We’re live (and alive) from Falcons-Jets game
Don't you wish you could tailgate in New Jersey? Yeesh.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J — Before we get to today’s Falcons’ game, I have two important travel updates:
1.) Our beat guy, Darryl Ledbetter, rolled into Manhattan at 2:53 a.m. I know this because he sent me a very excited text message, which of course I ignored until about 8:30. For those who missed our travel experiences, and if you want to know how D-Led blew it by not following my lead, click here.
2.) We STILL almost didn’t make it the game. Our taxi from the hotel did I nice little swerve and side slide on the New Jersey Turnpike after the doofus driving the Lexus in front of us lost control because he was driving too fast, spun out and kissed the wall. Our driver apologized for startling us. Apologize? For what? He just gave me a blog lead. Of course, now Ledbetter is screaming at me for not taking a picture of the Lexus.
Anyway, I can now say I’ve experienced 
everything. Having a cab driver from Brooklyn apologize was the last thing on my Bucket List.
Inside the stadium, things are fine. Well, not great for the Falcons. As I’m sure you know, they officially were eliminated from playoff contention last night when Dallas upset New Orleans. Of course, I know most us knew they realistically were out of it following last week’s lost to the Saints.
The scene, the stadium and my press box neighbors, radio teammates Dave Archer and Wes Durham. Wes wanted me to point out that their windows were open.
But it doesn’t make today’s game against the New York Jets uninteresting. I realize athletes are human. But an NFL season is only 16 games. To me, there’s no excuse for letting up. I plan on making this central to the column later. But the Falcons have a lot of questions to answer — about Matt Ryan, about the offense, about the team in general. They need to get the most out of these “meaningless” games as possible.
About Ryan and Michael Turner: If you missed the earlier flashes on Twitter — follow @AJCFalcons and @JeffSchultzAJC!!!– both will start. How a quarterback with turf toe and a running back with a high ankle sprain hold up in this weather remains to be seen. But it will be good to see the offense somewhat intact again.
By the way, the weather is good right now. Cold, but clear skies. The snow on the field has been cleared to the side. So that shouldn’t be a factor. Let’s just say things are a little more under control here now than they are at LaGuardia. Or on the Turnpike.
I’ll check back in a little while.
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1,145 comments Add your comment
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
1:20 pm
2nd straight third down conversion. Ball in good position that time though
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
1:21 pm
There’s the no call I was looking for.
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
December 20th, 2009
1:21 pm
JEFF – IS RYAN A LIABILITY OR WOULD WE BE BETTER OFF WITH REDMAN ?
WHO DO WE HAVE ON THE CHART AFTER SNELLING / NORWOOD ………..
IS V. HAYNES STILL ON THE ROSTER?
TMoney
December 20th, 2009
1:22 pm
No hole whatsoever. How much are we going to miss Dahl today?
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
1:24 pm
Snelling too anxious to run up into the back of the line. Need a little more patience back there. And we can’t seem to get a play off on time. At least we won’t get shut out today. One more Pyrrhic victory to celebrate
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
1:25 pm
TMoney, the Jets D overloaded that side, because they know, just like everyone else, where we were going with that play.
TMoney
December 20th, 2009
1:26 pm
Ball really held up by the wind on that kick. That may be a factor if the game is close late.
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
1:26 pm
It’s about time for a Defensive gem of a game. Let’s take the 3-0 win to the house Big D!
VP
December 20th, 2009
1:27 pm
Can someone tell me why we keep trying to run up the middle on this Defense? And as much as I like Norwood, he’s too fragile. I’d be surprised if they bring him back next year.
WonderDawg
December 20th, 2009
1:27 pm
Just read the GT story about bowls. Jeez. Lost 4 in a row, PJ 0-1, playing this one in front of a (ahem) national audience (wink, wink) etc. I almost makes you want to pull for ……… Nah, can’t do it, especially since PJ wants us Dawg fans to get punched in the face. If Tech does lose, will there be grumblings at PJ’s 0-2 bowl record? Just saying…..
WonderDawg
December 20th, 2009
1:30 pm
He is so injury-prone, VP. I’ll bet he has been available for less than half of the games since he’s been here…
TMoney
December 20th, 2009
1:30 pm
So far, the D has looked pretty good. We really need a good day defensively.
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
1:32 pm
Good coverage and a little pressure from Falcons D. So far so good
bob
December 20th, 2009
1:33 pm
Man, we need more imagination at the goal line with Turner out
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
1:35 pm
Matty will not last.Michael could have given Falcons a chance and we would be over the curse that is coming
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
1:36 pm
Who else feels like I do
TMoney
December 20th, 2009
1:36 pm
Wow, what happened to the coverage from Owens there?
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
1:36 pm
So much for the defensive gem.
David
December 20th, 2009
1:37 pm
Just give us enough time, and we’ll make every bad offense look good.
mike28212
December 20th, 2009
1:37 pm
big plays have killed this team all season.
