Live from Falcons-Bucs: A mighty tough game to manage
Were I coaching, this Falcon stalwart would do a lot of watching in Game 16. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Mike Smith, who coaches the Falcons, says he’s playing to win Game 16, even though Game 16 means absolutely nothing. The Falcons know when (two weeks hence) and where (here) they’ll be playing next, and they know they don’t have to leave town to qualify for the Super Bowl.
As much as you can say that winning sets a tone, I’d suggest that tone has been sounded in Games 1-15. And there’s no compelling history on whether winning a Game 16 that doesn’t matter makes one smidgen of difference come the playoffs.
In 2007 the Patriots won their final regular-season game to get to 16-0 … but a month later they lost the Super Bowl to the team they’d beaten in Game 16. Last year the Packers won Game 16 behind their backup quarterback Matt Flynn to get to 15-1 … and lost their first postseason game.
If the Falcons beat the Buccaneers 45-24 today — that was the score in Game 16 last season, whereupon the Falcons went to the Meadowlands for the playoffs and lost 24-2 — it will make no different when next the Birds play. That game will matter. This one doesn’t. Me, I’d probably play the starters a half and let the JV’s finish, but that’s just me. And Mike Smith hasn’t dropped a hint as to his plans.
Whatever happens, I’ll be here to observe and report, and I’d appreciate your company. And let me wish one and all a belated Merry Christmas and a heartfelt Happy New Year.
By Mark Bradley
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1,049 comments Add your comment
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:25 pm
The national media is just being honest.
So are some of us.
Our flaws are obvious. Our schedule was pitifully weak.
It’s great to finish 13-3 but now the real teams show up. It won’t be pretty.
kerryb
December 30th, 2012
3:25 pm
Did Dan Reeves ever win a SB and he had John Elway. How come Mike Shanahan could with elway that Reeves could not?
kerryb
December 30th, 2012
3:25 pm
Phil, name an NFC team that does not have any flaws?
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
3:26 pm
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
It’s not as if the Falcons haven’t played their best men today. They have. And they still are. And I’m shocked.
_____________________
That doesn’t bode well for two weeks down the road (if they can’t even beat a sorry team with their starters).
I believe a legitimate question might be the following:
“How many Falcon playoff VICTORIES–and there haven’t been many–were preceded by a LOSS?”
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
3:26 pm
Miami sure did win them all. And so did the Pats (regular season anyway). That’s twice since what, 1920?
If we were 15-0 headed in, I’d understand the tension some of you guys are feeling, but that’s not the case.
I’d take a Super Bowl victory over a loss to day, all day, every day.
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:26 pm
Why isn’t the Burner a pro bowler?
Our entire o- line?
JSS
December 30th, 2012
3:27 pm
“I can’t believe you can’t see that this team is playing not to get hurt. They are not going after it.”
They aren’t doing so hot on that accord…
playmeortrademe
December 30th, 2012
3:27 pm
Also, anyone who thinks past seasons have any bearing on this one are dumb as well. The media love to talk about past seasons because it give them something to talk about, fill pages and airtime. But 2008, 2010, and 2012 have nothing to do with 2012. Neither does 1980 or 1998 or any other season for that matter.
I’m pretty disappointed the starters are still in here in the 4th.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:28 pm
It’s hard to trust the Falcons.
oldbird
December 30th, 2012
3:28 pm
I guess the good news is that we will be the only NFC South participant in the playoffs. The Falcons are undefeated against everyone else.
WTF?
December 30th, 2012
3:28 pm
All you fools thinking super bowl with Atlanta are forgetting one thing, they have to play a playoff game just to advance to have to play another playoff game to get to the super bowl. Not a chance, you better become a Seattle fan or Green Bay fan for the NFC and real quick
Falcon Flap
December 30th, 2012
3:28 pm
Why would we play the starters if they are not going to run good plays or try to win????? Lmao!
falconcritizer2012
December 30th, 2012
3:29 pm
everytime JRogers gets the ball, it looks like a cowaedly, despration play
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:29 pm
In 2004, the Falcons lost their final two regular-season games and beat the Rams 47-17 in the playoffs. In 2002, the Falcons lost their final regular-season game and won the next week at Lambeau Field. Good question.
jo
December 30th, 2012
3:29 pm
Booooooooooooo! Get the startng offense off the field and put someone in who cares
kerryb
December 30th, 2012
3:29 pm
WTF?
December 30th, 2012
3:28 pm
All you fools thinking super bowl with Atlanta are forgetting one thing, they have to play a playoff game just to advance to have to play another playoff game to get to the super bowl. Not a chance, you better become a Seattle fan or Green Bay fan for the NFC and real quick
__________________________________________________________________________
Because you say so? You’re stupid.
