Live from New England, and the Dirty Bird is in the house!
Traffic at 9:39 a.m. That's D-Led's steady hand on the wheel. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Foxborough, Mass. — Before I make this sound like a Peter King coffee nerd post, let me stipulate: I do not drink coffee. As a rule, I do not go to Starbucks. But I went this morning because I was given a $10 SBUX gift card by the nice folks at the Marriott at Copley Square. So I used it on green tea, a low-fat slice of bread and a banana. And when I turned to leave, I saw …
Dan Reeves.
I said hello. I also said, “I remember covering one of your teams up here. I also remember you personally inventing the Dirty Bird that day.”
He laughed. “Long time ago,” he said. And it was.
It was Nov. 8, 1998. The Falcons came to New England 6-2 but still largely unloved back in the A-T-L and largely unproven in the eyes of the national media. They came to the old stadium off Route 1 and won 41-10, and O.J. Santiago — not Dan Reeves — unveiled the Dirty Bird in the end zone that afternoon.
And I remember standing nearby as the Patriots’ coach exited the field to a heavily accented chorus of boos and more than one hurled cup. The coach’s name: Pete Carroll.
The Falcons beat the 49ers in Atlanta the next week at a time the Niners were considered the power in the NFC West, and at his Monday press conference I asked Reeves: “Let me preface this by saying I’ve never before asked this question of any Falcons coach, but is this a Super Bowl team?”
Lo and behold, it turned out to be. Now I’m not saying the Falcons will have stamped their visas to Miami — yes, the next Super Bowl is in the same town as the site as Eugene Robinson’s arrest — if they win today, but winning against Belichick and Brady on the road would be the strongest sign yet that these Birds are bona fide.
Let the record show, however, that both Boston papers pick the Pats. The Globe has it 27-21, the Herald 27-20. A month ago, this idiot correspondent picked New England to win 41-14, but that was at a time when the Falcons’ defense seemed suspect and when I was operating on the premise, which seems pretty flawed already, that the team would start the season slowly.
And I still kind of think New England will prevail. But the Pats are up to their usual injury-list chicanery, listing Randy Moss as questionable late Friday, so there’s that to ponder. But Reeves is here doing the game on radio, and if O.J. Santiago shows up in a golf cart, I’m changing my pick and going with the Birds.
Weather update: Yesterday was gorgeous. There was such a crowd of walkers around Copley Square you’d have thought it was Patriots Day — I was here for that festive Boston event during the NBA playoffs in 2008 — but it wasn’t. It was simply one of those fall New England days of which postcards are made.
Today, by way of contrast, is less picturesque. It has been raining, and it’s supposed to rain more this afternoon. Traffic is already horrible on Route 1 — this is one of those one-way-in stadiums, situated 40 minutes south of Boston — and esteemed colleague D. Orlando Ledbetter left at 8:30 a.m. Had we left at 9:30, we’d still be idling in Walpole.
And the thinking is that a wet track favors the visitors. Because they have Michael Turner, and the Pats don’t seem to have a running game. So file that away.
Media event: You’d think every card-carrying media type would be in Philadelphia today — and please note this is the first I’ve mentioned that game — but the seating manifest indicates that Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports, Albert Breer of Sporting News Today and Damon Hack of Sports Illustrated are coming here, and I’ve already seen John Clayton of ESPN. So I guess this is itself a pretty big game.
And stop back often! This will be another in our series of live chats, which have come to be the highlight of every week. (At least for me.) I’ll be here until the final horn or Belichick chooses to run off the field in a big fat huff, whichever comes first.
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1,125 comments Add your comment
Joshua
September 27th, 2009
3:39 pm
This offense is soo predictable………..looks like Mike Bobo is calling the plays for the Falcons.
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2009
3:39 pm
Patriots at their 28, 10:55 left. Takes a touchdown to put it away.
TJT
September 27th, 2009
3:39 pm
Ryan out of the pocket is pretty much a guaranteed throw-away. That was probably the worst three play calls I’ve ever seen when down by two scores in the 4th quarter.
