario is the ball goes into the end zone and the Bucs get it at their 20 with less time on the clock. If that’s obvious to me, a guy with no experiencing coaching football at any level, why isn’t it obvious to the guy Arthur Blank’s seen fit to give the stewardship of the Falcons?
Dirtman
November 25th, 2012
7:46 pm
Win on thursday the falcons will clinch the NFC SOUTH.
outonleave
November 25th, 2012
7:50 pm
No, Brent, the WORST case ending of your scenario is that one of the Bucs fields the punt and runs it back for a TD.
atlxman
November 25th, 2012
7:52 pm
flowery branch..i totally agree with you and thats what im trying to say..thanks..:) lol
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
7:54 pm
Just glad we got the win on the road. Come on Thursday…
Brent
November 25th, 2012
7:57 pm
The Bucs didn’t have a man back to field a punt; they were expecting the FG attempt. That is why the direct snap to the kicker/pooch punt is the correct call with time running out.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 25th, 2012
8:00 pm
So … the Falcons now have a 4-game lead on the Bucs and a 5-game lead on the Saints with five games remaining. Great job by the Birds over the first 11 games. Need to get a couple more hard-fought wins and then start getting some banged-up guys healed. It sure would be nice to see a healthy Falcons team with home-field advantage going into the playoffs. It would be even better to see them WIN a few of those playoff games!
Happy Day!
November 25th, 2012
8:04 pm
Falcons Win! Falcons Win! Aints Lose! Aints Lose!
St Simons
November 25th, 2012
8:04 pm
ok, Thursday – you can put it away Thursday. Will they?
we got 45 years of data, whataya think?
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
8:06 pm
The worst case scenario was a hail-mary into the endzone caught for a Bucs td or a pass interference penalty against Atl. giving them a FG attempt from the 2. A game can’t end on a penalty. Coffin corner punt or punt into endzone and bring it out to 20. It worked anyway, we won. There’s many ways to skin a cat…
iBALL
November 25th, 2012
8:20 pm
Looking like a 1st round and done team now. Stumbling through wins now with no killer instinct on defense. No running game and can not stop the run or pass. Unfortunately, they don’t get much respect for being 10-1, BUT??
Answer This
November 25th, 2012
8:21 pm
Worst case scenario…. a loss!
We won…..all that matters lets celebrate tonight and get ready for Thursday
Ed
November 25th, 2012
8:21 pm
Great win Falcons, let’s get ready for Thursday and go on and clinch the division.
Big Crimson 75
November 25th, 2012
8:24 pm
Rodney Harrison couldn’t catch himself in a lie on National TV tonight.
Falcon fans are texting Harrison telling him we don’t deserve to be 10&1??!!
Lies lies lies.
Turtsnap
November 25th, 2012
8:25 pm
Give more carries to Quiz! He atleast makes people miss. And give more to Snelling too!
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 25th, 2012
8:28 pm
The Falcons win the kind of game they’ll play in January
6:00 pm November 25, 2012, by Mark Bradley
————————-
Too bad it wasn’t against the kind of TEAM they’ll play in January.
The Truth
November 25th, 2012
8:28 pm
Sorry Tampa Bay…. you were the hottest team in the NFL at 12:59pm EST, but since you lost to the Falcons… you’re now just mediocre and were playing over your abilities. I read it on the internet, so it’s gotta be true.
rod
November 25th, 2012
8:36 pm
PLEASE, PLEASE FALCONS FAN, IT’S TIME TO MAKE THE DOME VERY, VERY, NOISY!!! WE NEED TO BE THE 12TH MAN ON THURSDAY AND BEYOND. These guys said in the last game that they own the FALCONS!!! THE MEDIA ISN’T RESPECTING THE FALCONS, SO IT’S TIME FOR THE PEOPLE OF ATLANTA TO RISE UP!!!! WE NEED NOISE THROUGHOUT THE GAME!!! I BELIEVE SOMETHING SPECIAL IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, SO LET’S GO. TWO GREAT GAMES IN THE DOME THIS WEEK, THE FALCONS AND AINTS, AND BULLDOGS AND BAMA!!! COME ON ATLANTA, WE NEED TO SHOW EVERYONE ELSE WHO WE ARE!!!!! GO FALCONS AND GO BULLDOGS!!! WHAT A WEEK FOR FOOTBALL, AND THE STATE OF GEORGIA. I EXPECT GEORGIA TO WIN AND BEAT NOTRE DAME, AND I EXPECT TO SEE THE FALCONS IN NEW ORLEANS ONE MORE TIME, HOLDING THAT TROPHY. I told my coworkers and friends at the beginning of the season the FALCONS will finish 15-1, winning the SUPERBOWL!!!! We’re almost there!!! RISE UP ATLANTA, RISE UP!!!!!! BY the way, please tell Coach Smith and staff to use Rodgers more. He’s faster and quicker than Turner. He didn’t need to be out of the game when were trying to put them away.
