Dan Quinn says Super Bowl loss was a lesson in game management

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For Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, the ending of Super Bowl LI was a bitter pill to swallow. But he hopes something positive comes out of it.

Quinn told PFT Live that losing a game after having a 28-3 lead has taught him some things about managing late-game situations better.

“For sure there’s lessons there in game management,” he said. “Those are lessons that are painful to go through but you have to learn from them.”

At the same time, Quinn says he still wants to coach aggressively. Although Quinn doesn’t call the offensive plays, he says he supported the decision to keep passing with a lead because he wanted to keep doing the things that helped the Falcons get to the Super Bowl.

“At that point we wanted to be aggressive to go win the game,” Quinn said.

It will be interesting to see next year how aggressive the Falcons are when they have a big second-half lead. Quinn hopes he’ll have plenty of opportunities to show he has learned from that game and will be better at protecting a lead.

82 responses to “Dan Quinn says Super Bowl loss was a lesson in game management

  1. total moron, you were ONE RUNNING PLAY from winning…..just like the seahawks, but you chose stupidity and giftwrapped yet another sb to the cheaters….

  2. “I need to learn from that….but I would do the same thing again.” Huh???!!!

  3. Being the mayor I’m glad they stayed aggressive, and I don’t necessarily think he was wrong to do so…..but learning lessons as a head coach in the NFL in the Super Bowl isn’t exactly the time or the place

  4. You’ve been a coach since ’94 and still haven’t learned how to manage a game?
    You be following in Andy Reid’s footsteps.

  5. Wait, you mean he’s not going with “The Pats cheated!” as the reason they lost? Marshall Faulk isn’t going to like that.

  6. that’s Madden 101, three score lead, 21 point rule, run that clock out, advance chew clock, enjoy talking trash for the next 365 days

  7. Hindsight is 20/20. Play calling was aggressive, but if they had won no one would be talking or doubting. The Falcons wanted to stay with what got them to the game and what got them the lead, an aggressive offense.

  8. Quinn had no choice. They needed first downs to keep the Patriots off the field – everyone forgets that Belichick adjusted game plans and shut down the run. FACT: Falcons gained only 19yds on the last 9 run plays. Ryan’s passing was the ONLY way to keep the drives moving and clock ticking (Ryan completed 15 of 18 passes at that point so clock was moving.)

    Falcon’s D was gassed. You guys really that confident you could stop Brady from 11 points in 3:30 minutes?? I bet Belichick/Brady were both PRAYING for a quick FG just so they could go back to work.

  9. I get pushing the envelope considering the defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed. However, ONE running play would’ve dropped 35 seconds off the clock. Just boneheaded coaching. This following a 5-0 2015 start to finish 8-8. Dan Quinn should’ve been given a pink slip

  10. This just in: The captain of the Titanic has called their maiden voyage “a lesson in safe navigation”

  11. Let’s make one thing clear here though: his style almost always works. It’s absolutely true that the Falcons made mistakes down the stretch that gave the Pats the opportunity to come back. But it’s equally true that very few teams in the league (maybe no other team last season) could have done what the Pats did in such a short window of time. Probably 95+ times out of 100, Quinn’s strategy would have worked.

  12. Other than running the ball 5 times in the second half, not wasting challenges early in the game, and not wasting timeouts…..I’d say your game management was darn near perfect!

    Regards,
    Andy Reid

  13. that was some of the most idiotic playcalling in the 4th quarter of that Super Bowl, purely boneheaded and egotistical–if the lesson learned is to never do that again, than ok, but I say that is a tough lesson to learn in the biggest game for that franchise that was almost a world champion.

  14. Its so easy to say shoulda woulda after a game. If they had gotten that one more score to fend off the Pats these same guys would be calling them genius. If they had done the running play so many here are recommending and it got stuffed (as their last few running plays had) and/or missed the field goal these same guys would be sitting here saying how they should have passed. Its after the game so everyone knows what to do.

  15. billsbackto81 says:
    Mar 1, 2017 2:51 PM
    It maybe a lesson to you Dan but the rest of America knew what the right call was.

    ———————-

    After the fact, sure.

  16. Can’t change anything now. But, one more lesson he hasn’t learned from the Master.
    The game is over, move on, don’t dwell. On to 2017.
    As long as you keep talking about it, it’s not over, for you or the players. When the Pats lost SB’s the would “turn the page” and move on. Can’t change it.

  17. Its just a choke job. No lesson. Either the Falcons lay an egg or come out swinging next season. Its gut check time.

  18. atlatlatl says:
    Mar 1, 2017 2:47 PM

    The Falcons will win Super Bowl LII.
    __________________________

    They won’t even make the playoffs next season. It will take years for them to get over blowing a 28-3 lead in a world title game. Sad, but that’s just how it goes.

  19. Even Brady said they needed 29 things to go correctly and they all did. Wouldn’t be an issue if any one of those things went the other way.