GOFALCONS610
September 27th, 2009
3:40 pm
Horrible play calling. That was horrible. That roll out hasn’t been there all day. Why would it have been there then?
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2009
3:40 pm
Although I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a field goal.
sanantoniofalconsfan
September 27th, 2009
3:40 pm
offense play calling is ridiculous. I cannot believe we are running the ball and then hoping for a desperation throw on 3rd down. Falcons “powerful” offense looks inept in this game and it’s mostly because of the play calling.
Bluto
September 27th, 2009
3:40 pm
When you roll right or left, you eliminate half your field. Nice play call.
SRF
September 27th, 2009
3:40 pm
Attention Mike Mularkey – we are TRAILING by 9 points – throw the ball down the field !!!
David
September 27th, 2009
3:40 pm
I don’t know what Mularkey is doing. Down two scores, run, run, pass, when the run hasn’t worked all day (or all season, for that matter). I’m really at a loss of words. This game is over.
Extremus
September 27th, 2009
3:40 pm
The Falcons have done exactly what I feared might happen all week: play inconsistent football with crucial, game-changing mistakes. You don’t drive deep into the opponent’s territory, fumble or turn the ball over, and expect to win in this league, and especially not against a seasoned, winning organization like the Patriots. It should have been a 17-10, Falcons lead going into the half, but now we’re deep into the fourth quarter of a two-possession game with the Patriots controlling the ball. The defensive line hasn’t reached Brady yet, and despite the fact he’s having an off day he’s still managing to pick us apart at his leisure on 3rd and 4th down. Gonzalez didn’t even get a touch the entire first half. And that pass to White for a loss of five a while ago…WHY??? That was a just plain awful play call that set up long yardage for the next two vital plays.
Yeah, right now I’m ticked off; this Falcons team is better than that. And I think Mike Smith will remind them of it, in no uncertain terms when they hit the locker room, whether they (somehow) win or lose today. The “process” continues; we definitely haven’t reached the end yet, folks.
IlliniDawg
September 27th, 2009
3:40 pm
Clearly, this game shows us how far we still have to go. We are just not there yet. Close, but not there. Probably a season or two away.
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2009
3:41 pm
It’s not the game I expected. Much more buttoned-down. Maybe the weather was a factor.
O'Brien
September 27th, 2009
3:41 pm
Our defense has played well. But when the offense cant move the ball, it’s going to be hard to win.
And to think, the defense was supposed to be our weakness…
PMC
September 27th, 2009
3:41 pm
It’s 3 Freaking yards and the defense hasn’t stopped them from scoring but ONCE all day GO FOR IT!!!!
GEEZ. 2 scores.. 10 mintues and bend but don’t break.. and the book says punt? Really?
Joe Schmoe
September 27th, 2009
3:41 pm
Why is our best weapon not throwing the ball more? Taking the ball out of Matty ICE’s hand!
Browncoat
September 27th, 2009
3:41 pm
Wow, I don’t know what I hate more, the officiating or the Falcons play calling
dawgfan1911
September 27th, 2009
3:41 pm
A fu***** roll out! What are we doing? The coaching is awful in this game! A roll out! No bootleg to the TE or slant to the second highest paid receiver in the game! A Roll OUT!!!!! Its over!
J.J.M.
September 27th, 2009
3:41 pm
game over time 2 play odst
Joshua
September 27th, 2009
3:41 pm
Need something big to happen on this series right here for the Falcons to even have a prayer. Can the defense get a damn turnover…..gezzzzzzzzzzz. Where is the fire at???
DHunter
September 27th, 2009
3:41 pm
We would be better off going for it on 4th down and leaving the Pats a short field. That’s the only time we seem to be able to defend against them anyway.
