As I mentioned in my last post, the veterans always have a little fun with the rookies on Thanksgiving by sending them to Marsh Supermarket for "free" turkeys.  Wednesday night at our team meeting we watched the hidden camera video and it was hilarious.  Most of the rookies never did catch on and went home with huge bags of ice.  It got the team in a very good mood for Thursday.  The day itself was tough because of the night game.  In 2004 we played Detroit at 12:30 and still were able to get home around 7:00 to have some time with the families.  But yesterday, being a night game, kept the guys away all day.  But it's just one of the sacrifices you have to make.

 

We started off in a little bit of a funk.  Just some mistakes, like lining up offsides on defense, missing a protection on offense, and all the sudden we were down 10-0.  But from the end of the first quarter on, we played with better concentration and got things going.  Anthony Gozalez had a good game, getting his first 100 yard day as a pro.  Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne had big plays to get our offense going.  But the play that turned the game around was Antoine Bethea's hit on a Falcon receiver that turned into a Kelvin Haydon interception .  That not only got us field position but it got everyone on the sideline fired up. 

 

After the game, we talked about how we need to get rested up.  We gave the players and coaches the next three days off.  They'll get to spend time with their families and recharge the batteries.  Then we'll come back in on Monday to start our December stretch run, beginning with a game against Jacksonville which could put us in great position to win the division.  I think we're going to have a lot of our injured players back and should be able to have some good practices in preparation.

 

So we're going to enjoy this weekend and be thankful for how things have gone so far, both on and off the field.

 

One side note to the game:  The Falcons Warrick Dunn became the 22nd lplayer in NFL history to gain 10,000 yards ruching.  I was with Tampa in 1996 when we drafted Warrick and most people didn't think he could be an every down back at 176 pounds.  But he is a special young man and one of the most determined players I have ever met.  So it was great for me to see him reach that milestone personally, and I think the Lord set it up to happen on a night when I was present.