cruzin
November 25th, 2012
8:39 pm
I want to know who that gorgeous blonde was walking next to Mike Smith when they went to the locker room at half time!
Falcon fan 24-7
November 25th, 2012
8:39 pm
A tough division win, whew. Now, on to the next one.
al
November 25th, 2012
8:39 pm
BRYANT WILL BE FINE. JUST HAD A BAD GAME I HOPE. REMEMBER THOSE TERRIBLE TIMES WITH JASON ELAM?BRYANT HAS BEEN A GOD SEND FOR US. CUT BACK ON TURNERS PLAYING TIME AND I THINK WE WILL BE A CONTENDER.
LDawg
November 25th, 2012
8:46 pm
Agree with Rod – you know what the first headline I saw was? “Atlanta Escapes Again” Apparently it’s never enough.
DWinAtl
November 25th, 2012
8:49 pm
The oddest thing of the day was the clock wind down just before the half. That was the kind of thing you do when you don’t have confidence that your defense can make a stop or that your offense can make the first. It was bizarre, and if Ryan had that 30 seconds back, he would have put it in the end zone.
Iluvnutella
November 25th, 2012
8:50 pm
Glad they won, but I see holes in the D to drive a truck through. Asante isnt as good as advertised. Daunte isnt all that either. And our Ilb’s cant cover the TE. Other than that….we be pretty good.
M
November 25th, 2012
8:51 pm
Man the Falcons have Got to Beat the saints. I too am Tired of the Media guys picking against the Birds saying they will lose. We have Got to beat the S##T out of the saints. Turner please run harder Man. This can be done, the entire NFL is weak, Rise UP!!!!
Paul
November 25th, 2012
8:52 pm
All the Fox analysts picked Atlanta to lose. And everyone will continue to do so until the Super Bowl. To hell with them. Falcons always do just enough to win…and that will continue. They would have beaten the Saints if the OC didn’t rely on Turner. That’s the main lesson to be learned: Don’t lean on Turner, and then we have a chance to win. Lean on Turner…then forget it.
kingdaddy
November 25th, 2012
8:57 pm
The win today was against a good Tampa club and a hostile enviroment. Everything clicked pretty good. We are lucky to have White, Jones & Gonzales, all great targets and hard to cover. Ryan made some percision throws. Defense is above average…
M
November 25th, 2012
9:07 pm
Historically the “Falcons” have “Owned” the saints 46 games to 41. Check it out on Google records. Time to keep owning these cheating Superbowl winners. Rise up!! Let’s be the New Lord of the Rings!!!!!!!!
Steve Wills
November 25th, 2012
9:12 pm
Do we have to use Drive Killa 33 so much? Its embarassing to watch him fall down when he gets touch in the feet, and watch Rogers run through people.
LOL at The Aints
November 25th, 2012
9:20 pm
LOL! Nice win today, Lets keep it going.
jgsbirds
November 25th, 2012
9:41 pm
the blonde was a friend of mine named laura okmin. she is a sideline reporter for fox…did a pretty good job today.
Paul
November 25th, 2012
9:43 pm
I tell ya…I’m reading all the national reports on the game, and it’s all criticism of the Falcons. Nothing but criticism. Obviously the Falcons have holes and warts, but they must be the most criticized 10-1 team in the history of the NFL.
Let me tell ya… if the Patriots or Packers were 10-1 with the same issues, they would be universally praised throughout the land .
Ghost of the Thrashers
November 25th, 2012
9:49 pm
For all of you homers questioning kingdaddy, have any of you ever heard of a damn pooch kick to the sideline? No way you kick that FG from there with the possibility of a PI call that would give them a chip shot FG attempt to win. Make them go as far as possible to win the game, period.