    He should’ve been picked twice in the 4th alone.

  20. First Pete Carroll, now Dan Quinn. It’s a shame these coaches out coach themselves at crunch time and blow it for their players.

  21. Three points:

    Pats got the ball with 330 left and tied game with 50 seconds left and a TO; plenty of time.

    Atlanta had 9 runs in second half for 17 yards

    On the sack, fault the HC but also fault the QB who took the sack and the OC for a slow developing pass play

  22. Yea this will sit with you for the rest of your life. Three plays would have chewed up at least 1:45 off the clock and give you a two score lead.

    Yes, it’s awesome to see Julio make spectacular catches, but it’s more awesome to have a ring on your hand.

  23. That he still calls the plays called “aggressive” is troubling if I’m a Falcons fan. They were gaining over 5 yards per carry in that game, so how is running the ball – especially when clock management calls for it – NOT aggressive? The idea that passing is more aggressive than running is a myth. Until play-callers in this league learn that simple fact, they’ll remain among the non-champions.

  24. What I learned from that SB is that D Quinn isn’t a very good coach.

    Fact – his coaching is responsible for 2 of the 4 biggest comebacks in Super Bowl history. Think about that for a minute…in the last 4 years he has 2 of the worst losses in SB history on his resume.

  25. His comments seem to indicate he still does not truly understand what he and Kyle Shanahan did wrong. Use the clock, keep Tom Brady off the field, and take the points when you have to opportunity. Why are coaches not able to see their own faults?

  26. It seems that Dan Quinn is a top student of the Andy Reid school of NFL clock management.

    To be fair at least coach is not blaming it on Lady Gaga like one of his players.

  27. “At that point we wanted to be aggressive to go win the game,” Quinn said.

    Lesson one, Grasshopper:

    ‘Recognize when you already have the game won and act accordingly.”

  28. Coach:

    What part of the phrase “2-1 advantage in time of possession” don’t you understand?

    What part of “Tom Brady alone had more SB experience than the entire Atlanta squad” don’t you understand?

    You did as well as you could but you got beat by a better team, a team that never gives up and doesn’t crack under the pressure. Yours did – not much, but just enough for the Pats to win.

    Maybe next year.

  29. If they woulda run the play clock all the way down when they passed it woulda helped. They were snapping the ball with 20 seconds still on the play clock.

  30. “…do the same thing again” that is the definition of insanity “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

  31. I’m sure Redskin coaches and personnel were falling off their chairs laughing at watching Shanahan fail once again to close a game out….

  32. I have no problem with the Falcons remaining aggressive because it paid off with a ridiculous catch by Julio Jones. That was the play that should have won you a Super Bowl. Why the aggressive playing continued after that play I’ll never understand.

  33. TheDPR says:

    That he still calls the plays called “aggressive” is troubling if I’m a Falcons fan. They were gaining over 5 yards per carry in that game
    ——————-

    Sorry, you’re a Falcons fan, but didn’t watch the game?!? The last 9 Falcons run plays netted a pathetic 19 yards. Belichick made adjustments to slam shut the run game in the second half.

    Using a statistic like “5 yards per carry in the game” is just stupid when all the yardage was gained just in the first half of the game and nothing after Patriots adjusted.

  34. As pointed out above, the Falcons tried to run the ball and it didn’t work – also worth adding is the myth that “the Patriots would have had to use their timeouts if the Falcons ran the ball more,” except the Seahawks thought the same thing about Patriot timeouts and that’s a big reason they were caught flat-footed in the final seconds of Superbowl XLIX – they assumed the Patriots would do what they the Seahawks thought they would – except the Patriots don’t play that game.

  35. “be aggressive to go win the game?” You had the game won. Being aggressive at that point was how you lose the game. You were and you did.

  36. They keep bring up the play calling, try not giving up close to 30 points in the fourth quarter and maybe you will win the Super Bowl. Never seen a team give up that many points in the fourth quarter and win the game.

  37. From this article:
    “At the same time, Quinn says he still wants to coach aggressively. ”

    He didn’t say that, he only provided insight into their Super Bowl playcall decisions, all in the past tense.

  38. The Falcons will never get back to the super bowl with Matt Ryan at QB. Without Shanahan, he’ll go back to the middle of the pack.

  39. That idiot Quinn hasn’t learned a d@mn thing! He really thinks game management was the problem! No-the problem was continuing to be aggressive with the offense long after Belichick had adjusted, thus playing right into his hands! After Julio made that ridiculous catch, it should’ve been game over. Run the ball, bleed the clock, have your Pro Bowl kicker bang it through the uprights, and game over. But nope! He had to let your idiot OC call a dumb pass play because “aggressive”! The real lesson here is this: you don’t be aggressive that’s “the way you’ve been”. Yo be aggressive because the that’s the best play given the situation! And after Julio took that catch, being aggressive was NOT the best play! It wasn’t even a good one!

