Will Atlanta Show Up?
January 2nd, 2021
Former Bucs QB explains.
The Dixie Chicks may have four wins but they don’t play like a four-win team. And they have serious weapons on offense.
However, has the implosion begun? It’s the final week of the season. Where will Atlanta’s heads be? Two weeks ago they blew a 17-point halftime lead to the Bucs and last week choked on a makeable field goal that would have beaten the Super Bowl champion Chiefs in their beloved teepee, Arrowhead Stadium.
Will the Falcons have their heads on the beaches of the Dominican Republic, dreaming of fruity tropical drinks while working on the island women? Or will they be prepared to give interim coach Raheem Morris a sendoff from Atlanta with a huge upset of the Bucs?
Former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms, on his podcast “Unbuttoned,” believes the Dixie Chicks will come to the Den of Depression to play.
“I’m going to take the Buccaneers to win the football game,” Simms said. “I think [the Bucs] are playing really good football but I don’t think this will is going to be some landslide.”
Simms mentioned how Atlanta, which has choked away leads week after week, always comes back the following week ready for battle. They have yet to show signs of quit.
“They come to compete,” Simms said. “They outplayed the Chiefs in many ways last week. I think ultimately Brady and the Bucs offense is too good.”
The creator, curator and overall guru of Pro Football Talk, the great Mike Florio, who joined Simms on his podcast, believes human nature will take over. The Dixie Chicks will be mentally checked out after all of their bad beats and their minds will already be on a surf shop in Costa Rica or Disney, where some will be with the family next week.
“I think between blowing the 17-point halftime lead to the Bucs two weeks ago, having the blown opportunity to beat the Chiefs, I think the tank is empty for the Falcons,” Florio said. “I think it is time to pack it up and go home.”
Joe tends to lead toward Simms’ line of thinking. Atlanta will play the Bucs tough. But it won’t be enough.
It would surely be nice if the Dixie Chicks are thinking more about island women than bracketing Antonio Brown.
January 2nd, 2021 at 12:07 am
Brady goes…
13 of 24
201 yards
2 tds
2 ints
1 pick six to end the game…
Sorry that was JW last season.
January 2nd, 2021 at 12:14 am
I expected the Lions to roll over last week. I don’t expect the Falcons to roll over this week.
January 2nd, 2021 at 12:29 am
No Shaq.
No Devin.
Rams veering towards a loss.
This is about getting Mike his 1000 and avoiding injury given Covid impact as mentioned above. The Falcons could easily win on Ridley/Ryan connection.
January 2nd, 2021 at 1:15 am
This will be a tough game no doubt about it.
January 2nd, 2021 at 4:58 am
You gotta remember… there are always players trying to put good film out there… when you’re on a losing team… it’s the film you put out there that counts. Never quit. They’re career is counting on it.
January 2nd, 2021 at 6:25 am
I’m seeing a certain progressive consistency this year in the Den of Depression.
First we won 3 straight here: Panthers, Chargers, Packers.
Then we lost 3 straight at home: Saints, Rams, Chiefs.
Then we won another game here: Vikings.
Obviously that started our new 3-game streak. So we win tomorrow against the Falcons for win #2 and then win the Super Bowl here for Win #3.
Simple mathematics. What could possibly go wrong?
January 2nd, 2021 at 6:57 am
Falcons will show up….aren’t they youngry?
January 2nd, 2021 at 7:45 am
Keep the starters out of harms way. We should be treating this game like a last preseason game.
January 2nd, 2021 at 8:38 am
Atlanta could be upset with close but no cigar syndrome and want to end the season making a statement. I don’t see them laying down. If the Chiefs thrashed them then yes it’s Coppertone time but these guys are professional athletes where competition is their fire. The $$$ doesn’t hurt either.
January 2nd, 2021 at 9:58 am
SteelStudBuc – excellent point! I agree to an extent – some players are looking to put good plays on film. But, those are often 2nd and 3rd stringers. Unless a starter’s contract is about to expire and they’re going to hit FA, sufficient film is already “in the can.” I think it’s a matter of pride. Atlanta’s key players don’t want to get beat twice this season by the Bucs, so many will bring it on Sunday. However, if the Bucs can get up by a couple of scores early, I think the air will go out of Atlanta’s “want to” in a hurry.
January 2nd, 2021 at 10:46 am
Redneck Raptors want Raheem Morris for HC. He has either interviewed or going to do so. Jones hurt will sting. Hotlanta will show up cos they’re on a mission. Bucs offense is healthy. Defense will be adequate as LVD and Cichy will be playing at 100%. This is shaping up to be a good final regular season game. A good warmup for the playoffs. Bucs better win, and this won’t be a blowout.
January 2nd, 2021 at 10:50 am
I believe the Falcons have the #3 draft pick right now, that is very valuable. They will tank big time. A win might drop them out of the top 10.
They should have their eye on Kyle Trask. After watching Fields and Lawrence last night, I believe KT is the best QB out there. He could step right in to the Falcons offense or sit behind Ryan for a year.
The Dolphins (from Houston) and Bengals are right behind the Falcons right now and they have their franchise QB’s. They will definitely trade their picks to add value in the 1st round to a QB hungry team like New England or the LA Rams.
January 2nd, 2021 at 11:35 am
This talk of “putting out a good film” for players is thin gruel. Every player on every roster has plenty of film already. Personnel decisions are not made on one game.
I doubt Blank would hire Morris as GM before hiring a GM.
The Falcons have the #4 pick right now. I would be surprised if they want to drop 5-5 spots with a meaningless win Sunday, especially with a new GM and HC in queue.
January 2nd, 2021 at 1:20 pm
Morris as HC, not GM.
Joe, can you open a 3 minute edit period?
January 2nd, 2021 at 2:28 pm
I doubt if falcons will slack up. This is a division rivalry and i really think this season is going to get lost in the rearview mirror. Unless they think they can get Ryans replacement with an early first round pick I think it will be a low scoring toss-up. Who would have thought OSU would have beat Clemson like they did.
January 2nd, 2021 at 6:33 pm
Lol at thinking they’re not coming to play. Especially now knowing we are missing a bunch of key defenders.
January 2nd, 2021 at 10:23 pm
Rest some starters??? Would you rather them to play the Seahawks or the winner from the NFC East??? They rest starters they won’t win with White and Barrett out. This last game is important as the game against the Lions. They better come out slinging that ball like they did the last 4 quarters, 700 yards passing and 64 points put up. I’m sure the G Men 9-7 didn’t rest anybody when they beat the undefeated Patriots.