Jaded
November 25th, 2012
10:00 pm
As flawed as this team is, we’re putting ourselves in a position where we’ll only need to win two home games to get to the Super Bowl.
Matchups are the key. We need to be pulling hard for Green Bay to win their division and get a top-3 seed. I don’t care how they look tonight, they’re still the scariest potential opponent in the NFC. I’d much rather play the Bears or anyone else in that round.
If we have to play the Packers, I want it to be in the NFC championship. I’d feel better about our chances against them if Ryan and Smitty have the playoff monkey off their backs.
Regardless, we just have to win, no matter whom we face. Like Tony Dungy said: No excuses, no explanations.
ryan p
November 25th, 2012
10:16 pm
i think the fg attempt was fine cause a punt would have been about the same time taken off and maybe it goes into the end zone. so a net gain of like 15 yards. with 8 seconds left, the fg was the smart move. i just worry about injuries and ryans to’s. 7 over the past 2 games yet they won. Do that against a top team and they get blown out. Like the giants.
Bill
November 25th, 2012
10:20 pm
We will know how good the falcons are thursday and when they play the giants.
Behind enemy lines
November 25th, 2012
10:27 pm
You guys are hilarious! You nitpick end of game situations and call it bad coaching by Coach Smith. How about the game plan that bottled up Tampa’s running game – was that bad coaching too? Did we actually run the ball against a top ranked running D? With all that bad coaching how did we survive two turnovers and win? Some of y’all are overly pompous focusing on a piece of tree bark and forgetting that in the forest the Birds are in they are 10 and 1,,
Behind enemy lines
November 25th, 2012
10:27 pm
You guys are hilarious! You nitpick end of game situations and call it bad coaching by Coach Smith. How about the game plan that bottled up Tampa’s running game – was that bad coaching too? Did we actually run the ball against a top ranked running D? With all that bad coaching how did we survive two turnovers and win? Some of y’all are overly pompous focusing on a piece of tree bark and forgetting that in the forest the Birds are in they are 10 and 1,,
TN Jeff
November 25th, 2012
10:30 pm
Perhaps someone has mentioned this BUT it frustrated me when the Falcons let the clock run down in the closing moments of the first half as part of their strategy to keep Tampa Bay from having time to score. Because of that decision, the Falcons ran out of time and had to kick a field goal on 3rd down rather than take one more shot at scoring a touchdown from inside the 10. Nobody on TV mentioned this but to me this was terrible clock management and showed no faith in their defense.
Laughing out Loud
November 25th, 2012
10:34 pm
Well, Growler, you stick to your guns…I’ve marked your words the poor clock management will come back to bite the Falcons come January. We’ll see. However, seems even with poor play calling, clock management etc, that a 10 – 1 record seems pretty special! I’ll take that and keep on taking them one game at a time and let January take care of it’s self. Go Falcons!
Laughing out Loud
November 25th, 2012
10:43 pm
Paul, who gives a rip about natioal commentors? It will take a long time fiull of successes for the Falcons to be media darings. Both the Packers and New England have a better than average history of winning. So give our birds some time…with TD and Coach Smith…national acl;aim will eventually come…But who gives a rip! Enjoy the Falcons! Go Falcons!
B'Red
November 25th, 2012
10:43 pm
Glad to see the defense step up today, but we’re going to have to come up with a way to put pressure on Drew Breese to beat the Saints on Thursday night. Also get Quizz involved more in the offense. He had a good game today.
JSS
November 25th, 2012
10:52 pm
“but they must be the most criticized 10-1 team in the history of the NFL.”
Nope, that was the 1995 Kansas City Chiefs… Everyone except for the Chiefs fans was waiting for Marty’s team to implode, and true to form, they did!!!
Sbgt92
November 25th, 2012
11:04 pm
Very satisfying to watch Saints lose, but a 49er loss would have actually been better for us. They’re still 1.5 back for home field advantage. Anyway, we can only control what we can control.
