If the game had been a Little League Game, the mercy rule would have been applied.  If it was a high school game, the Falcons cheerleaders and mom’s would have been crying at the staggering thumping the Green Bay Packers (12-6) put on the number 1 seed, Atlanta Falcons (13-4).

Aaron Rogers put on such a dominating performance for his Packers (31/36, 3 passing TD’s, 1 rushing TD, 137 passer rating) it will go down as one of just a handful of comparable performances.  Only the great, future Hall of Famer Kurt Warner have put up better numbers in a playoff game.  Rogers was quoted after the game stating, “This probably was my best performance, the stage we were on, the importance of this game.  It was a good night.”

In dark contrast, Matt Ryan wishes he had stayed home.  Ryan came into the game with a staggering 20-2 home record as starting QB for the Falcons.  Ryan statistics were just as bad as Rogers were so outstanding (20/29, 1 TD, 2 INT including a pick six and an INT in the Packers end zone).  Ryan also fumbled a QB sneak attempt that GB recovered.

GB never punted the ball.  GB had one TO that led directly to the Falcons first TD.  GB promptly marched 81 yards for a TD.  All-Pro Eric Weems returned the pursuing kick off back for a gorgeous TD return.  GB, after fumbling their kickoff out of bounce on their on 8 yards, simply took 10 plays to cover the 92 yards.

At this point, most experts knew the Falcons were in trouble.  Michael Jenkins fell down on dome turf in the end zone allowing Tremon Williams to enjoy another INT in his own end zone.  Rogers lead the Packers on another 80 yard plus drive for another TD, 21-14 Packers.

The game turned on the next Falcons possession.  The Falcons moved the ball to the GB 36 yard line and called their final time.  ATL could have attempted a 53 yard FG but instead got greedy.  ATL tried to get a few more yards by rolling Ryan out to his left.  Tremon Williams knew the Falcons needed to play towards the sidelines and simply jumped the rout for a staggering “pick six” on the final play of the first half.

The second half was a mere formality.  The Packers scored on two more long TD drives. GB scored 35 straight points before ATL was able to add a garbage TD in the 4^th quarter.

The Falcon faithful will almost certainly scream for Matt Ryan’s head.  The reality is the Falcons will be a playoff team for many years to come which is well beyond their history.  While this loss is tough to swallow after a 13-3 season and home field advantage, this blogger will predict the Falcons return to the playoffs next season.  Hopefully, the growing pains this year will become playoff fruition next year.

Mark Anthony Williams

dawgsbroadcasting@gmail.com

Zach Randolph continues his All Star play leading the Memphis Grizzlies (19-21) with 23 points and 20 rebounds.  Memphis continues their dominating play at home with their 12-6 record. Darrell Arthur added 17 points with 6/8 shooting.  Rudy Gay added 16 points.  Memphis enjoyed their second straight win.

In stark contract, the Dallas Mavericks (26-13) have clearly hit rock bottom.  After going 2-7 while All Star Dirk Nowitzki was out with a knee injury, the Mavs were certainly looking forward to their power forwards return.  Unfortunately for Maverick fans, Nowitzki’s return was simply a tease versus redemption. 

 Nowitzki was ejected from the game in the third quarter when he was awarded consecutive technicals after argue fouls with the referees.  This year, the NBA implemented a strict rule of “no arguing with the refs” to minimize the badgering the NBA refs routinely have received from players in past years.

 Nowitzki became clearly frustrated because he got stuck guarding Zack Randolph.  Randolph was having another outstanding game at Nowitzki’s expense while Nowitzki was just trying to shake off the rust of missing 9 straight games.  Dallas was just 2-7 without Nowitzki.

 To compound the Mavs woes in the interior, center Tyson Chandler did not play due to illness leaving the Mavs very thin in the paint.  Nowitzki had just 7 points and 5 rebounds before his dismissal.  Ian Mahinmi had a career high 17 points off the bench for Dallas.  Dallas starters scored only 26 points.

