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
45ACP
December 30th, 2012
3:41 pm
Well……….will it?
Jimmy Crack
December 30th, 2012
3:41 pm
Smitty’s doubling down, knowing he’s gonna get kilt anyway. This game may well end up being the poster game for never even considering using starters AT ALL if the game is meaningless.
So what if they score here? What does it prove? Nothing. Win or lose this game we may lose the season because of this game.
Jay Dubu
December 30th, 2012
3:41 pm
Tampa Bay 114 yards rushing….Atlanta 64.
Tampa Bay 2 sacks…Atlanta 0
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:41 pm
I do not think Abraham will be back in 2 weeks. No way.
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:41 pm
Jimmy Crack
December 30th, 2012
3:36 pm
GAME OVER, MAN! GAME OVER!
*********
speaking of aliens….lol
jlew
December 30th, 2012
3:41 pm
Not only will we lose a meaningless game, but lose it with our starters. And to make it worse, lose (2) D starters including our ONLY pass rusher and it didn’t look good. Bad, Bad, Bad decision by CMS.
Robert
December 30th, 2012
3:42 pm
We look terrible today
Growler
December 30th, 2012
3:42 pm
Wow. I took the day off to watch Red Zone and ther other games. This looks bad. At this point, just pull the starters and regroup. As the Saints proved a few years ago, you don’t HAVE to win your last game (or even your last 3) to win the Super Bowl.
BTW, I bought playoff tix Thursday when they went on sale on Ticketmaster. They were startingly easy to get. I got nosebleeds (on purpose cause they’re cheaper) literally on the 50-yard-line stripe.
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
3:42 pm
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:10 pm
The Falcons might not win in two weeks, but I know for sure they’ll be ready to play.
______________________
I’d rather you feel that way than the opposite. We can only hope they’ll be ready. Sure aren’t showing it today.
kingdaddy
December 30th, 2012
3:42 pm
These have to be some of the worst fans in the country…
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:42 pm
Touchdown. Harry Douglas at the pylon
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:42 pm
Well that’s nice.
Jimmy Crack
December 30th, 2012
3:43 pm
All this for the record?
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:43 pm
We won’t need Abe in two weeks.
We’re a super bowl team, remember? Lol
Nice play, HD!!
Heidi Fleiss
December 30th, 2012
3:43 pm
Where is the O Line today? When they give Matt the time he is spot on but man when he has to scramble it get ugly… BTW:TOUCHDOWN!!!!!
stephen
December 30th, 2012
3:43 pm
Atlanta is the weakest playoff team period. Not physical enough on either side of the ball. Big threats (Julio, White} easily taken away without a running game. No run defense equals little time of possession.
High caliber playoff teams don’t play scared they inflict fear.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:43 pm
Can we win it? I know it’s meaningless but you don’t want to sit on a loss for 2 weeks.
me
December 30th, 2012
3:44 pm
The last 2 pass plays targeted to White and a Buc defender has a hand full of jersey with his arm fully extended. What are these refs not seeing. Comical.
eddie willers
December 30th, 2012
3:44 pm
Claim victory…..sit down!
Timmy
December 30th, 2012
3:44 pm
Guess I’ll give the Falcons some credit … injuries be d@mned … they are still fighting.
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:45 pm
Growler – money spent on playoff tics for atlanta teams is just money pissed away.
I admire your optimism.
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
3:45 pm
YES! And on Fourth Down! Now THAT’S winning mentality!!! And ain’t it a helluva lot more fun than LOSING?!
We’re still in this thing. Win NOW, then rest and practice for TWO weeks. Why is that so many of you on here don’t comprehend the importance of that?
kerryb
December 30th, 2012
3:45 pm
Even if Abe’s ankle is only sprained look how long it took Weatherspoon to come back from a sprained ankle.
jlew
December 30th, 2012
3:45 pm
I would rather sit on a loss for 2 weeks than having a winning streak with my main players hurt.
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
3:45 pm
All Smith will hear for the next two weeks is why he keep his starters in. He deserves it.
And if Abe isn’t ready to go, and we lose that first playoff game, he’ll be packing his stuff!
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:46 pm
The dream is still alive….
Michael M.
December 30th, 2012
3:46 pm
A Bucs stop and a touchdown will win it
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
3:47 pm
playmeortrademe
December 30th, 2012
3:15 pm
“phil” is troll who gets off on everyone’s responses to him. Ignore him (and DawgNole too) and they’ll go away, or at least will only talk amongst themselves.