Growler
November 25th, 2012
11:12 pm
LOL, I hope you are right! It’s funny that I get called a hater. If anything, I am frustrated because I WANT the Falcons to win it all! (I’ve been to every home playoff game in the Dome dating back to the Niners game in the ‘98 season, and hope to keep that string going). It is true in football there are no style points and 10-1 is 10-1! In fact, it was a very impressive win considering the situation: road division game against a team that’s won 5 straight. But I see every week M. Smith do something wonky, and today took the cake. No other coach in their right mind (and there are a few not of right mind, I guess) would call for a pass attempt in THAT situation: with 62 seconds to go and the other team out of timeouts on the plus side of the field. I am so glad it worked out and we can leave it at that. I hope I am wrong about something bad happening in January and I’ll leave THAT at that for the rest of the season. But: I don’t get why Mark B. didn’t mention it. I wonder if it has to do with getting pilloried for [correctly] calling out Smith for not going for 2 against the Saints. Given the events at the end of the first half, as well, I think Smith got a free pass today. But as you say: 10-1! And onward….
JSS
November 25th, 2012
11:26 pm
Growler, if you want to see some eerily similar stuff, go look at 1995 Chiefs… It is like a mirror…
around town
November 25th, 2012
11:41 pm
I agree with Growler (from quite some time ago). The 3rd down pass with 1:02 left (just before the ill-advised FG attempt) was a very risky play which could have resulted in the Bucs having at least two more plays to get the ball into FG range at the end. My thought at the time was the CMS must have been trying to catch them by surprise — since no one ever dreamed the Falcons would pass — and thereby pick up the FD and ice the game. I’m going to to hold on to that theory as it gives Coach Smith additional credence, IMO.
Growler
November 25th, 2012
11:42 pm
I’ll check it out JSS. Oh, and for anyone so inclined:
The Falcons clinch the division (and a home playoff game) with a win against the Saints Thursday and a Tampa Bay loss or tie, or a tie and a Tampa Bay loss. Good night all,
Growler
November 25th, 2012
11:47 pm
Trying this again: I’ll check out the ‘95 Chiefs, thanks for the heads-up. And for anyone so inclined:
The Falcons clinch the division (and a home playoff game) with a win against the Saints Thursday and a Tampa Bay loss or tie, or a tie and a Tampa Bay loss. Good night all.
LOL at the Aints
November 26th, 2012
12:04 am
JSS, are you talking to yourself again, LOL
JSS
November 26th, 2012
12:50 am
@ 12:04AM
No misanthrope, that would be you and your usual babble of pecking for blog battles… Enjoy your short 3 day lead up to the Saints… Funny, the Niners did what a good team should and left no doubt that they could in hostile territory… So, why couldn’t your anointed team pull that off with all of those weapons? No back and forth this time, I enjoyed the Grey Cup and then Sunday Football too much to get into some pissing contest with your colostomy bag mind….
Will F.
November 26th, 2012
1:28 am
JSS a hostile Jacket…or an AINT? lmao
SR
November 26th, 2012
2:05 am
Did anyone else notice that Turner actually accelerated on the toss play on which he scored as opposed to his standard plodding, hoping, searching style?? Damn, if he ran like that more often, perhaps he might gain more than a yard per carry. If he doesn’t, he remains the most worthless running back in the league by a long shot. Slow, slower, slowest.
Bruce Raglin in HI.
November 26th, 2012
2:06 am
Wow 10 and 1 just need to work on short-yardage situations pass rush needs to improve. we beat a hot-team at home stopped the run THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE FALCON GO TEAM CMS is doing a great job.
todd
November 26th, 2012
2:12 am
You guys like to nitpick stuff… There were several options Smith could have chose at the end of the game. Each had it’s advantages and disadvantages. I was thinking punt but there really wasn’t a clear cut answer and in the end I can’t fault the guy for his decision. However, if Smith wasn’t good at clock management, theres no way they win so many close games.. And who gives a crap about the penalty on the challenge flag the week before.. Happened to another team the very same week.
Dr. Warren
November 26th, 2012
2:47 am
Falcons are 10-1. We are getting Braves-fan-level spoiled complaining about it, but somehow, they do in fact look shaky.
rufus
November 26th, 2012
3:51 am
I assume Bryant is not a fast runner, and with a back issue the following scenario is most unlikely. But, assume either the holder on the FG attempt or Bryant just took off toward the Buc’s goal line or otherwise run haphazardly all over creation. Just don’t get in Buc’s FG range.
Chances are he could have run out the clock. That would have been too hilarious.
I suggested this “strategy” to my son during the game. He said it was a crazy idea.
