Macca

Lighten up Biff ... it's just a bit of fun. Trump is fair game. In fact, he'd be loving all the attention, good or bad. If all these different satirists weren't sending him up he'd be annoyed. He welcomes it, it fuels him. He thrives on it and it ends up galvanising his own support base. It hasn't harmed him at all.

James White ... drafted as a running back at pick #130 a few years back Today runs for 29 with 2 TD's plus ... 14 receptions as a receiver for 110 yards and another TD. I wouldn't be alone in saying I knew very little about him before today. Belichick consistently brings these types of players before us in big games. Easily the greatest coach in the modern era.

What often isn't mentioned is how other teams go at the SB runner-up really hard. All we ever seem to hear about are the teams who go after the SB winner. So Atlanta can expect stronger opposition next season - in any given game. They'll need to be ready. However, Atlanta have got a really good roster and they're a high scoring team but, that NFC South division could be on for young & old. The Panthers will be dirty about how they played this season and the Saints & Tampa are both very capable on any given Sunday. Rather than stewing on the loss the focus has to go onto simply winning the division next season - as it should always be. It's as simple as that. These sort of losses can galvanise or fragment. Strong leadership will be needed and if that happens, the Falcons will bounce back.

Yeah, it's not like the Falcons don't have a decent running game ... as it was, Freeman had 11 carries for 75 yards complimented by Coleman with 7 carries for 29 yards. Considering the lead that Atlanta had, that's not enough carries. We discussed it here at half time in terms of using clock time as well but the outcome is going to haunt the coaching staff of Atlanta ... if it was GB I'd be furious (McCarthy blew that playoff game in Seattle 2 years ago with poor play calling near the goal line) New England make an artform about doing the 'obvious thing' extremely well even though it does look sometimes like they take risks. Belichick knows when to pull the trigger and when not to.

The game obviously hasn't finished being discussed yet but I'll get the following formalities out of the way Gorgo, you've won another tipping competition but this time you'll have to share the honours with myself Well done! And thanks to all for your participation Final Tally (Post Season Tipping Competition) 10 - Gorgoroth, Macca 9- JV7 6 - Clintosaurus 5 - DeeSpencer Regular Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2013 cowboy_from_hell/ pantaloons/ Gorgoroth Strafford Macca ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 Dappa Dan DeeSpencer Gorgoroth ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 Gorgoroth cowboy_from_hell, Macca JV7, DeeSpencer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2016 Gorgoroth cowboy_from_hell Clintosaurus/ DeeSpencer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2013 titan_uranus DemonDave cowboy_from_hell/ Macca ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 JV7/ pantaloons Gorgoroth/ Go the Biff Macca ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 JV7/ cowboy_from_hell, Gorgoroth/ Macca DeeSpencer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2016 Gorgoroth, JV7 Clintosaurus Macca ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall Medal Tally Gold Silver Bronze Gorgoroth 3 0 4 JV7 2 2 0 Macca 2 1 3 ------------------------------------------------------------- cowboy_from_hell 1 3 1 Dappa Dan 1 0 0 Strafford 1 0 0 titan_uranus 1 0 0 Go the Biff 1 0 0 DeeSpencer 0 2 2 pantaloons 0 2 0 DemonDave 0 1 0 Clintosaurus 0 0 2

You've got to hand it to the Pats ... they're just never beaten. Down 3 - 28 and they win ... unbelievable.

Yeah tough break JV ... that's just devastating.

This sport never ceases to surprise

That's just cruel ... but absolutely true haha

You must feel quite ill JV ... and who could blame you?

Atlanta should have had this stitched up.

That's just crazy

A sack & a penalty at the worst possible time.

Big time play by Jones ... preceded by a great run by Freeman. That's what you call stepping up!

That missed point after forces the Pats to go for 2 after any TD they might get from here on in ... I reckon it's academic now anyway. Falcons just recovered an onside kick and if they score again from this drive, it's all over.

This is turning into a rout ... still nervous JV?

He should have watched been watching Lady Gaga at half time ... nice catch at the end of her performance

Holding the Pats to a field goal there was immense ... 21-3 is so much better than 21-7 As cfh said, look to see Atlanta's running game in operation in the 2nd half

That's a bad error by Brady but a terrific interception by Alford all the same ... now 21 - 0 Falcons all over them

Falcons go out to a 14 - 0 lead and playing very well in all facets. Couple of holding penalties but Atlanta are settled and switched on

More from the most recent Real Time with Bill Maher (Sat) ...

I'll post up some clips from SNL, The Daily Show & Last Week Tonight as they become available but in the meantime here's the opening monologue from Bill Maher's latest 'Real Time' ...

Ha! Get my head around it? I tried that and it ended up doing my head in! Good luck with Trump Biff - he's all yours. You never know, it may somehow work out ... not sure how that's at all impossible but I suppose miracles can occur. We'll all be watching with avid interest ... 1446 days to go and counting. Oy vey.

"The Truman(p) Show" rolls on (with a difference/new twist) One of Rupert's publications has chimed in ... this (1 hour ago) from news.com ... Read more here ... Four ways Donald Trump is running the US Government like a reality TV Show .

We'll stay watching ... the sport sells itself. The rivalries, the tribalism, the eyes on the prize, Supercoach/Dreamteam, tipping comps, gambling & the aesthetic qualities. We can't look away. 'dc' is on the money (no pun intended) ... the deal will be done that appeases both sides without a percentage of the total revenue being written into the new CBA (see post #63) When factoring in how much money is involved, both sides can't really lose anyway. Not to my eyes.