Discussion: Falcons debacle

I don't understand. What debacle? I thought it was a fine game...

On a more "honest" front, some of my more cynical friends who root for the local team asked me how I felt about having the Falcons lineup replaced by the Bills lineup late in the game - the implication being that the Falcons folded just like they expect the Bills would have...

My biggest problem was two nice passes got them 1+10 at +22 with 4:40 left and up by 8. Run the ball 3 times, kick something less than a 40-yard FG, and you're up 11 with just over 3:30 to go and the Pats down to 1 timeout. Then the Pats would need an onside kick recovery, a second score, in addition to the TD, the 2-pointer and an OT win.

Ah, confirmation bias - otherwise known as "we've got to go with what brought us here". (or if you prefer, 'fear of change')

OTOH, what about going for it on 4th and 3 on your side of the field in the third quarter. Clearly right, but how many teams would do it?

Having watched a bit of VCU basketball this week (or at least the last few seconds of some games!) it is clear that good teams take advantage of their luck and the mistakes of the other teams whereas less good ones just go with the flow...