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
dean
December 30th, 2012
2:38 pm
Mark, I THINK ATL will win their first playoff game. I HOPE they win their first playoff game. But I would never ever bet (I don’t bet. Learned the hard way.) a dime of my money on it.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
2:39 pm
So, Roy, if “regular season means nothing,” why should we care about today’s game?
Mountain Man
December 30th, 2012
2:39 pm
Worst case scenario – injury to starters.
Second worst case scenario – Falcons starters “playing to win” and getting outclassed by Tampa Bay, reinforcing the prominent belief that they are not as good as their 13-2 record says they are and not putting fear into any team that will come into the Dome and play them.
Ugh…hard to watch.
MTSeats
December 30th, 2012
2:40 pm
Mr. Bradley, you can’t tell me that MSmith was pleased with that performance. He says he plays to win, I guess his starters didn’t get the memo.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
2:40 pm
Defensive starters still playing.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
2:40 pm
phil…
Don’t ever let sarcasm ever hit KingDaddy in the face… It might be a lethal confluence of events…
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
2:40 pm
Make his fight
On the hill in the early day
Constant chill deep inside…
J.J.M.
December 30th, 2012
2:40 pm
same suspect defense…no pass rush year after year
Mountain Man
December 30th, 2012
2:41 pm
I know the Falcons are better than this. They need to get in in gear and put Tampa Bay away in the second half.
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
2:42 pm
Love the bump music. For Whom The Bell Tolls!
J.J.M.
December 30th, 2012
2:42 pm
time to turn
Roy
December 30th, 2012
2:43 pm
Mark, we should care about today’s game because of momentum and not looking so crappy to put things on tape. The media will trash us worse than they already have. I’m sick of hearing it
MenVsBoys
December 30th, 2012
2:43 pm
There’s a difference between being a fan and being blind. If you’re watching this game and and are not worried about glaring deficiencies on this team, mainly in the lack of technique on both lines, then you are just an apologist. I’ll make excuses for my team when they are warranted. I see no excuse for playing like this against a team that should be looking forward to vacation time.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
2:43 pm
Talked to a man who works for the Falcons at halftime. Said he dreaded this game, for the basic reason than that nothing good could come of it. Even if you win, so what?
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
2:44 pm
It tolls for thee, Falcons secondary!
Roy
December 30th, 2012
2:45 pm
What NFC team is afraid of the Falcons? Tell me who? Even if we are playing in the Georgia Dome, teams are looking forward to coming in here.
Bird's Nation
December 30th, 2012
2:45 pm
This team will lose it’s first playoff game because of their lack of interior line play on both sides of the football. The OL is a shame. Mike Kenn was the last all pro and legimate First Round Pick out of Michigan to play OL here. Since then, it has been a semi pro line getting big bucks for NOTHING. McClure should never had been re-signed and it seeking another one year contract for next season. The DL has one quality player who isn’t getting any younger in Abraham. These OL& DL players don’t compare to to the ELITE TEAMS in THE LEAGUE i.e 49ers, Seahawks, Ravens, even the Aints! Until quality players are added via Draft or Free Agents, this team sill never win a playoff game! See how Tampa Bay is handling this Supposedly Super Bowl Prentender!
kingdaddy
December 30th, 2012
2:45 pm
Mark
Falcons making it hard to defend them today. Bad Offense, little Defense. Neither line doing its job…
MenVsBoys
December 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
There, see what a little pressure can do?
Roy
December 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
All about perception Mark. All about perception.
bart
December 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
Falcon employee has a point
phil
December 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
So what?
People pay a fortune for tickets and parking, that’s what!!
Mark, you and the entire franchise should be ashamed to think that way.
Pathetic.
45ACP
December 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
This game means NOTHING, for crying out loud.
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
And how many visiting teams win here, Roy?