Robert
December 30th, 2012
3:29 pm
Agree playme, at this point, with this type of performance, just pull the starters, if someone bigs gets hurt in the 4thquarter, Will be stupid
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:29 pm
Reeves didn’t have the rest of the team that Shanahan had…..
All teams are flawed in some way, but we have poor o and d-lines…..
We can’t prevail with piss poor line play.
Tampa supposedly has a horrid secondary. We heard the same when we played the Raiders. Same with the Aints and several others.
We did very little with any of em. Doesn’t that concern the rational fan?
It should.
NORRIS CHUCK
December 30th, 2012
3:30 pm
Wish they would go ahead and pull the starters cause they aint trying at all. Poor tackling, blocking and no emotion at all coming outta this team. JUST PULL EM ALL BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT!!!!
JSS
December 30th, 2012
3:30 pm
“Did Dan Reeves ever win a SB and he had John Elway. How come Mike Shanahan could with elway that Reeves could not?”
Two names: Terrell Davis and Rod Smith, that was easy…
MenVsBoys
December 30th, 2012
3:30 pm
Time to switch over to the Red Zone channel. Then wait for Mark’s apologist article about how what you see on the field doesn’t matter in the game of football.
blackandwhitestripes
December 30th, 2012
3:30 pm
Falcons look terrible. One and done in the playoffs. Just not a Superbowl Team.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:30 pm
I would agree with playmeortrademe. ThisI think the Falcons, both coaches and players, were unsure how to treat this — and it shows.
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
3:30 pm
The real complaint (he says as he walks to the dead horse again) is risking injury to a key player in a meaningless game.
Michael M.
December 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
Falcons are so much like the Braves……………………..they can always get to the playoffs but can’t do nothing with them once they are there……………………..
jo
December 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
Some of the D is still playing hard. Good to see.
killa
December 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
It would have been nice to see the falcons play well as we wait 2 weeks before they play the playoff game.
kerryb
December 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
I knew when I came on this blog with the score of the game there going to be a bunch of morons on here making comments.
me
December 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
The offensive line play of the Falcons is horrible. Most likely a preview of their first playoff game. No run blocking, no pass blocking. Pathetic.
45ACP
December 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
Win or lose, will it effect your personal life one way or the other?
kerryb
December 30th, 2012
3:32 pm
Michael M.
December 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
Falcons are so much like the Braves……………………..they can always get to the playoffs but can’t do nothing with them once they are there……………………..
______________________________________________________________
Did I miss something? Have we played a playoff game yet THIS season?
jlew
December 30th, 2012
3:32 pm
Should have played the backups. They would have played like they cared. Starters sleepwalked through the game. Especially on offense. However, we still can’t stop the run.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
3:32 pm
Where’s Kerryb?
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:32 pm
Abraham not getting up
Falconsfan0125
December 30th, 2012
3:32 pm
You have got to be kidding me. Not Abe.
playmeortrademe
December 30th, 2012
3:32 pm
Dan Reeves went to two Super Bowls on incredibly lucky breaks: Byner’s fumble and Gary Anderson’s miss. He also had the good fortune of coaching John Elway. Not that he wasn’t a very good coach, but sometimes talent and luck have more to do with it than anything.
AND THERE IT IS! BIG INJURY IN A NOTHING GAME!
NORRIS CHUCK
December 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
TAKE THE STARTERS OUT NOW!!!!!!!
kerryb
December 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
It’s bad enough that Peria Jerry injures himself all the time now he has to injure someone else
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
Abe is down! I told you so, and Smitty has no one to blame but himself!
Robert
December 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
I just called it, Mike Smith!!!! Get the starters off the field, Mike Smith has been a great coach, but he is very suspect in crunch time
Sid
December 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
there you go Mike Smith.
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
LOL!
Abe is hurt. Not actually funny but just confirms that Seattle will post 50 on us.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
Peria Jerry finally hit somebody!!!
Falcon Flap
December 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
This is bullcrap!!! We deserve to lose in the playoffs now!
Jimmy Crack
December 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
Now we are officially farked.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
Abraham limping off.
Frank
December 30th, 2012
3:34 pm
John Abraham down. nah, he’s not important for the playoffs.
BravesFan79
December 30th, 2012
3:34 pm
Please tell me that wasnt Abraham!
Falconsfan0125
December 30th, 2012
3:34 pm
There is the big injury…..Smith is an idiot. Its obvious they arent trying to win. So why are the starters STILL in????
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:34 pm
What do you think Mr. Smith is thinking at this moment?