1 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:10,399 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, and welcome to the Week eight edition 2 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: of The Falcon's Final Whistle podcast. I'm Scott Bayer alongside 3 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: Tory mclaney and Ashton Edmonds. Following a weird, wild, crazy, 4 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: pick your colorful adjective and insert it before you get 5 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: to a thirty seven to thirty four overtime victory for 6 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: the Falcons. That was a strange one. Nonetheless, the Falcons 7 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: emerge from this game at four and four. They are 8 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: now sitting alone one game ahead atop the NFC South 9 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: as we hit the pivot point in the twenty twenty 10 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: two season, there is so much to unpack. I'm betting 11 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: that if you're listening to this podcast, you probably watched 12 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: the game, and I bet that you would agree, what 13 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: the heck brov As I'm reading directly from Tory Mclaney's notes, 14 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: What the heck, Bros. So I'm just gonna I normally say, 15 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: what are your takeaways? Tory, what the heck? Pro? I know? 16 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: What the heck? Prov I truly this was wild, wacky, chaotic, 17 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: you know all of the adjectives. It was. At times 18 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: it was hard to watch, at other times it was 19 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: exciting to watch. It was it was what it was. 20 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 1: It wasn't pretty, it wasn't great. It was what it was. 21 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: And I think that's perfectly fine. I mean, in turn, 22 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, they did get the win. 23 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 1: But I will say something that I kind of took 24 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:35,119 Speaker 1: from this game was there's a lot to clean up 25 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: and there's a lot like to me, this game didn't 26 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: have to go all the way to the end the 27 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: way it did. I thought the Falcons had ample amounts 28 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: of opportunities to win this game in regulation. However that 29 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: didn't happen. So what do you do? You try and 30 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: win an overtime. And I really the best quote of 31 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: the night for me was I was talking to Jake 32 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: Matthews in the locker room and I kind of said, 33 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: you know, it wasn't a pretty game, but still won. 34 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,559 Speaker 1: How do you kind of weigh that in your head? 35 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: And he said, Look, this is what Arthur's talks about. 36 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter what it looks like. The goal is 37 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: to win no matter what it takes. However, we got 38 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: to score, whether it's defense, offense, special teams, we all 39 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: got to work together the find ways to win. Sometimes 40 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: it's not always the prettiest, but this was a great 41 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: team win, and I think that can be true. All 42 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: of these things I think can be true. That was 43 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: something that I wrote about postgame. It's like, all these 44 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: things can be true. The Falcons cannon should play better, 45 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 1: but they still won and there should be happy feelings 46 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: about winning. I really think that win probability charts. It's 47 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: a dumb thing to track. I think it doesn't tell 48 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: you a whole lot about a game. The final scorer does. 49 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 1: But go take a look at the win probability graphic 50 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 1: for Falcons Panthers. There was a point. There was a 51 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 1: point where the Falcons had a ninety nine point two 52 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 1: percent chance of winning the game, and then there was 53 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: another point where the Panthers had a ninety five percent 54 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: chance of winning the game. And then you see that 55 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: graph drop straight off off a cliff down the other way, 56 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: and the Falcons emerged. Um Ashton h Arthur Smith actually 57 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: said you all probably had to delete some stories, right, yeah, 58 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: oh yeah, yeah. You and I talked about a sidebar 59 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: idea on the quote unquote game winning drive for sure, 60 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: which which ended with uh Marcus Mariota to Damir Bird. Yep, 61 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 1: that was not the game winning drive. It was a 62 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: matter of fact, quite a few things happened after you 63 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: literally told me to just scrap it, like like just 64 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: just just start over. So from the point that you 65 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: had to scrap that story, what did you make of 66 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: everything else that happened? Man, it was it was truly 67 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: a roller coaster of a win. I would say, Um, 68 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: but I think the Falcons never gave up. They stay resilient. Um. 69 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: The Panthers definitely had a couple of chances to win 70 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: