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
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 20th, 2009
2:15 pm
Dawgs2009
December 20th, 2009
2:11 pm
With Matt Ryan out, I almost forgot how much he stinks.
“That’s COLD”
Kane337
December 20th, 2009
2:15 pm
The ball was not there yet.
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
2:16 pm
Matt — shouldn’t you be getting ready for the next possession instead of blogging?
Fair and Balanced
December 20th, 2009
2:16 pm
This is really awful.
jay
December 20th, 2009
2:16 pm
Falcons’ offense having a very tough time against the Jets’ D. Falcons’ defese has played well, but looks like the Jetsaresoftening them up.
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
2:16 pm
Jets gonna give us a heavy dose of run from here on out. They don’t want Sanchez to throw the game away.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
2:16 pm
Ryan can’t hit the broadside of a barn
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
2:17 pm
Falcons have run 32 offensive plays and have only 98 yards.
J.J.M.
December 20th, 2009
2:18 pm
geez i just hope “2012″ isnt true so i can witness a back to back winning season
WTF???
December 20th, 2009
2:18 pm
2 minute notice for the falcons to go in the warm locker room so they can all think about the exotic sports cars they’ll be buying in the off season with all the salaries they’ve stolen from Arthur Blank. The falcons should be brought up on charges of crimes against humanity.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 20th, 2009
2:18 pm
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
2:14 pm
Offense and Ryan: dreadful… 7 drives: 6 punts and a FG (following a turnover).
“Careful Jeff” you may get banned
81Dawg
December 20th, 2009
2:18 pm
Two less than stellar QB’s going today. If Sanchez can’t beat this defense, then he can’t beat anybody. And I thought Ryan’s toe was hurt, not his arm. Appears really weak today.
JB
December 20th, 2009
2:19 pm
“Matt Ryan can’t hit me.”
- Broadside of Barn
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
2:19 pm
@V.S. he hould hit it, but it wouldn’t make a mark it would be thrown so softly. They call that “touch” around here.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
2:19 pm
Ryan can’t hit throw the ball into an ocean
WTF???
December 20th, 2009
2:19 pm
So now Fox says their broadcasting this game to our soldiers overseas and on ships!!!!!!!!! Our troops are already in enough harm than to have to sit and watch this crap
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 20th, 2009
2:20 pm
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
2:16 pm
Ryan can’t hit the broadside of a barn
“That’s because the barn is 25 yards away”
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
2:20 pm
that’s how you run a crossing route.
JB
December 20th, 2009
2:20 pm
Glad to see Mike Peterson getting a nice jog out there. Stay warm, Mike. Stay warm.
Fair and Balanced
December 20th, 2009
2:20 pm
WTF???
December 20th, 2009
2:19 pm
So now Fox says their broadcasting this game to our soldiers overseas and on ships!!!!!!!!! Our troops are already in enough harm than to have to sit and watch this crap
****************
ROFLMAO
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
2:20 pm
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
2:19 pm
@V.S. he hould hit it, but it wouldn’t make a mark it would be thrown so softly. They call that “touch” around here.
————
ain’t that the truth
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
December 20th, 2009
2:20 pm
JEFF – 32 PLAYS BUT AT LEAST WE ARE IN THE GAME ………….
QUESTION. IS VERON HAYNES STILL ON THE TEAM?
Fair and Balanced
December 20th, 2009
2:21 pm
JB
December 20th, 2009
2:19 pm
“Matt Ryan can’t hit me.”
- Broadside of Barn
************
You know you wrong………LMAO….that is so not nice…ROFLMAO
buick59
December 20th, 2009
2:21 pm
guess what folks a year from now we will all be saying the same things said today and in ‘99 and in ‘89 and in ‘79 and in ‘69.
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
2:22 pm
Choke — Just telling it like it is. Ryan: 5-for-17.
Vick Supporter — Looked outside. No ocean around here.
J.J.M.
December 20th, 2009
2:22 pm
to bad cbs not broadcasting a game
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
2:22 pm
Ryan tried to throw a flea-flicker….reared back as hard as he could and threw a floater 20yds,lol
81Dawg
December 20th, 2009
2:22 pm
LB’s line up 4 yards deep on a 3rd and 1. Why?
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
2:22 pm
Boogies — Yes, Haynes is on the team but he’s inactive again today.
JB
December 20th, 2009
2:23 pm
Michael Vick’s flea flickers were to flick dogs against the wall.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
2:23 pm
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
2:22 pm
Choke — Just telling it like it is. Ryan: 5-for-17.
Vick Supporter — Looked outside. No ocean around here.
————————————————
Jeff, He couldn’t hit it if there was one there
Dawgs2009
December 20th, 2009
2:23 pm
OK. The Falcons are in the process of packing it in!
J.J.M.
December 20th, 2009
2:23 pm
by the way avatar is the best movie ever made…something worth watching
Fair and Balanced
December 20th, 2009
2:23 pm
So they’re just gonna LET the Jets score here?
J.J.M.
December 20th, 2009
2:24 pm
lol didnt abraham 2 sacks come week one?
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
2:24 pm
The revenge of John Abraham.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 20th, 2009
2:24 pm
The CHOKE totals:
Attempts: 17
Completions: 5
Yards: 52
QB Rating: 39.8
Peyton Like baby
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
2:24 pm
Coverage sack from #55. Better late than never
buick59
December 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
look at Abraham show boating. As useless as he has been he has NOTHING to smile about
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
Abe’s last sack was Week 4 vs. SF
jay
December 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
Abraham makes his first play of the season, and gets up to showboat???!
81Dawg
December 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
Abraham got a sack! Only took him 6 seconds to get to the QB on the play and 12 games since his last one.
Dawgs2009
December 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
3 weeks too late for #55.
Ron Mexico
December 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
I think Sanchez’s 2nd pump fake caused him to fall down again, then Abraham fell on him
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
Well that was an … um … interesting … half. …. Yech.
Fair and Balanced
December 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
The score will be 7-3 at the end of the game. Nothing to see here.
TMoney
December 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
With the way we’re playing, I’ll take 7-3 at the half.
O'Brien
December 20th, 2009
2:26 pm
I am a Matt Ryan fan, but his throws have looked bad this game (although some passes are being dropped too).
Going into the year, everyone thought our defense would be bad, and our offense would be good. But our offense has been very inconsistent (I know injuries are partly to blame, but still).
Bryan Evans
December 20th, 2009
2:27 pm
I Will be a first round draft choice for the Falcons in the next draft . CWM will be named new DC for the Falcons.See tomorrows AJC. jEFF schultz collum
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
2:27 pm
How in the hell is this game still 7-3? I understand how we just have 3, but how in the world do the Jets manage only one score?