  40. tonebones:
    No, they won’t. But not just because of Ryan. Look for the Falcons to “aggressive offense” themselves out of some wins when they start playing better teams.

  41. I have seen teams that lost games by trying to run the clock out by running. it only works if you get first downs. it’s not quite as obvious as monday morning qbs want to act like.

  42. Dan Quinn, here’s hoping you have continued success as a HC in the NFL. Yeah the SB outcome sucked, but from every player, to every Falcons employee, to all of the FO and coaching staff…you guys have faced it all with dignity and class. Truly what sports(manship) is all about.

    That said, please feel free to screw up your game management when playing the Seahawks. Thank you. 😉

  43. “akira1971 says:
    Mar 1, 2017 2:54 PM
    Quinn had no choice. They needed first downs to keep the Patriots off the field – everyone forgets that Belichick adjusted game plans and shut down the run. FACT: Falcons gained only 19yds on the last 9 run plays. Ryan’s passing was the ONLY way to keep the drives moving and clock ticking (Ryan completed 15 of 18 passes at that point so clock was moving.)

    Falcon’s D was gassed. You guys really that confident you could stop Brady from 11 points in 3:30 minutes?? I bet Belichick/Brady were both PRAYING for a quick FG just so they could go back to work.”

    Yes the Pats brilliant plan was to score a TD recover an onsider kick, get into fieldgoal range and tie the game in 3 mins with no timeouts. Thats what they were praying for…

    face it, 2 runs and the falcons are one field goal away from winning the superbowl.

  44. I see an opportunity for corruption. If there’s a next time, you can be sure Blank has told Quinn, “If you don’t see me dancing, run the ball. And if you see me leaving the owner’s suite before the end of the game, make sure someone stops me.”

    That can’t be allowed.

  45. 1historian says:
    Mar 1, 2017 5:03 PM

    Coach:

    What part of the phrase “2-1 advantage in time of possession” don’t you understand?

    What part of “Tom Brady alone had more SB experience than the entire Atlanta squad” don’t you understand?

    You did as well as you could but you got beat by a better team, a team that never gives up and doesn’t crack under the pressure. Yours did – not much, but just enough for the Pats to win.

    Maybe next year.

    ————————-

    The Falcons lost because of a lack of awareness of situational football. If the coaches played it smart the Patriots would have had practically no chance.

    Myself and many on this board could see this plain as day during the game. So those claiming “hindsight after the game” on this are wrong.

    I am amazed at the Patriots fans refusing to acknowledge the choke job. That doesn’t diminish the Pats comeback. But this was a choke job plain and simple.

    Guarantee you, if Belichek was coaching the Falcons he would have made sure the team:

    • snapped the ball after running the play clock down
    • not called for deep drop passes on 3 and 1
    • at least attempt to run the ball
    • set the team up for at least a FG try

    Yes there are no guarantees. But your odds are much better than just “playing how we played all year.” This was as close to a slam dunk as you could get.

    This was a choke job worse than Spurs/Heat game 6.

    Morons.

  46. I punked Brady when he was in college at Michigan. My buddies and I went to watch our Rice Owls play his Wolverines when I was in grad school. Afterwards, we were at a game when this clown showed up and thought he was going to “whoop on everyone” for not giving him respect. He confronted our table, and me having 8 inches 75 lbs. on him I changed his attitude very quickly. I’m just glad this was before the era where one could take a video on their phone.

  47. “At that point we wanted to be aggressive to go win the game,” Quinn said.

    Well, coach, you had a HUGE lead … sometimes you want to be “conservative to go win the game!”

    Armchair QBs were smart enough to figure out that Falcons should have resorted to running the ball AND managing the clock in the 4Q to win the game.

  48. Everybody wants to be the coach that skewered Belichick…only to fall on the sword themselves. Except Coughlin. His Close your eyes Eli and throw it plan worked.

  49. Been a Falcon fan for 51 years. These two guys who were still children AFTER I’d already watched two decades of losing just used the damn Super Bowl as a learning experience.

  50. What if the falcons ran the ball three times on the Pats 22 and then missed the field goal? 40+ yard field goals are by no means guaranteed.
    All you second-guessers would then be excoriating him for playing too conservatively.
    Stop playing the woulda/coulda/shoulda game and stick to reality.

  51. Who cares if you run the ball times from the 22 and don’t get a first down. You’re making NE burn timeouts and/or taking time off the clock.

    This wasn’t a week 3 regular season game…a little brain function was required in that situation, and Shanahan has proven that’s where his weakness is….

  52. I don’t care what anyone says – if I own the Falcons, I start rebuilding and this guy goes….today. This team will NEVER be in that position again. 5-11 next year – write it down.

  53. it’s not about staying aggressive or even consistent.

    it is about the situation.

    as long as quinn lives in denial about this the falcons are screwed.

    you can’t cheat the grieving process quinny!

    also they scapegoated a really good coach in cox.

    don’t think the players haven’t noticed!

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