True to form, the Atlanta Falcons (4-12) showed up to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5). And made things exciting but found themselves facing the GOAT Tom Brady, who has been a bit up and down this year but has redeemed himself. There is a reason he is referred to as the greatest of all time. Brady has thrown for more touchdowns (40) since the 2009 season, where he won league M.V.P. and threw for at the time a record-setting (50).
Granted, the Buccaneers had more to play for; therefore started focused and motivated to bring home the prize in a better position. The Wild Card fifth seed to represent the N.F.C. South in the playoffs. The Falcons showed up out of responsibility But were not focused, evidenced by challenges such as not completing the quarterback running back exchange basics.
The first issue was with Todd Gurley on the 4-yard line as they were threatening to score, forcing them to settle for a field goal by Younhoe Koo, the Falcons Pro Bowl kicker out of football a couple of years ago. He indeed is the epitome of never giving up on your dreams.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ran out to a 17-3 lead in the second quarter and never looked back. The Falcons dug such a hole for themselves they couldn’t make it to the surface to save their lives. They fought back against their self-inflicted wounds, but that G.O.A.T was on the other side.
Tom Brady has so many accolades from six-time Super Bowl winning quarterback to a forty-year-old player to throw forty touchdowns. Give him another title, Falcon killer. Wide Reciever Mike Evans broke Hall of Famer Randy Mosses record of the first seven years in the league seven thousand yards.
Tom Brady completed 26 of 41 passes for 399 yards with 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. League bad boy Antonio Brown is doing great reinventing himself by keeping his mouth shut and allowing his play to speak for itself, which appears to be a miracle. Brown led the team with 11 receptions for 138 yards while contributing 2 critical touchdowns in the absence of his catching mate Mike Evans who was carted to the locker room with a leg injury caused when he slipped as he was attempting to catch a touchdown pass.
I am not sure if the field was in its best condition, considering they played the V.R.B.O. Citrus Bowl there yesterday. But what I know is it would be a shame if he can’t play in the first playoff game of his career.
The Falcons won the time of possession piece 33:12 to Tampa’s 26:48, proving it doesn’t matter how much time you have the ball. It’s what you do with it. Tom Brady knew precisely what to do with it put it in the endzone. Every time the Falcons made a run to make the game interesting by inching to within three points, Brady delivered.
Insult to injury was added when Pro Bowl defensive lineman Grady Jarrett went down with a pulled groin. Julio Jones did not play for the fourth consecutive week due to a hamstring injury. Many are speculating that he has played his last game in a Falcons uniform. To quote Bill Parcells, “ the sports car looks great when it’s on track but not when it in the Pitts.”
In my opinion, if there is any way to keep him, you do it. Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones make up perhaps the most talented wide receiver tandem in all of football. Facts must adhere to there may not be enough money for two #1 receivers typically teams go with the younger players.
It is easy to question Interim head coach Raheem Morris on his decision not to go for the touchdown when the score was 23-17, which would have given them a lead displaying confidence that Younghoe Koo would have kicked the successful field goal.
But what are you to do when challenged with the simple quarterback to running back exchange, which leads to two critical fumbles. Down goes the Falcons 44-27 to end a tumultuous season of heartbreak caused by self-inflicted wounds and losses after jumping out to big leads or shooting themselves in the feet. Many are rooting for Raheem Morris to get the head coaching job, but the Falcons are looking for not just a head coach. They are looking for a general manager.
If you were the new general manager, would you want to tie your fate to any coach associated with this underperforming aging team with significant salary cap issues? That would be the classic cliché of doing the same thing but expecting a different outcome.
In the big picture, Falcon fans, don’t concern yourselves with championship football this Covid 19 impacted season. Be thankful you had a football season.
