In losing a nothing game, the Falcons risked losing far more
Presenting the scariest sight of a mostly sublime regular season. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
For the coach of a team that cannot improve its playoff positioning, there’s no right way to approach a game that doesn’t matter. If you rest your starters, you chance an edge being lost. If you play them, you leave yourself open to the vagaries of football. Mike Smith stated his intentions — the Falcons would play to win — and stuck to his word. Give him that, if nothing else.
With 11:42 remaining in the regular season, the Falcons’ only real pass rusher was helped from the field after getting tangled with teammate Peria Jerry. John Abraham exited with a bad ankle, and right about here folks stopped seeing Smith as the coach who can’t get it right on fourth-and-1 and started castigating him as the guy who’d sacrificed a key asset in a game of no value.
Already cornerback Dunta Robinson had been taken the locker room with an injury — he’d led with his head yet again — and Asante Samuel, the other corner, had done his weekly limp-off-and-return. Matt Ryan, on whom everything depends, had absorbed a series of frightful hits. And all this for what? To finish 14-2, as opposed to 13-3? To win a game whose result would be forgotten 10 seconds after the final whistle?
“It’s up to the coach,” tight end Tony Gonzalez said, speaking of the approach to such a negligible game. “He told us what his plans were. It was no secret. We just got beat.”
The Falcons played to win and lost anyway. No big deal. What could be a huge deal is if the availability of Abraham and/or Robinson for the playoff opener is compromised by the injuries sustained in Game 16.
Of Abraham, Smith said: “The early report is that it’s minor. We’re not overly concerned … Tomorrow we’ll know a whole lot more.”
Of Robinson: “Dunta, I think, will be fine.”
Then this: “We’ve got two weeks. That’s why we play these 16 games, to get that bye. There’s a big advantage not having to line up in six or seven days and go play in the second season.”
Since the Falcons convened in July, they’ve known that nothing they accomplished in this regular season — even if they wound up with the NFL’s best record, which is what happened — would register if they can’t win a playoff game. That’s what made Sunday’s doings so weird: With the precious playoffs almost at hand, they got caught up in the meaningless.
The good news was that neither injury appears as bad as it might have been. “I’m fine,” Robinson said in the locker room. “But they’ve (meaning publicists, citing a team rule about injured players giving interviews) gagged me.”
Privately, Falcons officials were relieved that Abraham’s ankle left ankle didn’t swell. But the left ankle is rather essential for a right defensive end, and the Falcons will need Abraham at full gallop if they’re to win the Super Bowl.
Said free safety Thomas DeCoud: “That’s one guy you definitely don’t want getting hurt.”
Asked about the insistence on playing the starters the entire game, DeCoud said: “It’s a Catch-22. If you play them and somebody gets hurt, everyone points the finger.”
The belief here is that Smith dared too greatly, that he assumed way too much risk for very little reward. In his defense, history offers little guidance on the issue of regular-season momentum vis-a-vis postseason success.
The past two Super Bowl champs (Packers and Giants) had to win Games 15 and 16 just to reach the postseason, and neither had a Round 1 bye. The 2009 Saints lost their final three regular-season games and still won the Super Bowl. The 2007 Patriots went flat-out in their regular-season finale against the Giants to get to 16-0 but were beaten in the Super Bowl by the same Giants. The 2005 Colts were 14-0 but chose to play Peyton Manning sparingly in Games 15 and 16 (losing both) and were ousted in their first playoff game.
To no great surprise, the Falcons appeared caught between Sunday. They weren’t quite sure how hard to try, so they wound up falling 13 points behind a Tampa Bay team that hadn’t won since Nov. 18. The inevitable — inevitable when you consider that Ryan took every offensive snap — rally fell a touchdown short.
Again, no big deal. And it’s possible that Sunday’s injuries won’t amount to much and the Flowery Branch Birds will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy five weeks hence. Still, a game of no consequence needn’t have spawned such drama.
“I didn’t even see John,” Jerry said, speaking of his collision with Abraham. “I heard him make an unusual noise and turned to see him holding his ankle.”
It isn’t known whether Mike Smith, seeing the same image, likewise made a noise. We can, however, guess what his words might have been.
Further reading: As for the game itself, it was pretty crummy, too.
By Mark Bradley
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321 comments Add your comment
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:11 pm
Larry, is that you?