this game. I don't think we've ever seen anything like 71 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: this at all. You know, a kicker missing two back 72 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: to back game winning field goals. Uh. I just you know, 73 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: we were all on the edge of our seats. We 74 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: were all thinking, like, Okay, what's going on. You know, 75 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: the Falcons probably were like, you know, the game was 76 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: probably over. But I think in that second drive in 77 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: over Tom, you know Mark, I feel like Marcus knew 78 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: that he had to make a play in you know, 79 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 1: when he exploded for thirty yards up the left side 80 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: to put the Falcons in field goal range. I think 81 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: that showed, um, just his maturity and I showed his growth, 82 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: and that showed his confidence in himself. And you know, 83 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 1: I think that's why the Falcons came out with a win. 84 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 1: I was talking to Rashaun Evans after the game. Well, 85 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: not just me, there was a group of people there. 86 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: We don't have to say to me or anything like that. Um, 87 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: there was a group of people there and somebody asked him, 88 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: were you able to watch that overtime field goal attempt 89 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: by by Eddie Pinero of the Panthers that was ultimately 90 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: no good? And he said that he acted like he 91 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 1: wasn't watching, and he turned around his face away from 92 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: the field, but he found a screen inside of the 93 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: luxury suites at the field level and watched it. So 94 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: he was acting like he wasn't watching, but he couldn't 95 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: help himself. He found a screen and watched it, and 96 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: he said that he that it was just one of 97 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: those elation moments that they will have another chance. And 98 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: we've talked a lot about this team and Jake Matthews 99 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: reference did as well, talk a lot about this team 100 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: being fighters, guys who don't quit, and there are there 101 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 1: are a lot of opportunities for them to have been like, well, 102 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: that's it, we finally blew it. Our win probabilities, that probabilities, 103 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: that's over. But they still kept going. They made mistakes, 104 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: it was definitely not pretty, exactly what Tori said, but 105 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 1: they found a way to win here, and they that's 106 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 1: how they're going to have to do it. Sometimes it's 107 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: not always going to be pretty. They don't have a 108 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: Christine roster full of playmakers and depth and all these 109 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: other things that luxuries that some other teams have. So 110 00:05:58,160 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: when it comes down to the end and you make 111 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: him mistake, you gotta keep pushing. And that's what they 112 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 1: did here. It's funny because Arthur Smith said after the game, 113 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: his direct quote, it was it broke our way and 114 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: sometimes you need that to happen. Yeah, I mean that's 115 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: so true. I mean when you take you can take 116 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 1: this game for what it was. And no one's excusing 117 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 1: that the offense should have started off faster and started 118 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: off hotter. No one's excused excusing the many third and 119 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: long explosives that this defense gave up. No one is 120 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: so many, so many. No one is excusing that Carolina 121 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 1: gave the Falcons every chance, every opportunity to go and 122 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: win this game. And yeah, they did win, but it 123 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: came down to a break It came down to a 124 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,359 Speaker 1: breakthrough and at the end of the day, like you 125 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 1: take all of that for what it is and you 126 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: move forward because you have to. And I think when 127 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: I look at this game, yes, there's so much to fix. 128 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: And I know some people were like, Tori, you're being 129 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,720 Speaker 1: super hard on this team for like they came out 130 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 1: and they played well and they're fighters and their resilient. 