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
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
1:04 pm
@Falconsfan0125,
Advertising is the name of the game, unfortunately. I work at a very small paper in Arkansas. When your regular sources of ad revenue dry up, you’ve got to branch out.
Of course, at a smaller paper, you’ve got to wear many hats. I occasionally have to sell ads, even roll newspapers.
As my boss says, “Gotta love the job, have it in your blood because you’ll never get rich.”
Dt
December 30th, 2012
1:04 pm
Good to gt Julio involved early
Big Crimson 75
December 30th, 2012
1:04 pm
Also known as Bosher!!
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:04 pm
I’m relaxed….
Prepared for the Seattle beatdown in two weeks.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:05 pm
Ryan rolls out, keeps. Scares everybody in gaining five meaningless yards.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:05 pm
What is Ryan thinking?
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:05 pm
I don’t like that run Matt. Don’t put yourself in harm’s way.
Dt
December 30th, 2012
1:06 pm
This is not the game to have ice running
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:06 pm
Can we play the game please? That’s two stops already.
Steve
December 30th, 2012
1:06 pm
Phil do you not understand this game is pointless?
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:06 pm
Bench Ryan now so he can get an early start mentally on screwing up against the Seashawks.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:07 pm
This isn’t a full house, but it’s a bigger gathering than I expected. And traffic looks bad (according to GA 511) coming into town.
Big Crimson 75
December 30th, 2012
1:07 pm
Schiano wants some TV time — per usual
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:07 pm
The game is not pointless….
Far from it. That kind of thinking is for losing teams.
Once Recent Reader
December 30th, 2012
1:08 pm
JSS . . .around most parts Advertising is about money in the end. Not sure where you are going with propaganda. Me thinks you are getting a bit too deep on the initial conversation.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:08 pm
Good call, Steve: This is a pointless game. It’s 0-0.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:08 pm
Why do the Falcons love to run Turner sideways?! He’s not fast enough!
Paul in NH
December 30th, 2012
1:08 pm
I loved the comments about advertising on the AJC home page. If you want advertising-free news, try the WSJ, NYT, London Times, etc. Don’t forget your credit card number when you log on.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:09 pm
TG!!
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:09 pm
I’ve seen a few good ballplayers in my time, but Tony Gonzalez is better than good.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:09 pm
Booooooooooo!
Marc
December 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
If we can just get past the 1st game of the playoffs. Then and only then will it be the real deal.
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
Dome sounds really quite on TV. Guess folks are just not into the game?
Big Crimson 75
December 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
Welcome back #7!!!
Int on first Eagles possession.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
Point taken, Paul.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
Turner has got to be the slowest running back in the entire league. Find me a slower back.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:11 pm
It’s a quiet crowd. This isn’t the same atmosphere as it was for the Giants. How could it be?
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:11 pm
Had a Falcon player made that hit, flags would have been everywhere.
Steve
December 30th, 2012
1:11 pm
Ha ha!
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:12 pm
A pointless game….
Obviously, on paper. No kidding.
But we don’t need a three week mental layoff. Do you guys not understand that a three week mental layoff means sure doom? Nevermind. Of course you don’t.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:12 pm
Are you saying Turner is a Slow Burner now, Roy?
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:13 pm
Marc
December 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
If we can just get past the 1st game of the playoffs. Then and only then will it be the real deal.
*********
no, that game will be pointless too because we’re gonna get our butts kicked into the street.
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
1:13 pm
Chuck Strong with a TD
Big Crimson 75
December 30th, 2012
1:14 pm
I found the remedy for the floundering Champs —- Mike Vick.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:14 pm
There’s a case to be made that the first-round bye has become counterproductive. Neither of the past two champs had one.
Paul in NH
December 30th, 2012
1:14 pm
Andy Reid really hates the Giants – started the game by recovering an onside kick! Then MV7 threw an INT.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
1:14 pm
@ O.R.R.
I’ll get with you on marketing and trying to move people by persuasion in the off-season… Paid advertising is only about 160 years old as a mass movement…
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:15 pm
Defense looking crappy so far.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:15 pm
Picking right up where we left off against Detroit defensively….
Some playoff team!
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:16 pm
The Falcons were very proud of the way they handled the Muscle Hamster — Doug Martin — in Raymond James Stadium.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:16 pm
Yes Mark I am. Turner is no burner.
2 > 7
December 30th, 2012
1:16 pm
I don’t know if anyone cares, but Vick threw an INT already.
Fred ™
December 30th, 2012
1:16 pm
Paul in NH
December 30th, 2012
1:08 pm
I loved the comments about advertising on the AJC home page. If you want advertising-free news, try the WSJ, NYT, London Times, etc. Don’t forget your credit card number when you log on.
+++++++++++++++++++++
I don’t see a single ad on the front page or any page. WHat am I doing right lol?
MB: You are more than right about Gonzales. The man is a machine. It seems odd him retiring at the top of his game like this, but I can respect that. He has been taking a beating for years and it has to add up even though you couldn’t tell by the way he plays still…….
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:16 pm
They’ll be less proud of the way they watched him go for 19 yards there.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:17 pm
This is not the time for our defense to look like this.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:17 pm
Turner can’t run because NO ONE BLOCKS THE RUN WORTH A TOOT!
Hello.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:17 pm
Dunta Robinson knocked himself silly hitting the Muscle Hamster
JSS
December 30th, 2012
1:17 pm
He knocked himself out again…
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:18 pm
This is a better time for the defense to look like this than two weeks hence.
Steve
December 30th, 2012
1:18 pm
I think Phil needs a hug.