 Memphis returned to their tried and proven system of consistently working the ball inside  (44 points in the paint).  With Nowitzki nursing his bad knee and Chandler out, the paint was ripe for prosecution by the Grizzlies.  Randolph dominated the game from the start with a double/double in the first quarter alone (17 points, 11 rebounds).  Dallas had no answers for Randolph as he shared the spotlight the rest of the game with his teammates. 

 The Grizzlies were up by 12 after the first quarter and lead 46-36 at half.  The Grizzlies again put their game away in the third quarter out scoring Memphis by 9 points and lead 67-48.  Memphis held Dallas to season lows in points (70), shooting percentage (32%) and 3 point shooting percentage (6 of 31 shots).

The Grizzlies are hitting their stride with a 5-2 win streak as they approach a 500 winning percentage.  The Grizzlies face the red hot Chicago Bulls (27-13) Monday night at home.  The Grizzlies will have their opportunity to prove their medal with 5 of their next 7 games on the road.  The Grizzles have struggled on the road this year but with a win at Detroit last week, Memphis fans are hoping their Grizzlies can carry their momentum out on the road.

 Mark Anthony Williams

dawgsbroadcasting@gmail.com

The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Detroit Pistons last night 107-99.   Memphis has struggled on the road this year (7-15) but Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay  led the Grizzlies to just their 8^th road win.  Memphis is currently in 4^th place in the toughest division in the NBA (Southwest) with an 18-21 record.

The Pistons (12-26) plays 500 ball at home.  They started strong building a 14 point lead in the first half.  Detroit enjoyed a 46-43 halftime lead.  Unfortunately, Detroit reverted back to its old ways in the third quarter.  The Pistons are the worst third quarter team in the NBA.  They average a four point deficit all year in the third quarter.  Last night, Memphis exploited Detroit and ran up a 12 point lead finishing with a 30-18 advantage in the third quarter.  Just as quickly, both teams lit up the score board in the fourth quarter scoring a combined 69 points. 

 The Pistons had no answer for Zach Randolph (34 points, 17 boards) who enjoyed career highs in rebounds and points.  Every time Memphis needed a basket, they simply ran a play for Randolph leading to his outstanding effort.  Rudy Gay (25 points) played the supporting role brilliantly. 

 Detroit is struggling this year, clearly.  Incredibly, Detroit coach John Kuester benched All-Star shooting guard Richard “Rip” Hamilton.  Hamilton has led the Pistons in scoring the last 8 years.  He has also been rumored for trade in the Carmello Anthony trade rumors. 

 Memphis has a good nucleus of players.  After their best season last year (40-42), they are proving they are a team to reckon with on the hard-court, especially at home (11-6).  But their ability to make the playoffs remains in doubt due to the extremely competitive Western Conference and the Grizzlies inability to win consistently on the road.

Mark Anthony Williams

dawgsbroadcasting@gmail.com

Georgia Tech has developed a disturbing pattern.  Once they walk off the floor for halftime, they figuratively do not come back for the second half.  For the fourth time in their last six games, GA Tech has just gone through the motions in the second half losing all four (Sienna, Charlotte, BC, Clemson) while being outscored by almost 13 points on average in the second half.

 GA Tech (7-8, 0-2) lost badly last night at Clemson (13-4, 2-1) 86- 62 despite the extreme winter storm that postponed the game one night.  The cold weather had no effect on the Tigers as they lit up the Yellow Jackets in the second half (52-29).Jerai Grant led Clemson with a career high 20 points.  The Tigers were on fire shooting a school record 69% in ACC play including shooting 9-9 behind the 3 point line.  Clemson had 5 players in double figures.

 GA Tech could easily be the worst team in the ACC this year.  Their 7 wins have been against very small schools from very small conference except Tech’s win over UTEP, 71-61.  You could argue Tech has played only 1 good game all year against “big boy” teams in a close loss to Syracuse, 76-80. 