______________________
Classic LOSER. When confronted with logic, he says “Just ignore them; maybe they’ll go away.”
jlew
December 30th, 2012
3:47 pm
Its hard to win mentally when your starters are in street clothes because your hurt physically. C’mon man!
playmeortrademe
December 30th, 2012
3:47 pm
If Falcons lose the first playoff game, we will look back on this game as the beginning of the end of Mike Smith’s tenure as Falcons head coach. People are not going to get over losing Abe for the playoffs in a meaningless game.
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:47 pm
Abe is done.
Who cares though. This game is meaningless and since it won’t affect our actual lives anyway, it’s ok to lose now and in two weeks.
kerryb
December 30th, 2012
3:48 pm
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
3:45 pm
All Smith will hear for the next two weeks is why he keep his starters in. He deserves it.
And if Abe isn’t ready to go, and we lose that first playoff game, he’ll be packing his stuff!
___________________________________________________________
Aurthur Blank will not fire Mike Smith. That would be just dumb.
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
3:48 pm
jlew
December 30th, 2012
3:45 pm
I would rather sit on a loss for 2 weeks than having a winning streak with my main players hurt.
******
It’s a little too late for that. Remember: Abe has a history of getting hurt and slow healing. Two weeks might not be enough…
Timmy
December 30th, 2012
3:48 pm
Falcons treating this like it’s a playoff game. Too bad they’re not playing a playoff team.
kingdaddy
December 30th, 2012
3:48 pm
Why should the Falcons care what these fans think? If the birds aren’t winning by three TDs, these idiots still criticize them. Pitiful fans, pathetic fan base…
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:50 pm
playmeortrademe
December 30th, 2012
3:47 pm
If Falcons lose the first playoff game, we will look back on this game as the beginning of the end of Mike Smith’s tenure as Falcons head coach. People are not going to get over losing Abe for the playoffs in a meaningless game.
**********
troll. Hater.
kerryb
December 30th, 2012
3:50 pm
kingdaddy
December 30th, 2012
3:48 pm
Why should the Falcons care what these fans think? If the birds aren’t winning by three TDs, these idiots still criticize them. Pitiful fans, pathetic fan base…
___________________________________________________________________
Falcons fans kind of remind me of a lot of UGA fans don’t they?
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:50 pm
Looks like the Texans are gonna lose their #1 seed. They looked promising. Smh
Back 2 The Brown Paper Bags
December 30th, 2012
3:51 pm
mb, any more news about abe ???
Jay Dubu
December 30th, 2012
3:51 pm
Footbal is a contact sport, and injuries are a part of the game. Coach Smith is doing what he feels is best for his team.
They have a week off, so they’ll have some time to recover. If not, they’ll play with the players that can play (they all get paid), and do the best they can.
Michael M.
December 30th, 2012
3:51 pm
Is this deju vu for the Falcons again?
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
3:51 pm
I doubt we’ll know a lot about John Abraham for a while.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:51 pm
How fitting is it for Denver to have the #1 seed and New England having the #2 seed. It’ll be Peyton vs. Brady for the right to go to the Super Bowl.
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:51 pm
Kingdaddy = satisfied with losing
No actual fan accepts losing.
Sid
December 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
Phil you’re on a roll.
WC
December 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
“Falcons treating this like it’s a playoff game. Too bad they’re not playing a playoff team.”
Yeah, the Bucs aren’t a playoff team, however, this type of game in which the Falcons’ offense has not been ‘on’ has been all too familiar of a sight in past playoff games.
Whether you agree with the move to continue to play the starters in this game or not, this game is proving to be a situation that the Falcons must learn to overcome as it has haunted them in the past.
Growler
December 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
kingdaddy, I didn’t watch today cuz I figured they’d play a quarter, at the most a half, and then rest. I’ve said all year Mike Smith makes decisions that can astound… I hate to say this: but the MAIN goal today was not to win. It was to get the starters a little game action to stay in rhythm, and keep them healthy. The final score means nothing (honest), but not a good day…
Roy
December 30th, 2012
3:53 pm
We won’t win or lose the playoff game because Abe can’t play. Where was he vs. Green Bay 2 years ago? where was he last year vs. the Giants?
phil
December 30th, 2012
3:53 pm
Mark, he can’t walk.
What’s to know?
Uh oh, third and one…..
ldog75
December 30th, 2012
3:53 pm
Mike Smith is like Forest Gump. Stupid is what stupid does