Alpha Male
December 30th, 2012
9:11 pm
That was a stinking performance…and …Why is Peria Jerry still on this team? He got pancaked all day again and then got pushed backwards as usual and took out our best player (Abe). What a sorry player that Peria Jerry is and bad coaching staff and Owner for not wanting to admit he’s a bust and doing something about it.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
9:11 pm
Just message me on one of the blogs in August, it’s a deal… Cotton Avenue or Northside are the best now…
JSS
December 30th, 2012
9:13 pm
Of course it is him, “no means no” never sinks in!
Michael M.
December 30th, 2012
9:14 pm
Now if that had been Matt Ryan toted off the field everyone would have been on Smith to h&*l to pay for it, Smitty gambled against a division opponent and they always play one another tough and the Falcons were slow to start and got the whipping they needed to wake them up for these playoff opponents and watching this game tonight.either the Redskins or the Cowgirls will be one n done next week………………………………..
JSS
December 30th, 2012
9:15 pm
Alpha, you can’t eat a rookie contract like that, not when you were still paying Jamal Andersen too!!!
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:15 pm
Northside has been around since the 70s amazingly enough…cotton is of course good. Zebulon isn’t bad either.
Michael M.
December 30th, 2012
9:18 pm
I take it the Falcons have a snowball’s chance in Georgia according to some on here of getting to the Super Bowl…………….it might snow in the next few weeks you know
Mike
December 30th, 2012
9:18 pm
How was losing today to a team that lost it’s previous 5 games building momo? And then 3 guys get hurt? Idiot coaches.
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:18 pm
We ‘ve never hosted an NFC championship game.
We might this year.
We all know our history in this state, though.
How can we ever overcome the collective curses of Bradley and whatever else it is that always guarantees defeat in the biggest games?
How did the Braves do it back in 95? Game must’ve been rigged.
Hillbilly D
December 30th, 2012
9:21 pm
How did the Braves do it back in 95?
Three major factors:
A Justice HR
A Glavine gem
It was Cleveland
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:22 pm
Hillbilly, i must agree but the cleveland part is the real true reason….
Our only hope this year is to play the Brown’s in the super bowl…
We’re doomed.
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
Browns…..
Buzzzed
December 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
I think we are one and done. This team lacks heart and losing to the Bucs at HOME proves it.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
9:24 pm
My high school girlfriend Sr yr and Freshman year of college worked in the Northside location… I know it too well… Not a big fan of Zebulon,my best childhood friend Mom worked at Cotton Avenue, my Aunt worked Napier both from the 60s-90s
Moe Mentum
December 30th, 2012
9:25 pm
That gutless wonder, Mike Smith, instead of going 4th and 1, punts for negative yards. Could have practiced muscle football, but that makes his pink panties grab his hind end too tight. Did the league let the Bucs play with 15 men on defense? Always 8 in the box with 5 about to sack Ryan, and 3 DBs on every receiver Ryan threw to. Seemed there were others milling about, but I lost count.
McGarrett
December 30th, 2012
9:26 pm
Well a few months ago I said I wouldn’t post here again until December. And here it is. Funny thing is back then I was sure Birds would be done after one in the playoffs.
But now strangely enough I feel today’s loss to be a blessing in disguise. I believe it will fire up these Birds for a victory in 2 weeks.
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:26 pm
Fire Buzzzed!!
Michael M.
December 30th, 2012
9:27 pm
We wanted new offensive , defensive coordinators and we got em and they did an exceptionally well job this year with the players they had……..you got to look at the losses the Falcons took, Saints,Panthers and the Bucs ………..all three losses to opponents in our division.
Everyone else has gone in the toilet when they played the Falcons so who is to say the Falcons can’t continue it in the playoffs. Are these other teams invincible?
JSS
December 30th, 2012
9:28 pm
Nope, the Bucs finally played zone against the Falcons
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:28 pm
Small, small world then, JSS….i grew up not far from Northside.
NFC South Champs
December 30th, 2012
9:29 pm
Just think how dangerous the Falcons would
be if they were 13-3, had the best record in the NFL
and home field throughout the playoffs.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
9:31 pm
Only Mike Hargrove could hold that lineup down!!!
Michael M.
December 30th, 2012
9:31 pm
lmao at that one NFC South Champs………………….they are at their deadliest stage at this moment !
vuduchld
December 30th, 2012
9:33 pm
All bye will accomplish is to the fraud birds false hopes that they will go deep on the playoffs. This team is a fraud, and today’s loss was just another example. This team is on the playoff road to nowhere
Hillbilly D
December 30th, 2012
9:33 pm
Only Mike Hargrove could hold that lineup down!!!
Ah yes, the Human Rain Delay.
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
9:34 pm
FanBeforeBartkowski
December 30th, 2012
9:03 pm
Some franchises are just “snake bit” and may never get over the hump. I hope the Falcons are not one of them.