Bradley, make sure the offense gets the full brunt of the blame for this loss. Too many 3 and outs. What a waste of talent
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2009
3:41 pm
Brady off play-action. You can do that when you’re nine points ahead.
ijonathan
September 27th, 2009
3:41 pm
Why do we insist on rolling Ryan out to the sidelines on a lot of the crunch plays? All that does is limit your options and let the defense concentrate on a small part of the field. When you have Tony G at tight end, give yourself options over the middle of the field to pick up 5-10 yards and a first down. Heck, even lets you dump one off to Snelling.
GOFALCONS610
September 27th, 2009
3:41 pm
Like I said game over.
SRF
September 27th, 2009
3:42 pm
hey – may want to cover that Moss dude…
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2009
3:42 pm
And when the running game has clicked.
Bluto
September 27th, 2009
3:42 pm
Maybe our coaches will learn. We’re seeing why Bellichick wins super bowls. Still attacking. We’re behind and don’t attack.
TJT
September 27th, 2009
3:42 pm
The coaching staff appears to be playing not to lose. Which is odd considering we’ve been down since the 3rd possession. And on the road.
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2009
3:42 pm
Ijonathan, I concur. None of the rollouts has looked good.
David
September 27th, 2009
3:43 pm
The Pats are even still passing. You’d think based on the play calling we were the team that was winning right now. This is pathetic. Mularkey needs to get it in gear — play calling like this isn’t going to win us many games.
brewdawg
September 27th, 2009
3:43 pm
Here is the difference with these Falcons: A couple of years ago, a hard-fought loss at New England would have been taken as a moral victory. I promise nobody on the Falcons sideline will be satisfied with this performance. Not even close.
Joshua
September 27th, 2009
3:43 pm
Mark…..your weather might have been a factor comment is weak. They practice outdoors, or can…and its been raining all week long. Its like the just can’t wait to pack it out and get back to Flowery Branch.
IlliniDawg
September 27th, 2009
3:43 pm
Great comments by Aikmen on Pro-Bowler Light handling Abraham. Why can’t the guy rush from the other side?
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2009
3:43 pm
Patriots have played with “urgency,” to use Dimitroff’s word.
dawgfan1911
September 27th, 2009
3:43 pm
Mark what game are you watching? It’s not the weather, for the Falcons it’s the conservative play calling for the Patroits it’s the misfires on Brady’s part!! Where do they find these so called sports journalist?
sanantoniofalconsfan
September 27th, 2009
3:43 pm
This is sad to watch
Rural Education
September 27th, 2009
3:43 pm
The Falcons just weren’t prepared to play this game; no game plan, no emotion, boring to watch.
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2009
3:44 pm
Third down at the Falcon 49. This might be the game.
SCFALC
September 27th, 2009
3:44 pm
This is like Groundhog Day.
David
September 27th, 2009
3:44 pm
Here comes a first down, which will end the game (even though the game is pretty much over, since we’ve burnt our timeouts on nothing).
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2009
3:44 pm
Flag. Pass interference on Moss.
Joe Schmoe
September 27th, 2009
3:45 pm
Flag!!!
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2009
3:45 pm
Grimes. And he held him.
David
September 27th, 2009
3:45 pm
Why is Grimes covering Randy Moss? I don’t remember ever seeing Chris Paul guard Yao Ming. WAKE UP COACHES!!!
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
3:45 pm
Na, na, na, na,
Na, na, na, na,
Just practicing.
For God’s sake sack Brady.
Traver
September 27th, 2009
3:45 pm
Of course. Brent Grimes is not an NFL DB
Joshua
September 27th, 2009
3:45 pm
Our secondary looks like boys playing against grown men………..
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2009
3:45 pm
Ball at the 40. And Taylor for four.
Bone
September 27th, 2009
3:45 pm
why would we put grimes on Moss? Just terrible coaching.
IlliniDawg
September 27th, 2009
3:46 pm
Grimes looks like a high school player. Why do we have such a midget playing on their best reciever?
MATT WOULD WET HIS PANTS WITHOUT TURNER
September 27th, 2009
3:46 pm
HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am lost for words, but the “TRUE ROY” is winning as usual!!!!!!!!!!!