131 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 1: It's like, yes, they are. We know this about them. 132 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 1: We also know that they are now competitive. And I 133 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 1: feel like this team is a team that, when it 134 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: comes down to it is going to get people talking 135 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 1: in many different ways. And it's because of that that 136 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: I feel like there is potential here. I feel like 137 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: there is potential in what Arthur Smith and this coaching 138 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: staff is doing with this team in twenty twenty two 139 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: that is pieced together with guys on one year contracts 140 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: that are teeny tiny contracts in the grand scheme of 141 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: contracts in the NFL, plus a lot of rookies and 142 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: a lot of guys on their rookie contract and on 143 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: their rookie deal. Because of all of that, I feel like, yeah, 144 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: sometimes you need a break, and this was their break. Yeah, 145 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: it absolutely was. And everything went back and forth. We've 146 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: talked about how the Panthers kicker missed two two field 147 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: goal or to an extraction point that would have won it, 148 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: and then a field goal that would have won it 149 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: in overtime. Arthur Smith didn't even wait until fourth down 150 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: to call on Young Waiku. Yeah he did it, and 151 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: from forty one out game on the line. With as 152 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: weird as that game was, another miss would have just 153 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: fallen o Lord into the you know, absolutely insane play 154 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: by play, but he it was a no doubter. Young 155 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: Way stuck it. And Ashton you wrote about Young Way 156 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: after this game. What did his kind of coaches and 157 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: teammates have to say about a guy who's this is 158 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 1: his fourth game winner, Yes, yep, his fourth game winner 159 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: and he just stuck it. The guy's got nervous steal. Yeah, 160 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: for sure. I mean every I would say, every coach, 161 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: every player in the locker room have faith and Young 162 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: Way to make that feel goal. For sure? What was 163 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: going through his head? And I'm quoting Young Way he said, 164 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: I caught myself saying to myself, you never know, at 165 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: the end of the day, you got to be ready. 166 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: There's no excuse to be like, oh I thought it 167 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: was over, so I wasn't prepared. Nobody cares. You just 168 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 1: got to stay ready. It's not over into the whistles 169 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: are blown. So just stay ready, locked in, and be 170 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: ready to go. And I think we all know that 171 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: Young Way is is a very calm and cool He 172 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: has that calm and cool demeanor. And we saw that 173 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: displayed on the field, you know, in those last in 174 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 1: that last two minutes stretching overtime, and you know, he 175 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: just wasn't phased and he made the game win a 176 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,199 Speaker 1: field goal. And I even have faith in Young Way 177 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:06,319 Speaker 1: that he was gonna make it. I mean, he was 178 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,319 Speaker 1: efficient the whole game through all four quarters. He made 179 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: three three foot three on field goals and four for 180 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 1: four on extra kicks today, So you know, I think 181 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: Young Way came up big when it mattered most. Here's 182 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: the thing about Young Way, and I love Young Way story, 183 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: and people who have followed the Falcons for years now 184 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: no Young Way story. It's written on the back of 185 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: their hand probably, And he's become a fan favorite for 186 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: what he's been able to do. And I think part 187 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: of that is because of his story. But you talk 188 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: about feeling confident in what Young Wayku is able to do, 189 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: and that was something that came up a multitude of 190 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:44,559 Speaker 1: times in postgame press conferences and in open locker room. 191 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: It's like, when you're in a game where the opposing 192 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: kicker misses not one, but two kicks that would have 193 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: sealed the win, that would have given that team the win. 194 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 1: The value of Young Wayku, I feel like should not 195 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 1: be overlooked because of that in a game where you 196 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: saw what happens when you don't have a kicker that 197 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,679 Speaker 1: can go out and win you the game. Now, I'm 198 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: not saying that it's just the kicker and all that 199 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: kind of stuff, but we see because of the way 200 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: the NFL is right now, we're seeing games being won 201 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: on kicks left and right. We're seeing games being won 202 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: by one possession in the final minutes of the game. 203 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: This one just happened to go to overtime. So because 204 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: of that, I feel like with Young Wake who you 205 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: cannot overlook how important he is to this overall operation. 