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
1:33 pm
SO DAMN TIRED OF FIELD GOALS!!!!
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
Tied. Now declare victory and pull the A-team.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
I got tackled by Moses
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
Another failure in the red zone….
Boooooooooooo!
Your first round playoff losers!
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:34 pm
Hell no Mark…no freakin way. Go for the win!
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
1:34 pm
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
___________________
Couldn’t have said it better.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:35 pm
I’m going to guarantee that the Falcons will not lose in the first round of the playoffs.
Because they have a bye.
Falconsfan0125
December 30th, 2012
1:35 pm
Another failure in the red zone….
Boooooooooooo!
Your first round playoff losers!
___
Then why watch them?
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:35 pm
That kinda hit makes him not want to run it out no more! LMAO
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:36 pm
There’s Asante with the breakup.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:36 pm
That fewest penalties number has resulted in….
Yes! Zero playoff wins.
We have accomplished such great things these last 5 years, but just like the Braves and Hawks, come cruch time, we fall flat on our faces.
Why should this year be any different?
playmeortrademe
December 30th, 2012
1:36 pm
Losing one starter is one too many. Get them out. See Asante onthat play
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:36 pm
Nice tackle by Dent on Martin.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:37 pm
No pressure on Fat Freeman
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
And now a breakup by Akeem (the Dream) Dent.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
Why watch em?
Because I’m loyal, win or lose. I’m also realistic.
Notice our totally nonexistent pass rush?
Dt
December 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
Freeman has all day bak there
Back 2 The Brown Paper Bags
December 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
kroy biermann is a compete waste !!!!
Big Crimson 75
December 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
Biermann is pure garbage
SouthernDem
December 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
Its a pride thing as well: Falcons want to preserve that perfect at-home record this season. But I thnik its safe to say if anybody else hobbles off that field, Smith is gonna catch a lot of criticism for playing these guys (and risking their limbs) in a game that essentially changes nothing.
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
Freeman can write a research paper in the pocket! Get off the field D!
dean
December 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
Well, the Jews waited 400 years. But’s that’s a different deal.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
Asante Samuel has been as good as advertised.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:40 pm
Akeem the dream? Mark, put down the liquor bottle! Lol
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:40 pm
Good tackle by Samuel.
Big Crimson 75
December 30th, 2012
1:41 pm
Did I mention, Biermann(next to Ray Edwards) is the worst player in Pro Football.
I kinda miss having both wastes of space playing together.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:41 pm
I note that New York leads Philadelphia 21-0
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:42 pm
I also note that Dunta Robinson is out the rest of the game with a head injury.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:42 pm
I’d rather play and play hard and win this game….
If we get people hurt, why will it matter?
The season is over todat most likely anyway. Well, except that we have to suffer through 60 minutes of hell in two weeks as we totally underperform and get humiliated yet again when it matters most.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
Fair-catch Douglas
Falconsfan0125
December 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
@ Phil
Believing that the Falcons will lose every week, is not realistic. Putting so much emphasis on a meaningless (yes meaningless, win or lose this game dont mean anything) is not realistic. Calling for random coaches to be fired is not realistic. Who are you trying to kid, you aren’t realistic?
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
Douglas may be under orders to fair-catch everything today.
NFC South Champs
December 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
We all know that phil is really a sorry sAints fan.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:44 pm
The Burner won’t gain 20 yards in two weeks….
Booooooooo!
Roy
December 30th, 2012
1:45 pm
Damn it Jacquizz, you had the 1st down but he turned around! FACK!
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:45 pm
Rodgers with zero awareness of where the marker is…..
Boooooooooooo!
SouthernDem
December 30th, 2012
1:45 pm
Mike Smith’s Christmas gift to Dunta Robinson: A game-ending concussion.
jbill
December 30th, 2012
1:45 pm
3 in and out..sucks
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:46 pm
Dumta concussed his own stupid self, leading with his thick head…..
Stupid.
Falconsfan0125
December 30th, 2012
1:46 pm
Dunta Robinson’s brain is gonna be jello by the time hes 40 if he keeps doing this.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
1:46 pm
phil, a Saints fan? Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
BobDawg
December 30th, 2012
1:47 pm
Mark, I agree… Let’s get to the half and pull them all…. Smith will look dumb if someone gets hurt now…
Big Crimson 75
December 30th, 2012
1:47 pm
Get ready for our non pass rush.
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:48 pm
Falconsfan0125
December 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
@ Phil
Believing that the Falcons will lose every week, is not realistic. Putting so much emphasis on a meaningless (yes meaningless, win or lose this game dont mean anything) is not realistic. Calling for random coaches to be fired is not realistic. Who are you trying to kid, you aren’t realistic?
*********
try to understand that not every single thing I say is serious. Some of it is bull, obviously.
Once Recent Reader
December 30th, 2012
1:48 pm
M Bradley, I wonder if Franks actually thought he had those same “fair catch everything” orders:)
phil
December 30th, 2012
1:48 pm
Yes! Go Saints!
kingdaddy
December 30th, 2012
1:48 pm
Whats up with all the criticism? #1 seed not good enough for you tools???
jo
December 30th, 2012
1:49 pm
Why are thebirds not playing the first down sticks today? Besides they have zero intensity today they should at least play the fundamentals.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
1:49 pm
Ever heard of a pick play? That was one.
Know why people run pick plays? Because they work.
jbill
December 30th, 2012
1:49 pm
Smith didn’t do sh*t to Dunta..he should keep his head up…
just like DEMO ..always blames someone else for problems.