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
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:34 pm
Abraham is FINE! Mike Smith nodded. He’s okay.
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
3:34 pm
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:06 pm
Just want to be clear: If the Falcons win this game 17-16, will that mean they’re a lock to win the Super Bowl because of pride/momentum?
______________________
Absolutely not. What it will mean, though, is that the team will spend the next two weeks preparing for its first playoff opponent without the nasty taste today’s lackadaisical effort and resulting loss will leave.
kingdaddy
December 30th, 2012
3:34 pm
Kerry
From start to finish…
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:34 pm
45ACP
December 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
Win or lose, will it effect your personal life one way or the other?
********
favorite words of all losers everywhere.
playmeortrademe
December 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
MB, What Mike Smith is thinking is probably not family friendly…..
kerryb
December 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
NOW CAN WE PULL EVERYONE BUT 3RD STRINGERS. I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT BEATING THE BUCS!!!!!!!
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
Smith set himself up for this. We have like zero pass rush without Abraham.
Robert
December 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
Someone please tell me what the point is , playing the starters in the 4th quarter, when we are down 12 , with no meaning on the game
msw
December 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
How many more injuries before we pull starters? this is boneheaded.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
Abraham headed to the locker room.
falconcritizer2012
December 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
Can’t u all see coach smitz is given all other teams a sense of overconfidence with hiz game plan today…den whamm he will put something on da ass in the plsyoffs..
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
The starters are in to keep sharp. Not necessarily to win the game.
KenDawg
December 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
Well, there’s the injury. Crap……
Heidi Fleiss
December 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
We have to stop playing our starters – give the game up and put in out third stringers and give them some playing time. I don’t need to win this game I want playoff wins with healthy motivated starters.
jlew
December 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
Now we have gotten our “only” pass rusher hurt in a meaningless situation. Good job coach!
Robert
December 30th, 2012
3:35 pm
Great. We lose 2 starters
RB
December 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
Abe just went down, Smitty is an idiot!
JSS
December 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
“What do you think Mr. Smith is thinking at this moment?”
Hello Buffalo 4-1-1…
stephen
December 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
awful. our best defensive player might be out for the playoffs.
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
Yeah…..abe is fine.
No, he isn’t. High ankle sprain. Done.
Not that it will matter.
kerryb
December 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
If Abe is in an air cast he is done. Stupid decision by Smith and he still has the starters on offense.
Timmy
December 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
Falcons are already getting their @ss handed to them. Enough is enough. Time to throw in the towel.
Jimmy Crack
December 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
GAME OVER, MAN! GAME OVER!!
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
Anybody think we can win against Seattle?
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
Now Ryan gets slammed by Da’Quan Bowers.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
Bam!!!
Robert
December 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
Hey sure, lets let Ryan get hurt
playmeortrademe
December 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
Boooooooooooooo PULL THE STARTERS YOU IDIOT!
me
December 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
Just watch the offensive line on this series and find anything to be encouraged about. This is one bad group.
oldbird
December 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
Top pass rusher? ONLY pass rusher.
Sid
December 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
get Ryan hurt now you fool.
Heidi Fleiss
December 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
C’mon! stop the madness!
FalconUGAFan
December 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:34 pm
45ACP
December 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
Win or lose, will it effect your personal life one way or the other?
********
favorite words of all losers everywhere.
HAHA….
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
Seattle is just so big and physical. I don’t think so
I’m tired of losing playoff games.
Jay Dubu
December 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
WIn or lose today is not that big of a deal to me, it’s the effort and/or performance of the team.
Niether the Falcons or the Bucks have anything to play for today, so the pressures are equal. But the Falcons can not allow a Tampa team that has performed the way it has for the past several weeks to come to the DOME (where the Falcons are undefeated) and beat them like a “rented mule”.
The Cowboys or Redskins are getting into the playoffs by the “skin of their teeth”, and I think the Falcons are better than both of them.
Denver lost to the Falcons earlier in the season, and before they were the Denver that they are now, and the Falcons were the Falcons that they are now.
Besides, if the Falcons get to play Denver in the playoffs, they will have already exercised their playoff deamoons.
They need to be concerned about Green Bay, San Fran, and Seattle.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
Abraham: Ankle injury, return to game questionable. I’d say his return to this game is beyond comprehension.
Falcon Flap
December 30th, 2012
3:38 pm
Can i get my money back for my playoff tickets????
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
3:38 pm
I said on DLed’s blog: A loss without losing a starter is still a win.
I’m not broken up about Robinson, but there’s two starters right there with Abraham.
Terrible decision by the coach. No real reward for taking these risks.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:38 pm
I’d score here, then pull the starters.
stephen
December 30th, 2012
3:38 pm
what is smitty thinking?
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:38 pm
Can’t break tackles….
Add that to the list of flaws.
Look, we had no pass rush WITH Abe for weeks now. His loss means nothing.
falconcritizer2012
December 30th, 2012
3:38 pm
And Roy when will they get sharp? you think?
diamonddaveincali
December 30th, 2012
3:39 pm
WTF is going on in atlanta? too many injuries man!
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:39 pm
This just in, Abraham done for the year.
kerryb
December 30th, 2012
3:39 pm
Abe was falling back with his ankle turned under him with a 300+ pounder falling on him. That ankle can’t be good.
Robert
December 30th, 2012
3:39 pm
Anybody else tired of listening to Dick STockton?
KenDawg
December 30th, 2012
3:39 pm
I have to say this – I don’t agree that Ryan should still be in the game, but he is one tough dude!
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
3:40 pm
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
Abraham: Ankle injury, return to game questionable. I’d say his return to this game is beyond comprehension.
******
Amen to that! No purpose at all.
MenVsBoys
December 30th, 2012
3:40 pm
Red Zone host is absolutely incredulous that the Falcon’s starters are still in the game!
SouthernDem
December 30th, 2012
3:40 pm
Is Smith trying to make sure ALL the starters leave on a stretcher? Worst decision EVER by Smith to keep the starters in in a useless game. He wants to keep the guys fresh? Well, how fresh are they gonna be with ankle sprains, concussions and neck injuries?
The sound you hear is the season sailing away in week 17.