_______________________
The Falcons have already been “one of them” for 46 years. I just hope they’re not “one of them” again in two weeks.
Michael M.
December 30th, 2012
9:35 pm
Wasn’t it Mark that said this Team would win the Super Bowl this year ? ……………….I’ll be waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting………………………
JSS
December 30th, 2012
9:35 pm
Know any Pinkston’s?
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:36 pm
NFC South Champs
December 30th, 2012
9:29 pm
Just think how dangerous the Falcons would
be if they were 13-3, had the best record in the NFL
and home field throughout the playoffs.
********
that’s great and all, but it means nothing now.
Zip. Zilch. Nada.
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:38 pm
Know of a couple….that’s about it.
RBI
December 30th, 2012
9:39 pm
Terrible game today. This team will get nowhere in the playoffs. They are just too inconsistent.
bigdawg
December 30th, 2012
9:40 pm
Win in the playoffs! Nothing else matters! It hasn’t mattered since the NYG knocked us out 51 weeks ago! The Falcons did what they had to do in the season. Now, WIN!!!!
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:40 pm
I hope so too, dawgnole, but i already have a growing sick feeling….
If not in two weeks, in three.
It’s what we do.
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:41 pm
Amen, bigdawg!
You by any chance a gator fan?
JSS
December 30th, 2012
9:41 pm
The thing is, they don’t have to be… Get real about the offensive and d-lines, and realize that actually protecting or attacking the other team with superior force means something… This franchise has never gotten that… They had the makings of a great O-line once (early 80s) and screwed the pooch by not addressing the D-line… Sad
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:22 pm
Hillbilly, i must agree but the cleveland part is the real true reason….
Our only hope this year is to play the Brown’s in the super bowl…
We’re doomed.
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
Browns…..
____________________
Glad you fixed that. You had me disillusioned there for a moment.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
9:44 pm
If you know Adam, David, Mark, Pam or Tina, then we’ve crossed paths most likely… Macon’s like that… Just drop me a line in August…
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:45 pm
Brown’s…..
Moronic
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:46 pm
I’ll do it…
phil
December 30th, 2012
9:48 pm
The Texans clearly have no heart either since they lost today….
Michael M.
December 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
Superior force? no running game and what they do have is stopped they have to go thru the air………..if not for all the interceptions they would have lost more games on defense which helped them set up the offense on a short field…………..they don’t keep getting interceptions in the playoffs it will be over………………….
Larry
December 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
Ok, Girly Men, state your predictions now.
Regardless of the Falcon’s oppnent, I predict the Falcons will win the next game.
Just answer with a “win” or a “loss” (no points, no qualfiers, no excsues) so we can get it on record now who believes in this 13-3 team, who doesn’t, and who deep inside (we know who you are) knows this is a good football team with as good a chance as any in the NFC but want the Falcons to lose because of their personal insecurities and/or agendas (JSS).
Win
NFC South Champs
December 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
doomsday
okeetee
December 30th, 2012
9:53 pm
Ok, here’s the bottom line: we’ve won some big road games this year, including that win in Tampa! We’ve won some big home games this year, Denver, Giants, N.O. and we lost one meaningless game at home to end up 7-1 at home! What happen today was mystifying to say the least…..coach wanted to win, players seem to just want to get to the bye week! Some players wanted to win badly, but when your offensive line isn’t one of them you can get your quarterback killed when your playing tackle football! None of our offensive skilled players got hurt so that’s the good news. Losing our best sack man? Not good. But it is what it is. We will, in all probability have a rookie quarterback coming into our house for this first playoff game. Advantage….Falcons!
Michael M.
December 30th, 2012
9:53 pm
This 13-3 team will win their first playoff game in years in two weeks………………
JSS
December 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
And “no still means no.” Somebody has a problem with boundaries!
JSS
December 30th, 2012
9:57 pm
Nothing more “insecure” than an adult unable to understand the word: “No!”
Michael M.
December 30th, 2012
9:58 pm
This Team put a beat down on the Giants a couple of weeks ago……………you can’t call in the cards on them after today’s ballgame……….I see a different ball club on the field in the playoffs
Big Crimson 75
December 30th, 2012
9:58 pm
This franchise has never gotten that… They had the makings of a great O-line once (early 80s) and screwed the pooch by not addressing the D-line… Sad
——-
You mean drafting every White-boy D-linemen from the Big 8 wasn’t sound drafting??
Rick Bryan, Tony Casillas, Mike Gann. They weren’t the most talented guys(Casillas the exception), butt boy they sure hustled!!