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
1:18 pm
Sure it is, Roy.
This game is meaningless.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:19 pm
Falcons don’t need to lose this game and treat it as if it means nothing. Nobody respects the Falcons heading into the playoffs. They need as much dominant wins as they can get. A loss to the Bucs will only fuel that hatred. I don’t care if the game doesn’t “mean anything.” That’s BS
NFC South Champs
December 30th, 2012
1:19 pm
It appears that “choke” has changed his name to phil.
The Mighty Quinn
December 30th, 2012
1:19 pm
D. Robinson is going to have no memory of playing pro football by the time he’s 50…
Paul in NH
December 30th, 2012
1:20 pm
Fred ™
December 30th, 2012
1:16 pm
I don’t see a single ad on the front page or any page. WHat am I doing right lol?
——
I wouldn’t broadcast that if I were you – not unless you want the AJC to start putting pop up ads on the page that are timed to come on.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:20 pm
OK, Asante Samuel down now.
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
1:20 pm
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
12:42 pm
Hey, off topic, but the LSU ads on the home page. I know ad revenue is where you find it, but c’mon man!
Falconsfan0125
December 30th, 2012
12:48 pm
The LSU ad on the AJC homepage made me sick.
___________________
Makes you wonder how low a company will stoop to line its pockets. Kinda like watching commercials for 3-plus hours while hoping to catch a little of the Falcons in between. Unmitigated greed.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
Amen, Roy.
Good to see starter dropping like flies already.
Booooooooo!
JSS
December 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
The Times, The WSJ, The Washington Post are all limited access on the web, they are digital subscription for vast amount of content… Be careful what you ask for…
Ivan
December 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
Pull the starters please
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
Asante has hurt the same shoulder about 75 times.
msw
December 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
pull the starters now, this is ludicrous
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
Dunta Robinson has been taken for an evaluation for a possible head injury.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:22 pm
Good stop by the D. We cannot afford to lose Samuel. He brings that swagger to our defense. We need him. That bye week is going to be so helpful next week.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:22 pm
Pointless no longer. Bucs 3, Birds 0.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:23 pm
NFC South Champs
December 30th, 2012
1:19 pm
It appears that “choke” has changed his name to phil.
*********
lol!
But when has choke been wrong about us in the playoffs? Exactly.
Hold up fellas
December 30th, 2012
1:23 pm
Please, pull the starters!!! Winning may set the tone, but injuries will put the nail in the coffin. The bucs have nothing to lose we do!
Fred ™
December 30th, 2012
1:23 pm
Paulin NH: Adaware and a good Firefox popup dis-abler………..
Fred ™
December 30th, 2012
1:24 pm
Please, pull the starters!!! Winning may set the tone, but injuries will put the nail in the coffin. The bucs have nothing to lose we do!
That’s how I felt when UGA played Ga Tech this year………
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:24 pm
Dumta is a fool. Leading with his head.
Brilliant. Especially in a “meaningless” game.
dean
December 30th, 2012
1:24 pm
Happy New Year mates!
Speaking of advertising, false advertising, I’m in FL at “America’s Friendliest Hometown”. Well, the locals ain’t too friendly today. Seems that cold they fled from in WI, MT, NY, etc., has followed them to The Sunshine State. It IS sunny. That much they got right.
BTW, Seattle will lose to the Packers if that’s where they start out.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:25 pm
You don’t pull the starters….
They can’t sit FOR THREE WEEKS and be expected to be ready to lose to Seattle.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:26 pm
We better bring it in the playoffs. We’ll have to face either the Seahawks, Redskins, Cowboys, Vikings, or Bears. We won’t have to face the 49ers or Packers in the divisional round and that’s the good news.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:26 pm
Remember how that injury to nickel back Brian Williams was so important against Green Bay in January 2011?
I say no more.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:26 pm
The belief is that Smith will keep the starters in at least until they get a lead.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:27 pm
Not another season of the moronic American Idol….
Please spare us.
Big Crimson 75
December 30th, 2012
1:27 pm
Yea, stop with Seattle nonsense. Their gonna lose.
We’re playing Big D.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:28 pm
Thenspeed made a clear difference there!
Nice run!
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:28 pm
If Jacquizz Rodgers isn’t our starting tailback in the playoffs, the coaching staff are idiots.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:28 pm
Rodgers and Snelling getting some totes now.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
OR Snelling
Ol'JacketFan
December 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
Nice runs by Snelling & Rogers
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
No, Seattle is not gonna lose.
They’re this year’s team of destiny.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
Anybody notice how our offense goes a lot faster when Turner is NOT in the game?
Ol'JacketFan
December 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
or Rodgers
jbill
December 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
love it when they turn the speeders loose…
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
Ryan hit on that throw.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
Ryan is getting clobbered….
Dt
December 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
Let’s get a score here and pull ryan
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
Ryan falls on that throw. Called for grounding.
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:07 pm
The game is not pointless….
Far from it. That kind of thinking is for losing teams.
_____________________
CO-SIGN!
dean
December 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
phil, don’t you mean “this week’s” team of destiny?
JSS
December 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
Intentional grounding
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
Why didn’t he hit Roddy?!!!
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
It’s so hard to ground the ball under today’s rules, I’m astonished when it’s actually assessed.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
Pathetic….
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:32 pm
Told you. Penalty waved off
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:32 pm
Refs get it right….83 was near it.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
1:32 pm
Ha ha…
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
Ryan scrambles. Holy cow.
Field goal upcoming