Anyway, we should have done something, anything, to preclude that Hail Mary.
On the shifty Jacquizz Rodgers and the shifting Mike Smith | Mark Bradley
November 26th, 2012
5:26 am
[...] This post is an adjunct to the game column, which can be found here. [...]
Hey Hey Tampa Bay
November 26th, 2012
5:37 am
The Bucs won’t stop here they’ll be BACK!
Brother Bill
November 26th, 2012
5:39 am
With 10 seconds to run off the clock, it would seem that a wrong way run would eat up 10 seconds. Better that, than to allow a Hail Mary pass.
It would certainly make the highlight films. Maybe next time, guys.
Rabbit
November 26th, 2012
9:01 am
Growl and complain, but I remember Bill Bell and another Falcons era. I absolutely endorse Mike Smith. Smart and unafraid. 10 (bleeping) 1. Go Birds.
George
November 26th, 2012
9:11 am
We have to believe on the Birds,I just don’t like close games, nerve wrecking
Henry63
November 26th, 2012
10:02 am
The good news for Falcon fans is that the Falcons will probably have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The bad news is that they’ll get to play only one game.
Enkinan
November 26th, 2012
10:10 am
Bryant seems to have some doubt creeping in, as money as he has been I hope he gets back to form in time for the playoffs.
mtgummibear
November 26th, 2012
10:39 am
So Growler you KNOW what you would be saying if the Falcons had run the ball instead of the pass to Roddy and not made the first down. And then the Bucs used the extra time to drive down the field for a winning field goal. YOU WOULD BE ROASTING COACH SMITH FOR BEING TOO CONSERVATIVE. Sure there was a down side to the call because an incompletion would have stopped the clock, but sometimes you HAVE to be aggressive.
And while I think we can argue about the FG attempt instead of a punt the bottom line is you have a kicker who has been virtually automatic from 50 yards and in, especially in clutch situations, and a made field goal meant the Bucs would have to score a touchdown to beat you. Again an aggressive call, but this time the execution failed. Remember a muffed snap or blocked kick can happen on a punt just as easily as on a field goal. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong decision in that situation.
Sallymander
November 26th, 2012
10:51 am
Normally Matt Bryant is money, so I can let his sub-par performance slide, especially since we won this game. Besides, I have a philosophy when it comes to the kicking game:
Extra points shouldn’t be missed under any circumstances – the offense has done its part, now the special team needs to step up and complete the job.
But. Any converted field goal is a gift – the offense didn’t do what it needed to get done, and now it’s up to the kicker to try and salvage the drive so that it isn’t a complete waste. If the kick is good, then awesome – the team has points it otherwise wouldn’t have had. If he misses? Well, then,too bad, so sad – the offense should have made it to the end zone, so that they wouldn’t have had to rely on the kicker.
This is especially the case in OT. If your kicker misses what would have been the winning FG, then blame yourself for failing to put the game on ice during regulation.
Hopefully Matt will have his confidence (and accuracy!) back for Thursday’s game. He’s still money – shoot, everybody has a bad day at the office once in a while!
MontanaDawg
November 26th, 2012
11:22 am
The Falcons aren’t for real. You’re not going to win in the long run with no real running game and a beat up secondary. I love their scrappy wins but it won’t win Championships. Who have the Falcons played? Nobody other than Denver very early in the season when Manning was still trying to figure out the Broncos offense. If they play Denver now they lose. Everyone else the Birds have played has a mediocre or lousy record. When you can barely beat a lousy or mediocre team do you really think you can make it past the 1st round of the playoffs against real good opponents? Nope. Wake me up when the Birds make it past round one. Otherwise, these wins are all for naught.
Larrycvb
November 26th, 2012
12:26 pm
In the time it takes Turner to get started, get to the handoff from Ryan, and run(?) towards the closing hole, you could call your mom and exchange loving Thanksgiving wishes.
How nice to see Rogers RUN to the hole. How nice to see Snelling in play.
A win is a win, right? 10-1 is nice, right? My cardiologist recommends not watching the falcs play; “reading it in the paper would be better”.
But I’ve been a Falcoholic for all 46 years.. Even the meetings and rehab don’t work.
I say ” a playoff win might ease the addiction” (heart doc says no).
