e season. Calgarys Chris Spring and Jesse Lumsden, of Burlington, Ont.,

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Bryant Reeves Jersey . - Mike Smith is not giving up on the Falcons season, just as he wouldnt give up in the closing minutes of a lopsided loss to Seattle. Smith was criticized for exposing quarterback Matt Ryan and others to injuries by leaving them on the field late in Sundays 33-10 loss to the Seahawks. The coach said he wouldnt abandon the idea of trying to win. Similarly, Smith said Monday he hasnt given up on the season even when three straight ugly losses have left the Falcons 2-7. The Falcons already have matched the high mark for losses in Smiths first five seasons — a 9-7 finish in 2009. Atlanta trails first-place New Orleans by five games in the NFC South. Smith said hes heard plenty of negative talk about the outlook for the remainder of the season, including this weeks game at Tampa Bay. "This season is not over," Smith said. "I know people want to say doom and gloom. Thats not the case. Weve not played the type of football that wed like to play in the first nine games. It is well below our expectations and were going to continue to work and get ready to play the Buccaneers." Smith acknowledged there must be improvement on both lines and in the running game. In his third game back from a hamstring injury, Steven Jackson was held to 11 yards rushing on nine carries. Seattles Marshawn Lynch ran for 145 yards and a touchdown, and Smith said Seattle dominated both lines. "I think we did not win the physical battle ... they won that handily," Smith said. "I felt like they won the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football. Thats where games are won and lost." As a result, Jackson often had no chance. "Of course Im frustrated," Jackson said. "The thing about it is you have to keep chipping away. No one is going to come in the locker room and save us. We have to save ourselves. ... We cant dwell on it. One thing about being a professional, you have to acknowledge the things you made a mistake on and move on to the next one." The Falcons quickly fell so far behind that they abandoned any hope of balancing their offence in the second half. Ryan had to carry the load. "On our first possession of the second half, we were down 26-3, and at that time your run game basically goes out the window," Smith said. It was not a new problem. "I know that Steven is a guy who gets stronger as the game goes on," Smith said. "Unfortunately, in the last three weeks the game has gotten so out of hand coming out after halftime weve had to basically ditch the run and start throwing the football, so we havent had an opportunity to really concentrate on running the ball for 60 minutes." Left tackle Sam Baker was held out with a knee injury. He has missed five games this season. He played on Nov. 3 against Carolina but couldnt stay off the inactive list two straight weeks. "Yes, it is a concern when youre not able to play consecutive games," Smith said. The offensive line lost centre Todd McClure, who retired, and right tackle Tyson Clabo, who was released, from the 2012 starting unit. Mike Johnson, who was expected to replace Clabo, was lost for the season when he dislocated his left ankle and broke his left leg in training camp. With Bakers ongoing knee problem added to the mix, the lack of continuity on the line has been a constant issue that resurfaced against Seattle. "A couple of our opportunities to run it, we never got a chance to get it going," Smith said. "There were some individuals and individual blocks and combination blocks that were executed very well and there were some blocks that were not executed very well on the same play. As a unit, youve got to hit on all your blocks if youre going to have a chance to have a successful running play." Smith said linebacker Sean Weatherspoon will be activated off the injured reserve list by Wednesday. Weatherspoon, one of the defences leaders, has been out since hurting his foot the second week of the season. Smith said he had no update on tight end Tony Gonzalez, who briefly left Sundays game with a toe injury. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org Jaren Jackson Jr. Jersey . Mako Vunipola was promoted from the reserves, with Matt Mullan called up to the bench on Thursday. "It is important that Joe is with his partner at this exciting time," England coach Stuart Lancaster said. Lorenzen Wright Jersey . Trailing 5-4 in the third set, the 12th-ranked Isner fought off two match points and evened it at 5-5 with consecutive aces. The former University of Georgia star had his only service break of the match to go up 6-5 before firing the last four of his 30 aces to close out Ginepri, an Atlanta resident ranked 281st. http://www.grizzliesbasketballpro.info/Zach-Randolph-Grizzlies-Jersey/ .Y. - For once, Clayton Kershaw was glad to see a long shutout streak end.KONIGSSEE, Germany -- It was an emotional first win for Canadian Justin Kripps. Kripps, of Summerland. B.C., claimed his first career World Cup bobsleigh race as he and brakeman Bryan Barnett of Edmonton posted a two-run time of one minute 39.71 seconds in a two-man event Saturday. The victory comes after Krippss grandmother passed away Jan. 6, his 27th birthday. "I know Baba was there with me today," he said. Switzerlands Beat Hefti and Alex Baumann were second, 0.15 seconds back. Canadians Lyndon Rush of Humboldt, Sask., and Calgarys Lascelles Brown were third, 0.32 seconds behind their victorious teammates. American Steven Holcomb was seventh but still managed to capture the overall crown. He finished with 1,645 overall points, 35 more than Hefti. After posting the fastest first run, Kripps thought of both his grandmother and advicee he received from Rush. Custom Memphis Grizzlies Jerseys. "I had that great first run and couldnt stop thinking I could win this thing," said Kripps. "Lyndon pulled me aside and said Anytime trophies, medals, victories or anything gets in your head slap yourself and focus. "Im so glad he did that because Id be lying if that didnt keep coming into my thoughts." Rush followed suite with his first World Cup medal of the season. Calgarys Chris Spring and Jesse Lumsden, of Burlington, Ont., were eighth in 1:40.31. With the Sochi Winter Games upcoming, Kripps says anything is possible. "I dont have much experience in Sochi, but this win sure gives me confidence," he said. "I think this shows anything can happen in bobsleigh. "If I can put two good starts and two good runs together, who knows what may be." ' ' '