FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Kelly Olynyk Jersey . - In a rare admission for a coach, Atlantas Mike Smith conceded Monday that his decisions in the final minute cost the Falcons a chance to beat the Cleveland Browns.Smith faced intense criticism after calling a timeout with 55 seconds left to set up low-percentage pass along the sideline to fourth receiver Devin Hester on third-and-2.After the throw was batted down, stopping the clock again, Matt Bryant kicked a 53-yard field goal that put the Falcons ahead. But Cleveland had all three timeouts and enough time to get in position for Billy Cundiffs 37-yard field goal on the final play, giving the Browns a 26-24 victory.Before taking any questions at his regular news conference, Smith said he wanted to address what happened.After reflecting on and analyzing how that played out, I would have done some things differently, he said. Given an opportunity to think about it through the night and doing some analyzing, I didnt do the things that needed to be done to put our guys in the best position to win the game. There are a lot of plays in a football game that can affect the outcome, and I didnt do my best to help us win.Smith already came under fire for his clock-management in a 22-21 loss to the Detroit Lions on Oct. 26.The Falcons (4-7) squandered a 21-0 halftime lead in that game, but still had a chance to run out the clock after when they picked up a first down inside Detroit territory just before the 2-minute warning. The Lions only had one timeout remaining, but the Falcons stopped the clock two other times with a holding penalty and an incomplete pass.That left Detroit with 1:38 after the Falcons punted, enough time to drive down the field for a game-winning field goal with no time on the clock.Now, its happened again to Atlanta.Put this one, Smith said, squarely on him.As a coach, your intention is always to put your players in the best position to win, he said. Usually, that comes down to a handful of plays, and I didnt put the guys in the best position.Some of Smiths players came to his defence, saying they didnt do a good job of closing the game out after Clevelands Brian Hoyer threw three crucial interceptions.The Falcons were largely outplayed, which was evident from the Browns commanding 475-315 edge in total yards. But Hoyers mistakes gave Atlanta a chance to steal a game.We have Smittys back, linebacker Paul Worrilow said. We need to do a better job out on the field.Indeed, on Clevelands final possession, Atlantas defence gave up four straight completions for 61 yards to set up Cundiffs field goal.Everybody makes mistakes. Players make mistakes. Coaches make mistakes. Thats why its a team. Its the ultimate team sport, safety Dwight Lowery said. These are just situations we have to learn from and, thankfully, were still in a position where we can have an impact this next week and in the weeks to come.The Falcons were only a half-game out of first place in the woeful NFC South as they awaited the Monday night game in New Orleans, where the Saints (4-6) were hosting the Baltimore Ravens.But Atlanta knows it squandered an opportunity to gain an upper hand in the division race and take some of the heat off Smith, whose future in Atlanta is being questioned even though hes the most successful coach in franchise history.There should be no finger-pointing, Lowery said. Your job is on the line every day. Theres somebody else thats qualified to have your job. We approach it in the manner that this is our job, and we can lose this job quickly. So weve got to perform to the best of our ability at all times. As far as criticism and things of that nature, thats going to happen whether you win or lose.Youve got to take that with a grain of salt and just focus on the things you can control.Smith wouldnt comment specifically on the questionable pass to Hester, a play that was apparently sent in by offensive co-ordinator Dirk Koetter after the Falcons had plenty of time to consider their options.It doesnt really matter now.We wanted to get what we felt like was the best play for us, Smith said. I didnt do my job as the head football coach and put our guys in the best position they could possibly be in that situation. My responsibility as the head coach is to make sure that happens.___Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 Daryl Macon Jersey . In the opening game of his fourth-round match at the U.S. Open, the owner of 17 major titles got passed at the net twice, sailed a backhand long, then missed two forehands to get broken. Harold Miner Jersey . According to a police report, Douglas is accused of grabbing his girlfriend by the neck and slamming her against the wall several times while he carried her from the elevator to their Hartford hotel room early Sunday morning. https://www.cheapheatonline.com/377h-bruce-bowen-jersey-heat.html . -- The Denver Broncos retired John Elways No.CHICAGO - Anthony Rizzo slammed a two-run homer, Tsuyoshi Wada pitched five strong innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 2-0 on Tuesday night in a game that was halted after 4 1/2 innings because of unplayable field conditions following rain at Wrigley Field. After a brief but heavy downpour, the game was delayed 4 hours, 34 minutes before it was called off at 1:16 a.m. Fewer than 1,000 fans remained. When the rain and the wind intensified in the middle of the fifth inning, home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt stopped play. The grounds crew couldnt get the manual tarp fully in place, leaving large portions of the infield exposed to rain for more than 10 minutes. The Giants lost for the seventh time in 10 games and fell 4 1/2 games behind Los Angeles in the NL West race. Rookie Javier Baez walked with one out against Ryan Vogelsong in the first inning before Rizzo homered over the right-field bleachers for his 29th shot of the season. Of his 23 homers since May 8, 13 gave the Cubs the lead and two others tied games. He also had a single. After the rain eased, it took nearly 1 1/2 hours for workers to remove water from the infield and spread dozens of bags of compound on the dirt area. Wendelstedt, Giants manager Bruce Bochy and Cubs skipper Rick Renteria tourred the infield, but after additional repairs followed by another lengthy delay with little or no activity, play was halted for the final time. Michael Jordan Jersey. San Francisco had at least one hit in each inning but was 1 of 10 with runners on base. Angel Pagan and Joaquin Arias had a single and a double apiece. Wada (3-1) scattered six hits and walked none. Vogelsong (7-9) allowed three hits and two walks in four innings. TRAINERS ROOM Giants: The status of C Hector Sanchez is on hold after he sustained his second concussion of the season last Saturday while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Fresno. ... 2B Joe Panik is day-to-day because of a dislocated left pinkie. He was injured on a head-first slide against Philadelphia last Sunday. Cubs: Top prospect Kris Bryant returned to the lineup with a double and a walk in four plate appearances for Triple-A Iowa on Monday. The third baseman sat out one game and was limited to a pinch-hitting role in another because of a bruised left foot. UP NEXT: In a matchup of veteran right-handers, the Giants Jake Peavy (1-3, 3.86) will oppose the Cubs Edwin Jackson (6-13, 5.74) on Wednesday night. Peavy lost 12 of his last 13 decisions —the last nine with the Boston Red Sox. Jackson dropped six of his last seven. ' ' '