Go Falcons!!!! Please”"”"
Pamela
November 26th, 2012
12:43 pm
Trust me the New Orleans Saints are far from being through for the season. You must remember it’s not how you start, but how you end. Ask the Giants who beat you all to a pulp when you all seeped into the playoffs last year. Trust me if you all were playing the 49ers the score would have been more like 45 – 2…like it was when you all played the Giants last year…The Falcons made history then..as the lowest scoring team in ANY playoff game.
The Saints has had a very rough season and they are still much better than the Falcants’! Anyday! When the coach returns next year you all will be beggin’ just to be a guest at the playoff games..oh yeah..that is what you all do every year.
It’s so funny how you all are bragging as if the Falcants are ACTUALLY a REAL Team…hahahahahahahahahahaha!
That’s laughable. You all barely won 1/2 of your games…you all beat TB by 1 point! REAL teams win with at least a touch down and a field goal…what are you all going to do now since your boy is out for awhile…yeah…Matt Bryant? Yeah….Who dat baby???!
Everybody knows that winning by 1 point is NOT good at all! Of course you all will take what you can get and consider it a ‘good’ win..The New Orleans Saints will whup your behind again and so will the remaining teams that you all have left to play. You will NOT be the #1 team in the NFC South. Believe that!
You all will lose your first game in the playoffs. hahahahahahahahahaha! It’s so funny to see you little Falcants’ scrape the bottom of the desperate bowl of winning teams in the NFL….where is your championship ring? Oh yeah…YOU DON’T HAVE ONE AND NEVER WILL HAVE ONE..HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
WHO DAT BABY???? Not the Falcants’….that’s for sure…they can’t play ball and they have ABSOLUTELY NO RESPECT in the NFL! hahahahahahahaha!
Go on you pitiful trolls and enjoy your 1,2 and 3 point victoriers…it won’t last for long..LOOSERS!!! hahahahahahahaha!
Pamela
November 26th, 2012
12:49 pm
I tried to post my comment on D. Ledbetter page, but he NEVER allows me to do so. He ONLY allows people that are for the Falcants’ to post their comments…sore loer. I knows what the rest of us has to say is true that is why he doesn’t allow us to post anything….oh well where there is a will there is a way. The TRUTH is what it is…no matter how much he tries to stop me or anyone else from posting anything on his board we will find a way to post it somewhere else…
NFL football preview: Atlanta Falcons vs Buccaneers (Tampa Bay) + more Falcons (Atlanta) News - Encompass News
November 26th, 2012
4:07 pm
[...] The Falcons win the kind of game they'll play in January Tampa – The 8-0 begin was pleasant, but we all know the Falcons (Atlanta) won't be judged on what they did in September, or November. Heck, even Mike Smith, the buttoned-up coach, spoke these words in August: “When we acquire there (meaning the playoffs), we've … Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Barry
November 26th, 2012
7:25 pm
Hey Y’all:
THUMP!!! Can You Hear It!!!!?? THUMP!!!! IT’S GETTING LOUDER!!!!! THUMP!!”THUMP!!! ‘ ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!” I LOVE THIS TEAM!! THEY ARE STARTING TO PLAY NASTY AT THE RIGHT TIME!! IT’S. ON IN ” ONE HEARTBEAT!!”
GO FALCONS!!!!
The “PROCESS” continues to the SUPER BOWL.
“FALCONS”RISE UP!!!!” WE “RISE UP!” IN “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!” THUMP!! CAN YOU HEAR IT???!! THUMP!! IT’S. GETTING LOUDER!!! THUMP!!! THUMP!!! THUMP!!!…….
SSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH!!”
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN!! TELL EVERYBODY!!! SEE Y’ALL AT THE DOME.
……………….”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!……
Heat Check: Destiny’s ‘Dogs? Bowl-less Jackets? | Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2012
9:09 am
[...] Everyone around the team was heartened by the one-point escape from Tampa Bay, for good reason. It was a big-time win over a tough opponent, and the Falcons haven’t beaten [...]
Isn’t it high time the Falcons hushed the yapping Saints? | Mark Bradley
November 29th, 2012
6:54 pm
[...] beating Denver and Dallas in prime time, ending 24 years of futility in Philadelphia, dousing the hot Buccaneers on Sunday — and they can take another Thursday night. They can stomp the Saints. They can stop being [...]