SCFalcon
December 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
MenVBoy, Weatherspoon just showed you good techique. Solid hit knocking the ball loose and a stop on 3rd down.
jbill
December 30th, 2012
2:47 pm
Ok Mark you have won me over…so I’ll not watch anymore..have a Happy New Year..i’m gone.
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
2:47 pm
Yeah! Freeman is the best QB in Bucs history. That’s like being the tallest little person, isn’t it?
MenVsBoys
December 30th, 2012
2:47 pm
Falcons game plan on pass defense? Hope the other team drops passes.
eddie willers
December 30th, 2012
2:47 pm
This game is so meaningless that I turned off the TV and came here.
The usual Internet idiots seem to be in full post season splendor already.
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
2:47 pm
jbill
December 30th, 2012
2:25 pm
What you saying Mark is play not to win..it don’t matter anyway. Then why you covering game live? Why is dome full? Why do fans spend $$$ to see a team not try to win? I understand it will not effect the play-off but the attitude sucks..
Coach Smith has said all week they will play to win….don’t look like it.
__________________
Amen.
SCFalcon
December 30th, 2012
2:48 pm
Can’t anybody on here just relax and enjoy the game?
Now let’s see what the offense can do after the half.
phil
December 30th, 2012
2:48 pm
Amen, menvsboys…..
MenVsBoys
December 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
SC Falcon, Too bad Weatherspoon doesn’t play on the line
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
jo
December 30th, 2012
2:28 pm
Fans want to win and the players get paid to win. Falcons are no shows today. How can they be taken serious if this is how they play? Not professional…BOOOoooooooooo!
___________________
Not ALL our fans, unfortunately. Look no further than this blog.
JSS
December 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
You know Goodell and King Arthur won’t be refunding any money to the audience (at the Dome or having to watch DawgNole’s fav commercials)!!!
phil
December 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
No relaxing!
That’s why our teams always blow it.
Relax. Gimme a break.
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
If Ryan comes back onto the field, Smith should watch the rest of the game from his house!
kingdaddy
December 30th, 2012
2:50 pm
Jss
you and Phillip get a room…
Mark Bradley
December 30th, 2012
2:50 pm
Ryan back in. All starters in.
Whoa.
45ACP
December 30th, 2012
2:50 pm
WOW, Cheerleaders looking good.
phil
December 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
Of course, those satisfied with losing when it matters have the right teams in this state!!
bart
December 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
“Coach Smith has said all week they will play to win” His meaning could be to win the first playoff game.
1990_Champs_GT
December 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
If I’d planned all year to travel and just see one game, then yeah, I’d be angry.
But it’s the NFL. You can’t win them all.
phil
December 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
Kingdaddy has a room full of participation trophies…..
JSS
December 30th, 2012
2:52 pm
Falcons fans cracking on Bucs history, man only on AJC blogs!!!
Timmy
December 30th, 2012
2:52 pm
Let’s at least put together one good drive.
dean
December 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
Ok. I leaving Fan Mode and going back to Disinterested Observer status. Better for the blood pressure.
DawgNole
December 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
Falcon Flap
December 30th, 2012
2:34 pm
Everybody calm.down and chill. I didn’t expect us to win today. Our players have no motivation and are just playing the game like an exhibition game. Just trying to get some practice in for the playoff. Of course Mike Smith is going to say they are playing to win. Is he going to say we are playing to lose??
___________________
And that’s the problem–no expectation of victory. It has permeated the mentality of the city’s pro teams and too many of their fans for almost half a century.
SCFalcon
December 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
Before Smith, this team never had back to back winning seasons. So yes, I mean relax we have 5 winning seasons in a row. We are the number one seed in the playoffs. Are we guaranteed a win in the playoffs, NO but we have a much better organization that we have had in the past. I know, I have been a true fan since 1973.
Relax, enjoy NFL football and let the playoffs take care of themselves. It’s not like anyone on the team is reading our rants…….
Roy
December 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
Glad I didn’t pay to go see this game. I’d be pissed.