Open Game Thread: Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Bucs

by Dave the Falconer on Nov 18, 2007 10:49 AM EST in Falcons News Comment 14 comments

Who? Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Bucs, 1:00 PM ET

Where? Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Weather? If you look in the sky, I expect it will be metallic. If it starts raining, something is going horribly wrong.

Fun Fact? The Bucs are still the only NFL team in the modern era to undergo a winless season, though the Dolphins might challenge that. They're also the only team to feature an effeminate pirate chomping a knife as as a logo, though they've sadly moved away from that.

Injuries? Joe Horn is doubtful and likely won't play; I hope he comes back soon, but only to teach the kids and not to get on the field, where he's been less than successful.

Odds? Tampa Bay favored by 3.0, O/U 35.5

Foe?JScott at Buc 'Em provides all the latest info on the Bucs, with the added bonus that his site has the most bling in all of SBNation. Check it out if you want to know more about the team we're hopefully going to crush today.

Let's sink these Bucs!

Update [2007-11-18 12:24:43 by Dave the Falconer]: Leftwich is active, which likely means a start. Pinner is on the list of inactives, so I fully expect Snelling to get a couple carries this game.

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Winnable Game

This is a winnable game. Let's do this!!!

Let's matriculate the ball down the field boys.

by runningback on Nov 18, 2007 12:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Galloway

Is it me or has Joey Galloway gotten better with age?

I think we have seen to many dropped passes today.

Let's matriculate the ball down the field boys.

by runningback on Nov 18, 2007 1:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hurt

So Trey Lewis is out for the rest of the game. Good thing we've got Grady Jackson to back him.... wait.... oh yeah.

by Nusm on Nov 18, 2007 1:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Scary

How far have we sunk when the fans are CHANTING for Joey Harrington?!?

by Nusm on Nov 18, 2007 2:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wow

Falcons seem to make for interesting football at times. Not good football...just fun to watch and see what new and innovative way they come up with to lose...

by MKL on Nov 18, 2007 3:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I find it amazing

I really thought this was a winnable game; in retrospect, I still think it should've been. Just an awful performance out there.

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by Dave the Falconer on Nov 19, 2007 12:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

This is a reality check I didn't need.

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by Dave the Falconer on Nov 18, 2007 4:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I have to admit it was a fun week when we had won two in a row, and were only 2 games out of first place. There was seven whole days with a glimmer of hope that maybe they were turning things around. Then they not only lose, but lose ugly.

Now I can resume my funk...

by Nusm on Nov 18, 2007 4:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm feel funky as well

And not because I'm listening to George Clinton.

Bobby Petrino has shown us that he has one awful trait: he stubbornly sticks with guys. Warrick Dunn got 15 carries despite an awful day and Leftwich got the start and promptly bombed so badly that he shouldn't even enter the starting QB conversation again until the Falcons are good and out of it. I supported the move to put Leftwich in, but I have to admit I'm totally frustrated.

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by Dave the Falconer on Nov 18, 2007 5:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I found it interesting that the commentators said that when they talk to opposing coaches, the one player they fear is Norwood. Yet, Norwood gets no significant number of carries. Petrino puts Leftwich in today, even though #1 Joey actually had a two game winning streak going (I quote Bull Durham, "you never f*ck with a streak!"), and #2 Leftwich is a statue in the pocket. He was no speed burner before, but he's only 3 weeks out of ankle surgery, so he was moving slower than continental drift today. And Petrino's an offensive genius?!?

I've never second guessed Blank before, but I now firmly believe he made a mistake hiring Bad Day Bobby. He shows no sign of picking up on the intricacies of the pro game, and continues to make stubborn decisions based on what he wants, not what's best for the team. And sadly, I'm afraid we had the pieces in place to be a perennial playoff contender, but Bad Day has burned it like Sherman marching to the sea, something we may not recover from in the foreseeable future.

by Nusm on Nov 18, 2007 8:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yowza.

I just don't even know where to begin. I will say this though, I think that Laurent Robinson is a sham. I know that he had shown glimmers throughout the season, but I don't think that guy deserves to be on an NFL roster. I might be insane, but I just never get the feeling that he is trying too hard.

Let's matriculate the ball down the field boys.

by runningback on Nov 18, 2007 9:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I understand the frustration

But L-Rob still needs time to develop. I'd be extremely wary of putting Adam Jennings in the slot and expecting anything better of him, and that's literally the only in-house option the Falcons have. Joe Horn has been miserable this year.

Given the way the season's going, I think the receiving corps in general just needs to ride this one out.

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by Dave the Falconer on Nov 19, 2007 12:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Joey Harrington

A point of disclosure... I am a big fan of Joey Harrington as a world-class person. Petrino made a big mistake by announcing Leftwich was the quarterback for the rest of the year before he had taken a snap. Then he exercised very bad judgement by starting Leftwich after Harrington led the team to two victories. If Petrino believed Leftwich was the man he should have waited for a negative momentum change and then switched QB's without season-long pronouncements. He has screwed so badly with the team's psyche that they don't know which end is up.

by bellairb on Nov 18, 2007 11:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You nailed it

I really believe Pet Rhino could be an effective coach if he'd stop effing around. He's proven time and time again that he can't even recognize which players would fit his scheme.

I'll try to tackle this more fully later, but I think everyone here can agree that Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood deserved more than the meager load of carries they got today. This has gone beyond inexcusable into downright laughable.

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by Dave the Falconer on Nov 19, 2007 12:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs