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
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
2:51 pm
I Like the fact your little Mattie aint panned out.
Mike only tex away
bigdave
December 20th, 2009
2:52 pm
hahaha…
The Real Falcon
December 20th, 2009
2:52 pm
Okay so we can fight. Can we win a game?
MR Charlie
December 20th, 2009
2:52 pm
With the exception of the Saints game, the D has been OK, not as bad as the press it has gotten.
willie martinez
December 20th, 2009
2:52 pm
but as usual, the defense will tire after playing the whole 3erd quarter and this one will get away just like the rest
Barkin'Dog
December 20th, 2009
2:53 pm
42-24-16-11-9-33 and Apple
Dawgs2009
December 20th, 2009
2:53 pm
Here comes another 3 and out. I am getting sick of the Jets defense celebrating after each and every play.
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
2:53 pm
Have the Jets been this bad all year? They keep finding ways not to score.
And the defense is rarely as bad as they seem. They just keep getting put in bad positions with defensive play calls that allow too much time to opposing QB’s.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 20th, 2009
2:53 pm
BarkinDog: Yeah one earlier and he acted like he hit the trifecta.
MR Charlie
December 20th, 2009
2:53 pm
VS, why would we want Vick back, he went 8-8, 7-9 his last two years. We can do that without him.
willie martinez
December 20th, 2009
2:53 pm
mr charlie, the falcon’s defense is not as bad as the press is.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
2:54 pm
Still looking for WTF?
bigdave
December 20th, 2009
2:54 pm
Norwood might wanna think about a position change… maybe WR…
jay
December 20th, 2009
2:54 pm
Norwood looked like he got a tooth knocked out.
willie martinez
December 20th, 2009
2:54 pm
the only reason its not embarrasing is we are so used to it.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 20th, 2009
2:55 pm
Gonzo = subtraction by addition.
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
2:55 pm
What is that on third and 1 — shotgun spread?
Ron Mexico
December 20th, 2009
2:55 pm
WHO calls these plays?
Barkin'Dog
December 20th, 2009
2:55 pm
“Chef” Tim Dix – Wouldn’t you celebrate if you were over the hill?
bigdave
December 20th, 2009
2:55 pm
cant sustain shyt…
thats why our defense is “soooo” bad…
The Real Falcon
December 20th, 2009
2:55 pm
Why are we running wide on a third and one???
willie martinez
December 20th, 2009
2:55 pm
is bobo running the falcons offense?
81Dawg
December 20th, 2009
2:55 pm
3rd and 1, shotgun, same play we have run before. Stuffed. Great playcalling
JB
December 20th, 2009
2:56 pm
Dick Stockton: “We’ll be right back!”
Whew. Thank goodness!
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 20th, 2009
2:56 pm
Norwood should think of a career change. Fast.
jay
December 20th, 2009
2:56 pm
3rd and 2 for the Jets, and they run right up the middle…3rd and 2 for the Falcons, and they try to get outside.
Not much confidence in the Offensive line.
MR Charlie
December 20th, 2009
2:56 pm
No, from reading these blogs, you would think the defense is the worst that has ever been put on the field, our losses have not been attributed to our D. More a case of ints, and missed FGs, not defensive collapse.
willie martinez
December 20th, 2009
2:56 pm
no jeff. it was stupidity
DHunt
December 20th, 2009
2:56 pm
Worked first time because the Jets D was overloaded to the other side. This time they tried to run it right into the teeth of the defense and Snelling doesn’t have the speed of shiftiness to make a play. And why can’t our coaches or our cerebral QB see this stuff on the field is the question I keep asking.
81Dawg
December 20th, 2009
2:56 pm
This O-line stinks. How many changes will be made on this unit for ‘10?
willie martinez
December 20th, 2009
2:56 pm
stockton needs to take his toupee and go home
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
2:57 pm
MR Charlie,my old freind ,remember what Mike looked like when we last saw him in Atlanta, Ithink he gave us a lesson.
Barkin'Dog
December 20th, 2009
2:57 pm
Is this a boring game, or what? Profoundly boring. At least snow would make it fun. Oh, well, they’re still in it… let’s go — 3 in a row.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 20th, 2009
2:57 pm
Barkin’Dog: Give me the gold watch and cold lunch.
buick59
December 20th, 2009
2:58 pm
final should be about 17-3 Jets of course. Next week Bills 24 Turkeys 13and then Bucs 28 Turkeys 10. Bucs will show more heart and effort than this mess.
The Real Falcon
December 20th, 2009
2:58 pm
OL change start with right OT
willie martinez
December 20th, 2009
2:58 pm
another offensive effort. really offensive.
Falcons v. Jets
December 20th, 2009
2:58 pm
this coaching staff is looking more and more like a one hit wonder
80sFalcon
December 20th, 2009
2:58 pm
Mularky has called a horrible game.
Vick Supporter
December 20th, 2009
2:58 pm
MR Charlie ought to be a corch
jerry
December 20th, 2009
2:59 pm
It being the holiday season, I’m thinking Nutcrackers would have been better than Falcons. It would get my attention.
Jeff Schultz
December 20th, 2009
2:59 pm
Barking ‘Dog — I agree with you on the snow making it more interesting. But I pray it stays away. I want to get out of here tomorrow.
willie martinez
December 20th, 2009
2:59 pm
the real falcon: put all that together and you got tool.
willie martinez
December 20th, 2009
3:00 pm
jeff, i understand goodell is making the nfl jet available to you and d orlando after the game.
bigdave
December 20th, 2009
3:00 pm
Michael Edward Shanahan please…
Barkin'Dog
December 20th, 2009
3:00 pm
“Chef” — you should be serving the lunch
willie martinez
December 20th, 2009
3:00 pm
Vick. LOL
Barkin'Dog
December 20th, 2009
3:01 pm
Jeff… you’re safe. They have turbo-snow plows up there.
Tebows Leavin On A Losing Streak
December 20th, 2009
3:01 pm
We (UF) own UGA you really shouldn’t talk, UF still hasn’t sold out their Sugar Bowl tickets and Cincy sold theirs plus more out a couple of weeks ago.
Gator fans must still be in shock of learning Tebow isn’t the Messiah
bigdave
December 20th, 2009
3:01 pm
Michael Edward Shanahan please