12/23/24
November 03, 2003
"Shula. Halas. Landry. Lambeau. Noll. The only coaches who've won 200 NFL games." Six weeks ago, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution accidentally ran an ad prematurely congratulating Dan Reeves on his 200th career win. The Falcons haven't won since, the owner is taking out ads to apologize, the remaining schedule isn't pretty, and Reeves is in the last year of a three-year contract.
He'll win one. It's 'Any Given Sunday' in this watered-down league. Hell, they could beat the Defending NFL champs and no one would be suprised. There is complete parity.
posted by kinack at 09:42 AM on November 03, 2003
Either way, the Falcons will have a new coach next year (not Deion hopefully). Talk about being unprepared for games (see thread above) and not making adjustments at half time. Sure, the Falcons miss Vick, but they aren't THIS bad (on paper at least).
posted by trox at 09:48 AM on November 03, 2003
Would be really funny if the win didn't come until the last week at home against Jax, although Reeves could retire (again) on a high note.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:22 AM on November 03, 2003
Well, they might beat Houston or Jacksonville, especially if Vick doesn't just sit out the season. But man, Reeves is done. I knew it last year when he was asked why he didn't use Duckett more in one close loss and he responded "I let the running backs decide when they want to go in or out" or something like that. What? I thought his coaching was subpar in the playoff game vs. the Eagles last year, too; I remember a 3rd-quarter drive that was going well, with the Falcons down a touchdown, and when they got close to the end zone, Reeves made some poor playcalling (including, I believe, a toss in the backfield to Warrick Dunn on a 3rd-and-1, which promptly lost three yards). Reeves' playcalling killed the momentum; the Falcons missed the field goal, and never threatened after that. A similar thing happened vs. Chicago, I think early last season. About a minute and a half left, ball on the 30, down one or two. Instead of getting close for the sure field goal to win it, Reeves basically runs it into the ground and gets two yards, Jay Feely misses the 45-yarder, and the Bears win. There's just some poor in-game management going on here. It's time to replace him.
posted by nath at 04:58 PM on November 03, 2003
The Jacksonville game is their best shot, but the Jaguars tend to play well after they are eliminated from playoff contention. (In other words, their last five opponents better watch out.) Houston, though, is an improving team that plays tough in Reliant Stadium. I don't think the Falcons will win that game.
posted by rcade at 07:59 AM on November 04, 2003
This could be the biggest football curse of all time if he can't get the win this year. But given the nature of football, I can see where they will pull off a win at some point. Going 15 straight games without a win would be VERY freaky.