206 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: I think it was even our it was Marcus Mariota 207 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: said after the game something along the lines up like, 208 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:41,599 Speaker 1: I think Young Wake who is good for our team obviously, 209 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,840 Speaker 1: but he's also good for the sport. That was like 210 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: a fantastic quote from Marcus. I think he said, like 211 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: also good for the league or something like that. He said, 212 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 1: I can't explain how valuable he is not only to 213 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: this team, but to really to football. Right. Yeah, Yeah, 214 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: I loved that quote from Marcus, and I think it 215 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: does kind of showcase I don't know, yeah, how important 216 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: young Cou is in multiple facets of not just the 217 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,439 Speaker 1: Falcons game, but I think what Marcus was saying the 218 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: league at large. Okay, so this game ended in a 219 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 1: celebration young Waku throwing his helmet into the ear, heads 220 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:21,199 Speaker 1: up and being hoisted on his teammates shoulders. And a 221 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 1: win is a win is a win, right, But this 222 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: is the Falcon's final whistle, and we look at things 223 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,960 Speaker 1: in three dimensions. Yeah, and it wouldn't be prudent of 224 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 1: us to ignore some things that we've brought up a 225 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,839 Speaker 1: couple of times, some glaring issues that need to be fixed. 226 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: Is it better to make a fix with a win 227 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 1: instead of a loss? Every player will tell you that 228 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 1: it's always easier on a Monday after you'll win. But 229 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: this was a flawed game. Um, it still counts as 230 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 1: a w but this is a flawed game. And if 231 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: the goal is to stay atop the NFC South, you 232 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: better get right in certain areas to worry. What were 233 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:03,439 Speaker 1: your biggest issues, not issues with how they played, but 234 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:05,719 Speaker 1: what were some things that you think need to get 235 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: cleaned up. Yeah, first off is I feel like the 236 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: Falcons have to start better offensively. Yeah, like they just 237 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 1: have to. I can't. I don't. I'm not looking at 238 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:16,439 Speaker 1: the play breakdown right now right in front of me, 239 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: but I feel like there were just way too many 240 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:22,559 Speaker 1: not even three and ounce, but you're getting like really 241 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 1: quick drives where you are having to give the ball 242 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 1: back to Carolina without any type of points at all. 243 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 1: That first off, like that, because I did feel like 244 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: we got well into the second They had thirty three 245 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: yards in the first quarter, thank you casin point. I 246 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: feel like the first drive that I actually felt like 247 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 1: was one that I was kind of pleased, even pleased with, 248 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: I think was well into the second quarter. There was 249 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: a ten place seventy four yard touchdown. Yeah, yeah, they 250 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: looked really good. That was the one that was the 251 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: one drive I think the first half that I was like, Okay, 252 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: there they are, there, there's the there they go. But 253 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: for me, I just think this offense for it to 254 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: be at its best, they have to start quicker. They 255 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: just do. And I asked, or we asked Marcus Mariota 256 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 1: about that post game two, and he said heap shot 257 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: the blame in that first half. He said, I've got 258 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: to be better that slow start. I wasn't executing. I've 259 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: got to be better. I've got to be cleaner. And 260 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: I appreciate that by Marcus, but I do think it's 261 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: the overall scope of the offense as a whole, too. 262 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,839 Speaker 1: The overall scope of the offense has to be better 263 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: as a unit in the first and second quarter. I 264 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,959 Speaker 1: feel like that's been kind of a a not an issue, 265 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 1: well kind of an issue over the last few games too. 266 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: I feel like we can point to other moments in 267 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: the first and second quarter where this team was not 268 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: executing at the clip and needed to. Now that's the offense. 269 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: I have to give some two cents on the defense. 