ATLANTA -- Not exactly sure what the hell Atlanta coach Mike Smith was thinking. In a remarkably physical game, a game that had the feel of a postseason contest, Smith decided to channel his inner Cassius Clay, and get in the face of much stronger, fully shoulder-pad armored football player and all but challenge him to a fight on the sideline.
The player was Antonio Bryant, who is 6-feet-1 and 205 pounds and seems to be a rider on the crazy train. In the second half of a highly chippy and physical contest -- won in overtime 13-10 by the most dangerous team in the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons -- Bryant found himself near the Falcons bench after one particular play. Bryant started to mouth off to Falcons players.
Smith momentarily lost his freaking mind and attempted to intimidate Bryant -- and back his players -- by moving to within inches of Bryant's facemask and staring him down. Bryant gave Smith a look that said: "Are you nuts old man?"
Smith is as threatening as a grandpa wrapping Christmas presents, and a Bryant beatdown of the coach would be considered patricide in some states.
Smith had to be separated from Bryant, and later, after the spirited Buccaneers blocked a Falcons punt with just minutes remaining, Smith was separated from his wits.
"I just politely asked him to go back to his sideline," Smith said, laughing, when asked about the confrontation.
"I don't recall what he said," Bryant explained. "I just looked at him. It's nothing personal."
If there is an underdog coach of the year candidate it has to be Mike "Bonecrusher" Smith. And if there is an underdog for the title of most dangerous team in the conference, it might be held by the Falcons.
Because this was a playoff game. It felt like it. It looked like it. It tasted like it. And this young Falcons team stared down a seasoned Buccaneers group and beat them head up even as their coach was about to get his ass beat.
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| You don't want to face Mike Smith's surging, fighting Falcons in the playoffs. (Getty Images) |
Think about it for a moment.
Smith won't talk about the playoffs, but I can. The Falcons have not only a good chance to make the postseason but also do some damage. They've gone the entire season without back-to-back losses, Matt Ryan is one of the best rookie throwers in recent years and the Atlanta defense gets better with every game.
What you have to love about this Atlanta team is that it mirrors its hard-nosed coach. The Falcons are tougher than you think, much tougher, and will be a hard out for any team in the playoffs. That is if they can hold on and make it.
Their toughness was evident against the Buccaneers, usually the team doing the exclusive head-knocking. While other games coming into Sunday had the billing of being the most brutal of the day, the violence quotient in this one was significant. Scuffles broke out after the first several plays of the Falcons' first possession -- then again after the Buccaneers' first series, and then after Tampa Bay's first punt.
It probably didn't help that several Falcons players were taking deep inhalations of those metabolism kick-starting ammonia capsules several times before taking the field. They were chemically primed for a fight or two.
The officials were in serious danger of losing control at more than one point. Finally, they regained at least some. In the second half, after Harvey Dahl cheap-shotted one of the Buccaneers players while he wasn't looking, and a Tampa Bay player responded to Dahl, officials flagged both. Nevertheless, soon after that, another scuffle broke out after a Tampa Bay interception.
On one play, Buccaneers tight end Alex Smith was hit so hard by defensive back Domonique Foxworth while he was trying to make a catch across the middle -- hit fairly and squarely -- I'm not sure how he ever stayed conscious.
There was also so much trash talking in this game it violated local recycling laws, but instead of telling players to shut the hell up and play, game officials let the talking continue.
In the end, Tampa Bay was punch drunk from exchanging swings with a franchise that is clearly on the way up.
Atlanta's mental toughness is also impressive. The team could've folded after Michael Koenen's punt was blocked with 2:37 left in the game and the Falcons leading by three. The Buccaneers turned the blocked kick into a game-tying 38-yard field goal. Jason Elam went on to make the game-winning field goal in overtime.
Now, if they could only keep their head coach from getting his butt kicked.
