Monthly Archives: January 2010

Final: The Streak Is Over

By John Manasso | Published: January 3, 2010
BLOGGER’S NOTE: For stats and play-by-play information, check out the official Falcons-Bucs game center on NFL.com. As the Falcons entered a new chapter in team history, perhaps the enduring image will be that of running back Jason Snelling breaking tackle after tackle, twisting and turning away from Tampa Bay defenders on a 22-yard, fourth-quarter run that [...]
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Third Quarter: A Tenuous Lead

By John Manasso | Published: January 3, 2010
A pessimist would look at the Falcons’ third quarter — one in which they dominated yet failed to score — and would start to worry about the Buccaneers’ two-play, 80-yard touchdown drive from the team’s first meeting. Because as much as the Falcons have dominated the game, they lead by only 10-3 entering the fourth [...]
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Halftime: Falcons Turn It Around

By John Manasso | Published: January 3, 2010
This game was starting to shaping up a lot like the Falcons’ 10-7 win over the Jets a few weeks ago, with neither offense truly able to get on track. However, the Falcons’ offense hit its stride on the last three series of the half to pull ahead 10-3 at the break. With the Falcons’ defense [...]
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First Quarter: Mistakes Hurt Falcons

By John Manasso | Published: January 3, 2010
Hardly an offensive explosion to start the game. The Falcons have hurt themselves with mistakes on offense and special teams, while the defense has continued its excellent play of the last two games as the Birds trail by 3-0 at the end of the first 15 minutes. But we enter the second quarter with both teams combining [...]
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Pregame: What Might Have Been

By John Manasso | Published: January 3, 2010
Today on this last day of the regular season, I’m wondering about what might have been. Looking at the standings as the day begins, it looks like if the Falcons beat Tampa Bay to finish 9-7 then they won’t have missed the playoffs by much. A 10-6 record will have been necessary at a minimum – potentially [...]
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Inactives: Bryant Active; Two Linemen Out

By John Manasso | Published: January 3, 2010
Some interesting names are on the inactive list today for the Falcons in the season finale: place kicker Steve Hauschka and defensive linemen Jamaal Anderson (chest) and Thomas Johnson (knee). That means that Matt Bryant, the former Tampa Bay kicker, likely will be well enough to kick against his former team despite the hamstring injury he [...]
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