270 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 1: This defense was giving up way too many explosive plays 271 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 1: on third and long and second and long, even sometimes 272 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:05,319 Speaker 1: third and medium, and that to me, is not who 273 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 1: this defense is. We saw last week how against the Bengals, 274 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: the explosive plays that this defense gave up that felt 275 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: like it kind of carried over into this game, and 276 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: that's not something that this defense is known for. That's 277 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: not something this defense I feel like has been It's 278 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: not something that this defense I think has been known 279 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: for over the course of the last two years under 280 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: Dan Piece, and I feel like Dean Piece has even 281 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: said that as well. So that needs to be cleaned up, 282 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: making sure that they are getting off the field on 283 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 1: third and long situations, and then of course, like finally, 284 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: just taking advantage of opportunities that opposing teams give them. 285 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 1: I think that was something that we saw in the 286 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: Bengals game when the Falcons get the ball coming out 287 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: of halftime and they go three and out, they have 288 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: a defensive stop, and then they go three and out again, 289 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: and it's like that sandwich together was the one moment 290 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: that they had to really make something happen in that game, 291 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: and it didn't happen. I feel like there were moments 292 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: in this game where the Falcons should have could have 293 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: would have won in regulation had they executed in those 294 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: moments where Carolina is not performing at the clip that 295 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: they need to. So I just went on a very 296 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: long rant, but we're here for it. Everybody was taking notes, right, Yeah, 297 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: I hope. So if not, there's a quiz at the 298 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 1: end of this, you're out of luck if you weren't. Yeah, 299 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 1: you don't want to make injuries an excuse for anything, 300 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 1: and the coaches don't. But you also have to look 301 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: at a plain reality. The ideal secondary for the Falcons 302 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: is a J. Terrell, Casey Hayward, Isaiah Oliver, Jalen Hawkins, 303 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: and Richie Grant against Carolina. And I made a bunch 304 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 1: of fun of PJ. Walker, not fun of him, but 305 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 1: I pointed out the discrepancy between his performance and Joe Burrows. Yeah. Nonetheless, 306 00:15:55,240 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 1: this secondary was Isaiah Oliver, Richie Grant, Dean Marlowe, Corneil Armstrong, 307 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: and Darren Hall. No disrespect to anyone that I just mentioned, 308 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 1: but there is a there is a significant difference between 309 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: the ideal version of the secondary and what was available 310 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: to the Falcons today. They overcame. Arthur Smith made a 311 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: real point to say to praise Corneil Armstrong, the fact 312 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: he never quit. He kept rolling out there and he 313 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 1: kept trying to do his best, and he did make 314 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: some plays. But I think that that played a factor here. 315 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: And Rashaun Evans said after the game, he said, if 316 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 1: we can heal up a little bit, I think that 317 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: we can take our play to the next level. Casey 318 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: Hayward's on injured reserve, there's no telling when he's going 319 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: to be back, but I think if they can heal up, 320 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 1: that's another one of those moments where I think this 321 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 1: defense can get better. I think the injuries hurt them 322 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 1: this time. And if we're gonna talk about young Way Coup, 323 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: one of those kind of trusted automatic guys. Yeah, he 324 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 1: misses a field goal every now and then, A J. 325 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: Trell is in the same category. He's a guy that 326 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 1: you trust deep ball to AJ side one on one. 327 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 1: He's he's probably gonna knock it down, right. Maybe he 328 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: doesn't every time, but that's kind of what you feel. 329 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: And I think that having a player like that, one 330 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 1: of their top three players, I think it hurt them 331 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,919 Speaker 1: in this game. And I think that Falcons fans and 332 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: the Falcons are obviously wishing him a speedy recovery, right. 333 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 1: And it was interesting because Scott and I at one 334 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:26,199 Speaker 1: point turned to each other, and I'm pretty sure it 335 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: was when PJ. Walker found DJ Moore. It was in 336 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: I think the beginning of the second quarter. It was 337 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: a twenty yard pickup down the sideline. Cornell Armstrong was 338 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 1: in coverage and he turned around and the ball went through. 339 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 1: It felt like he was just like an centimeter Cornell 340 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,679 Speaker 1: was so close to making centimeter away from an interception 341 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: and instead it's a twenty yard pickup for Walker and more. 342 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,439 Speaker 1: Scott turned and he was like, it really feels like AJ. 343 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 1: If AJ is there, If it's AJ in that situation, 344 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: it's a different outcome. And I think that is fair 345 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: to say J has a few inches on Corneil Armstrong. 