David
December 20th, 2009
1:38 pm
JEFF,
Any chance we can tank the season, grab a top 15 pick, trade that pick for a top 3 pick, and land Eric Berry to help this awful secondary?
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
1:39 pm
Michael could help this silly defense .Just look at that homerun we just gave up. Mike can run youknow.
JB
December 20th, 2009
1:39 pm
What up with that?
What up with that?
What uuuuuuppppp….I said what upppp….what up with thaaaaat?
bob
December 20th, 2009
1:39 pm
Hope all the experience the rookies are getting in the defensive backfield will pay off next year if we get a pass rush. How much time did Sanchez have to throw on that one?
buick59
December 20th, 2009
1:39 pm
pathetic garbage. Let the rout begin. Can’t wait to see the Bucs beat them in 2 weeks. Hilarious.
jacket3
December 20th, 2009
1:39 pm
Why do all these teams wait until they play Atlanta to make their longest pass plays of the year? Hum…
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
1:40 pm
Sorry folks. Lost internet. I was helpless — sort of like Chris Owens on that coverage. Braylon Edwards had four gears. Owens was stuck in 2nd. … Longest completion of Mark Sanchez’ career. But the game’s not over yet.
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
1:40 pm
Braylon Edwards isn’t even that fast. Owens must have thought he had some kind of inside help
Where is our Safeties on that play
December 20th, 2009
1:40 pm
What happened to our Safeties?
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
1:40 pm
Falcons’ getting nothing up front, and Snelling’s getting buried.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
1:40 pm
Mike is laughin right now, just got off the text with him
catwalk touche-shaker
December 20th, 2009
1:40 pm
Looks like Samantha Baker brought high heels for the whole team today.
J.J.M.
December 20th, 2009
1:41 pm
smh put redman in
Ron Mexico
December 20th, 2009
1:41 pm
And a Falcons CB gets dusted again. And the TV commentators are terrible. Eagles defense just stopped us again? Mularkey the Defensive coordinator. Are they watching the same game? Can Snelling run between the tackles? Ugh…
NERDS!!! Supporter
December 20th, 2009
1:41 pm
NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!!
O'Brien
December 20th, 2009
1:42 pm
I’m late to the party.
But on our FG drive, why do we keep trying to run up the middle?
And our secondary sucks. I dont know who is worse, Brent Grimes, Chris Owens, or Chris Houston. None of them should be starters.
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
1:42 pm
That’s second straight possession on third and long that Ryan tried to throw fade into the wind.
buick59
December 20th, 2009
1:42 pm
always been losers always will be. Mike Smith another piece of the garbage heap that is the Atlanta Falcons fine heritage.
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
1:42 pm
Does anyone other than me think that pass to Roddy was under thrown yet again?
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
1:42 pm
Did anyone other than me see that blatant block in the back??!!
Sonny Clusters
December 20th, 2009
1:43 pm
Jeff, has they been an Arthur Blank sighting yet?
Ticket increase
December 20th, 2009
1:44 pm
Hey, Santa…
Since we are throwing in more money per ticket next year, can we get the Following free Agents..
A Veteran Corner, A Veteran, Left Tackle, A Veteran Pass Rusher that can get to the Quarterback.
I would think with a 25% price increase on tickets this year, we should be able to get some Veterans in here… All the Minority owners throwing money in etc.. If they dont get Veterans they are basically ripping off there Fan base
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
1:44 pm
Ahhh…Schultz sees it too, but he is blaming it on the wind. OK man, you’re the, I’ll give you that. We got the wind at our backs in the 2nd quarter. Let’s see how that works for us.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
1:44 pm
Mike played good on the road when he wa here.This team plays bad on the road
jacket3
December 20th, 2009
1:44 pm
Looks like its’ gonna be a long day in the cold, especially if Roddy waits for the ball to come to him. I think he should have jumped, but more than that it looks like the Falcons are just collecting their pay checks.
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
1:44 pm
D Hunt — Falcons’ offense driving into that wind in 1st quarter so a lot of passes are going to die.
mike28212
December 20th, 2009
1:45 pm
Pass defense has been the bane of the Falcons existence for as long I have been a fan with few exceptions. Both lack of pass rush to subpar coverage skills continue the trend.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 20th, 2009
1:45 pm
Dynasty I tell you
Peyton II will lead the Falcons to the 2010 Superbowl!
TMoney
December 20th, 2009
1:45 pm
Falcons ran more plays, got more yards, had time of possession, and won the turnover battle in the first quarter…and trail 7-3. If that’s not a microcosm of the season, nothing is.
VP
December 20th, 2009
1:45 pm
Falcons are two years away from being a playoff team. No pass rush along with 5′9″ corners. Where were the safeties? They weren’t even in the picture. Special teams have gone down hill also. I’ve never played a down of organized football in my life, but even I can see that. Think Smitty caries a cell phone like Mora Jr? Please call him and tell him to stop Mularkey from “trying” to run up the middle. Did they watch film this week?