6 - 4

The Atlanta Falcons are now 6 – 4 on the season and fighting to stay in the playoff race. After a disappointing loss to the lowly Green Bay Packers, the Falcons fell to their arch-rival, the Tampa Bay Bucs, in a close and intense 30 – 27 battle. This was rivalry football: penalty flags flew, fist flew, and the Falcons’ composure flew out the window at the beginning of the game. Atlanta had 11 penalties called against them, they spotted the Bucs ten points in the opening quarter, and they looked like a team lacking discipline.

Thankfully, the team got things together after halftime and rallied to play new school Atlanta Falcons football: discipline defense, solid rushing, and flashy quarterback play. Michael Vick continued to show his brilliance as a pocket passer, going 21 of 38 for 306 yards and 2 touchdowns; clearly his best performance of the season, but Vick kept it real after the game when he said, “[My numbers] don’t mean a thing if we lose”.

See Michael Vicks gets it – high individual numbers don’t mean a thing if the team doesn’t win. I’d rather have a Michael Vick that puts up moderate numbers, protects the ball, manages the offense to a win, and makes the big plays whether it’s with his feet or arm, as opposed to a Michael Vick that acts as a purely pocket passer who throws for 300+ yards and it equals a loss. My message to Vick: play your game and don’t worry about the critics. My message to the Vick haters: son is sick – he can consistently throw and run – he is the future – get use to it!

Other Falcon high points: Warrick Dunn rushed for 82 yards, “Mountain Man” T.J. Duckett had 52 rushing yards and a touchdown, rookie wideout “Rowdy” Roddy White had a breakout receiving game with 108 yards, and second year wideout Michael Jenkins finally had a consistent game with 62 receiving yards and 1 touchdown.

The Falcons next game is on Thanksgiving Thursday at 11:30 a.m. on Fox as they take on the Detroit Lions in their annual Turkey Bowl!