346 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: I also wonder how Carolina's offensive play calling would have 347 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 1: differed had AJ Terrell been out on the field. Like 348 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: now we're getting into like Pete, like we're getting into 349 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: the weeds of this. But I do wonder because I 350 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: guarantee you I haven't looked at this. I want to 351 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 1: look at this tomorrow. I want to know how many 352 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: times Cornell Armstrong was targeted over the course of this game, 353 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 1: four quarters plus overtime. I want to know, because it 354 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:37,719 Speaker 1: really felt like live that it was happening constantly, and 355 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: when you have a team that is constantly going after 356 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 1: a guy like that. I mean, it's it's almost a 357 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,880 Speaker 1: respect thing. And we saw what like we saw last year, 358 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: there were quarterbacks and offensive coordinators actively choosing not to 359 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: throw a J. Turrell's away. That is that's just truth. 360 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: So because of all that, it does make you wonder. 361 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: And I'm not in this again, this is not us saying, 362 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 1: you know, anything is a second team all pro. Right, Yeah, 363 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 1: it's just it's just us having conversations, right, yeah, Nonetheless, 364 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: you know, when you look at Marcus Mariota, right, He's 365 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:14,919 Speaker 1: an NFC Offensive Player of the Week one week. The 366 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: next week, my mailbag's full of people screaming for Desmond 367 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,640 Speaker 1: the Ritter Ruckus as I like to call it, right, 368 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:25,120 Speaker 1: And it goes back and forth, and it probably will 369 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 1: continue to because both camps have very passionate followers. But 370 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 1: aston you look at Marcus Mariota's day, okay twenty for 371 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:36,920 Speaker 1: twenty eight, two hundred fifty three yards, three touchdowns, a pick, 372 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: forty three yards rushing, including that huge thirty yard or right, 373 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: m what did you take from Marcus Mariota's performance and 374 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 1: his postgame press conference? Yeah, I think Marcus never gave 375 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:49,919 Speaker 1: up throughout the whole game. I know he threw an 376 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 1: interception early in a first quarter, but he bounced back, 377 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:56,639 Speaker 1: he threw downs to Cole Pits early in the second quarter. Like, 378 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:00,640 Speaker 1: I just think Marcus Marcus's mindset. He he definitely has 379 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 1: a resilient and never give up mentality, and we've seen 380 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: that through all four quarters. Yes, he threw a crucial 381 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,920 Speaker 1: interception in over time that the Panthers know they could 382 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,439 Speaker 1: have won a game from that, but you know, the 383 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 1: very next job when the Falcons got the ball, he 384 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:17,640 Speaker 1: did explode for thirty yards to the Panthers twenty four 385 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: yard line that set up Coup's field goals. So I 386 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 1: think Marcus, you know, it's like he doesn't dwell on 387 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: his mistakes, I would say, and that maturity, you know, 388 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 1: that comes from just experience of being in the league. 389 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: And I think, you know, Marcus is starting to feel confident. 390 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 1: I think he said that in this pressor. He's starting 391 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:36,920 Speaker 1: to feel like him, like himself, and he's starting to 392 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 1: feel way more confident. And I think that's going to 393 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: be very, very crucial moving forward into the season. Here's 394 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: the thing, and I want people to hear me when 395 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: I say this, I'm getting very heated in this in 396 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,919 Speaker 1: this padcast, I apologize, but I want people to hear this. 397 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: We were talking to Jake Matthews after the game. Jake 398 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:56,160 Speaker 1: Matthews was on fire. He had so many great things. 399 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:01,120 Speaker 1: I really appreciated it. But he was asked about Marcus 400 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 1: and what he said about Marcus I think is the 401 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 1: reason why people calling for Desmond Ritter maybe need to 402 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:09,479 Speaker 1: take a back seat for a little bit, just a 403 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: little bit. He said. Marcus has the personality that where 404 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,639 Speaker 1: you really want to do well for him, just because 405 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:19,160 Speaker 1: of how well he takes care of us, his attitude, 406 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: the way he comes to work every day. I couldn't 407 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 1: be happier that he's our quarterback. This is your veteran 408 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: offensive your veteran offensive line captain. This is the guy 409 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,919 Speaker 1: who if you want to go to and get the 410 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,239 Speaker 1: real scoop on what the heck is going on with 411 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:37,640 Speaker 1: this offense, whatever you want to say, that's the guy 412 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:39,679 Speaker 1: you go to. Jake Matthews has been in this league. 