 The numbers do not lie.  Ga Tech is 0-5 on the road this year.  They are 150^th in the country in scoring, 145^th in rebounding, 112^th in assists and a staggering 281^st in FG percentage.   GA Tech is so bad, their leading rebounding (5.5/game) is a guard.  Against Clemson, Tech only got 24 points from their starters including 3 starters totaling only 4 points while shooting barely 40% from the field.

 Glen Rice Jr. led Tech starters with 12 points (7 rebounds).  Mfon Udofia led all Tech scorers with 14 points (8 boards) and Brian Oliver contributed 11 points both off the bench.  Iman Schumpert who leads the team in scoring, rebounding and assists was held to just 8 points.

 Coach Paul Hewett is well known in ACC country for his ability to recruit.  Unfortunately, Hewett also has a knack for recruiting kids that play 1-2 seasons and bolt for the NBA.  The lack of continuity year after year has created a program in which every other year is effectively a “rebuilding” year.  In 2006 & 2008, Tech performed a losing record with 11 & 15 wins respectively.  In 2007 & 2009, both teams won 20+ games and earned NCAA tournament bids.

 In 2010, Tech will duplicate their previous efforts in even years.  GA Tech will not come close to winning half of their conference games and could easily not win a single conference game.  Hopefully next year they can duplicate their success in odd years like 2007 and 2009.

 Mark Anthony Williams

Saturday night, the Atlanta Falcons (13-3) will face the Green Bay Packers (11-5) at the Georgia Dome for the second time in 6 weeks.  The Falcons were able to hold on and defeat the Packers 20-17 last November despite Green Bay’s dominance statistically.  Aaron Rogers had a goal-line fumble which, after the fact, clearly cost GB the game.

Green Bay (GB) realized 418 yard against the Falcons in November.  They ran up the second most yardage against the Falcons with just 77 yard rushing and a staggering 341 yards passing.  In comparison, the Falcons ran for 117 yards and threw for just 177 yards (294 total yards).

 All of the “professional prognosticators” do not give the Falcons any respect.  The Vegas line opened up at Atlanta minus 2 points.  Historically, the home team receives a 3 point advantage which means the “experts” think the Falcons are going down Saturday night. The Falcons get no respect despite their impressive 7-1 record at home this year and “Matty Ice’s” home record of 23-2.

 Statistically, the teams are very close. 

 NFL experts usually make a huge deal on “rankings” between teams.  Let’s give you a good example of how this information can be manipulated:  The Packers have a “top 5 defense” according to the NFL in total yards allowed, passing yards allowed, total sacks and interceptions.  In comparison, the Falcons are #16, #22, #20, and #4 in the same categories.  The average NFL fan would assume the GB defense is much better.  But alas, the statistical differences in the same categories are as follows:  Total yards:  Falcons      (-23), Passing yards:  Falcons (-31), Green Bay sacks the passer much better 47 versus 31. GB is the #2 defense with 24 INT’s.  The Falcons are #4 with 22 INT’s.

 My point is all the pundits are looking at the obvious stats versus the relevant stats. 

 How about these stats?  GB averages just 18.3 ppg on the road.  They only give up 15 ppg on the road.  In reverse, ATL averages 27 ppg at home and only give up 17ppg.

GB is only 5-4 straight up on the road.  ATL is 7-1 straight up at home.  In close games, the Falcons are 7-3 when the betting line is plus/minus 3 points.  GB is 5-4 in similar games.  The Falcons are 12-2 as a favorite this year. 

 Is this information relevant?  You bet!!!!!!!

 The Packers are a very good team.  But they are traveling for the second straight week after a long, hard 18 week season.

Atlanta is off a bye week.  They play very well at home.  The “experts” believe GB is the right play.  I am a professional prognosticator.  My tip on this game?  Play the under; I believe the current line is 44 total points.  If you research the Packers and their defense, you will see they play low scoring games on the road.  PLAY UNDER 44.

Mark Anthony Williams