413 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 1: He's played for a lot of different Falcons teams that 414 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:44,680 Speaker 1: have been at the top and been at the bottom. 415 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 1: For Jake Matthews to say that, for Jake Matthews to 416 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 1: be like this locker room has Marcus is back because 417 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:55,440 Speaker 1: of X, Y and Z. I feel like everyone needs 418 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:57,520 Speaker 1: to take a heat check on that and that alone, 419 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 1: Like we talk about, you know, oh, whin are we 420 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:03,159 Speaker 1: going to see Desmond Ridder blah blah blah, Like I 421 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: feel like the ritter Rucus is always super loud in 422 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: moments like this, and I understand it, I really do. 423 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 1: But you have to look at what this locker room 424 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 1: believes in market they believe in Marcus. This, to me 425 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: is really important and it's something that I feel like 426 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:22,959 Speaker 1: we haven't gotten a lot of clarity on until you 427 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: have your captain veteran offensive lineman saying I couldn't be 428 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: happier that Marcus Mariota is our quarterback right now. Yeah, 429 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:32,359 Speaker 1: And you have to listen to that, and you have 430 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 1: to listen to the locker room and listen to the 431 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: fact that in good moments in bad Arthur Smith has 432 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 1: stuck with Marcus Mariota. Yeah. And another thing is that 433 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 1: they're in first place in the NFC South. You're gonna 434 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 1: make a quarterback change when you're even though you're only 435 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: four and four, that you're on top of the division. 436 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 1: You want to shake things up now, or do you 437 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 1: want to try to find the consistency that has been 438 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:58,840 Speaker 1: allusive to this point. Inconsistency with some gumption leads you 439 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 1: to four and four, That's what it does. And ultimately, 440 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: as we push forward here, I wrote a whole column 441 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 1: about this. Go ahead and read it. Why don't you 442 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 1: about the fact what it kind of means to be 443 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: on top of the NFC South in week nine ps 444 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:17,880 Speaker 1: there are no gold stars being handed out and kind 445 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 1: of how they can stay there, and talking to a 446 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: bunch of different guys, it was all about, okay, great, 447 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 1: we're here, now, how do we stay here? How is 448 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:28,360 Speaker 1: it possible? Because I'm sorry, Tom Brady ain't gonna take 449 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: three and five lying down. It's just not the And 450 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 1: then Dennis Allen, whooped his former team, the Raiders, buy 451 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 1: a heavy marchin this division. While it's kind of become 452 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 1: a bit of a punchline because everybody was under five 453 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: hundred and it's an easy kind of joke that you 454 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 1: can make on Twitter, it's not gonna stay like that forever. 455 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 1: So how do you stay there? How do you find consistency? 456 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: How do you borrow from Arthur Smith? Here? Continue to 457 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,720 Speaker 1: be objective and not just hey, we won, but man, 458 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 1: we're lucky we won, and we if we don't fix 459 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 1: this stuff, we're not going to keep winning. Every time 460 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,680 Speaker 1: I bring up strength of schedule, Tory rose her eyes 461 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 1: at me, and so I even said in the column, 462 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: there's no such thing as an easy schedule, because it's 463 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 1: all about who you playing when you play them. Playing 464 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: the Bengals in week seven that was a rough goal. Nonetheless, 465 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 1: what I'm trying to get out here is that they 466 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 1: need to find some consistency and there are opportunities to 467 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: stack wins as a majority. I'm not saying going on 468 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: on a crazy winning streak, but okay, so you have 469 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 1: one game of separation. As Darren Hall put it, you 470 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:42,680 Speaker 1: gotta keep pushing, you gotta keep working and fixing. Or 471 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,159 Speaker 1: being in first place in week nine could lead you 472 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: to third place in week eighteen. Yeah, I mean, who 473 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: gives a crap if you're in first place right now? 474 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 1: Especially considering it absolutely, but I think from overall like mentality, 475 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,920 Speaker 1: you want to be in this position. Yes, but like 476 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 1: I completely agree with kind of what they're saying. It's 477 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:07,440 Speaker 1: like you want to be in this position. It's all 478 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 1: great and it's all wonderful and sunshine, rainbows, whatever, but 479 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 1: you have to you have to continue producing, and you 480 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 1: have to find consistency. I think that's the difference between 481 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 1: this Atlanta Falcons team as they move forward, is finding consistency. 482 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:25,719 Speaker 1: And I do believe that, Yes, while you can go 483 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:29,159 Speaker 1: into Monday and look back on this game and be like, Okay, 484 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: we have to fix X, Y and Z because we're 485 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 1: not going to be able to get away with X 486 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: Y and Z against X Y and Z, you know, 487 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,880 Speaker 1: there are so many variables that we're talking about. However, 488 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: I think that that's so important for the Falcons to find, 489 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: to be able to find consistency and really be hard 490 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:46,679 Speaker 1: on themselves, really be objective, because I like, going back 491 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: to what I was saying, I do think that there 492 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:50,879 Speaker 1: is potential there because of the way the NFC South 493 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,119 Speaker 1: is playing right now, not just right now, but the 494 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 1: way that these teams are constructed. I think the Falcons 495 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:57,359 Speaker 1: have a good chance and a good opportunity. And like 496 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:00,239 Speaker 1: what Arthur Smith said during the week, the best way 497 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: to be a playoff team is to win your division. 498 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 1: So go win your division. And I think like even 499 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: with all even saying all of that, Like, I know, Scott, 500 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: you're absolutely right that the NFC South is kind of 501 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:16,520 Speaker 1: the punchline right now where everybody's talking about like, oh oh, 502 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:18,679 Speaker 1: they're not very good, like look at what look at 503 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 1: what is happening in the NFC South. But at the 504 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:25,199 Speaker 1: end of the day, Falcons win the division, or if 505 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: anybody wins the division, there you go. It's home playoffs, 506 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 1: the home playoff, it's a birth like So for all 507 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:34,719 Speaker 1: I say all of that to say this, the Falcons 508 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:37,560 Speaker 1: have a lot of work to do, and I completely 509 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 1: agree that there's no there's no being content in where 510 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: they are right now because we are one play away 511 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 1: from them losing this game, and the narrative around where 512 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 1: the Falcons are right now is very very different. So 513 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: completely flipped, completely flipped the feelings around this team. If 514 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 1: they were to have lost that game, I don't even 515 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:01,239 Speaker 1: want to think about it. It would have made our 516 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:02,960 Speaker 1: jobs a lot harder. I can tell you that for sure. 517 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 1: But they won, So they won. You have good opportunities 518 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 1: coming up against some of the teams that you aren't 519 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:12,399 Speaker 1: playing both home and away over the course of the 520 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:15,439 Speaker 1: next month of the season. Go out, get you some wins. 521 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:18,879 Speaker 1: Because if you can keep winning, you can keep putting 522 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:23,120 Speaker 1: good play together. Who's to say that when we get 523 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:26,639 Speaker 1: to December that this isn't a much much bigger conversation. Yeah, 524 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 1: and they're going to be in the thick of it, 525 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:31,640 Speaker 1: and I think that's gonna be fun moving forward. But 526 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:34,120 Speaker 1: y'all can move forward with your day at this point 527 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,639 Speaker 1: because we're wrapping up here on Falcon's final whistle, you know, 528 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:41,679 Speaker 1: the drill rate review. Please subscribe to the Falcons podcast network. 529 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:44,120 Speaker 1: That would be super awesome. You can get other quality 530 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 1: programming like the Falcons Audible with Derek DJ and Dave, 531 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 1: or you can get Falcons in Focus where we dive 532 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 1: deep into the personalities of the fifty three man roster. 533 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 1: Enough for that funny voice, but I did want to 534 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 1: leave you with a quote from Darrenhall that I think 535 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 1: was just pure poetry and only last one line after 536 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:06,360 Speaker 1: that thirty seven to thirty four overtime win. His reaction 537 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,640 Speaker 1: to it, he says, and I quote, after what just happened, 538 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 1: we must be living right. I like that quote.