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
Bone
September 27th, 2009
3:59 pm
Grimes is sorry
MATT WOULD WET HIS PANTS WITHOUT TURNER
September 27th, 2009
4:00 pm
I like guys! Especially #7, since he still cant complete passes!
Traver
September 27th, 2009
4:00 pm
Run defense is worn out at this point but for anybody that wondered how important Jerry was hasn’t been watching the Panthers and now the Patriots run all over us since he left the field last week.
Nobody to blame but ourselves today. Turnover in the first half completely set the tone.
Joshua
September 27th, 2009
4:00 pm
Wow…..did the announcers just give Matt Ryan some love!!!!!!!! only fitting that they did with just 2 mins left in the game.
TJT
September 27th, 2009
4:00 pm
Coaching was a D- today. Tentative, play not to lose style, is not going to cut it on the road in Foxboro.
Play calling was good for 2 drives. Atrocious ever since. We never recovered from the Turner fumble. Smith has to realize that he only thing stopping the Pats on offense is Tom Brady’s errant passes – therefore you have GOT to go for it on 4th down at their 39. At that point I knew we just hoping to stay in it and maybe get lucky with a turnover or defensive touchdown. I despise that style of football.
This kind of mindset ain’t going to get us to 9-7 this year, let alone a playoff spot. Saints could hang half a hundred on us if they’re firing on all cylinders.
PMC
September 27th, 2009
4:00 pm
Team is still very very young. They still lack playmakers on defense. They are getting better, but they are a long long way from the superbowl.
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2009
4:00 pm
That’s well said, PMC. There’s a long way to go. And this was always going to be one of the toughest games on the schedule.
David
September 27th, 2009
4:00 pm
MATT,
Who’s your team? Or are you one of these “Mike Vick” guys? If so, he’s doing great in Philadelphia. Really looks sharp throwing the ball (0-2). Good call. This game would be 100-3 if we had Mike Vick right now, not for the better.
NikkiFree
September 27th, 2009
4:00 pm
Grimes covering ANYBODY is illogical.
MATT WOULD WET HIS PANTS WITHOUT TURNER
September 27th, 2009
4:00 pm
MARK
Do you still think the Patriots missed Welker?
I think I should be the sports writer
Why are we talking about non-Falcon players in other games?
What about the Falcon qb today?
What a hsll of famer.
playmeortrademe
September 27th, 2009
4:01 pm
I miss hearing Pat Summerall on Sundays for big games. Joe Buck is a tool and has a fraction of his daddy’s talent.
Frank Wren
September 27th, 2009
4:01 pm
Matt Stafford about to get his first win
Brett
September 27th, 2009
4:01 pm
bend don’t break defense never gives offense much time on field, hard to get in a rhythm sitting on the bench 10-15 minutes at a time as defense allows pats to march down field and yield FGs
Mitch (the one in Rome)
September 27th, 2009
4:01 pm
The Pats played some hellacious D on us today. Today is not an indication of the Falcons as much as it is an indication of the very good team we played today. You know they knew all the crap in the news about their decline etc. They came out and showed exactly how they are going to be just fine.
We have been outplayed. Period. The Birds will be fine. They’ll take their ass whipping and go learn. We’re going to be fine.
FalconHeroZero
September 27th, 2009
4:01 pm
“The saddest part about this game is that the Falcons have just been outplayed. The Pat’s just seem to be more engaged, playing like they want it more. We look uninterested; no one on either side of the ball has made a big play.”
What even worse now, is that Matt Ryan will be forgotten behind the like of Mark Sanchez of The New York Jets in terms of “national recognition and coverage” because of the rest of this team and staff.
The Jets staff and team are focused because of Big Market Pressure and expectations.
You see potential, but these players are a sleep, willfully dumb, and lazy.
They won’t fall asleep on fat checks, $500,000 sports cars, hunting farms, and big homes.
GOFALCONS610
September 27th, 2009
4:01 pm
MATT RYAN WOULD WET HIS PANTS…..
OK SO WHEN THE RB’S ARE FUMBLING AND THE RECEIVER’S ARE DROPPING PASSES, MATT RYAN SHOULD JUST THROW THE BALL UP AND RUN DOWN FIELD AND TRY TO CATCH THE BALL HIMSELF RIGHT?
NikkiFree
September 27th, 2009
4:02 pm
David—- this is a FALCONS thread.
BugKiller
September 27th, 2009
4:02 pm
Yeah, Matt Ryan was the problem today… you absolute moron.
Matt Ryan was 17-28 with HOW MANY key drops on 2nd and long and 3rd down?
You’re a moron. Go cheer your Felon to his 0-2 performance today.
David
September 27th, 2009
4:02 pm
Third time that the Pats went for it on 4th. We haven’t yet, and we’re down. That says something about the conservative play calling of our coaches. This was a joke. I’m not mad at the team — they put up the kind of effort I figured — but the conservative play calling was a joke.
SRF
September 27th, 2009
4:02 pm
I am not sure how you blame Ryan for this – he made some good throws and they were mostly dropped, or the refs made up calls. Plus – the playcalling was horrible
Rural Education
September 27th, 2009
4:03 pm
This was a very beatable New England team, the Jest showed that last week. There is no excuse for the tepid play by the Falcons today. We need someone who looks like they care and no one did today. We were out-coached, out-played, out-physicaled, and just plain old out everything. We looked like the old Falcons today. They played through injury so that is not an excuse. We just did not want to play today and it showed.
OH NO! WE SUCK AGAIN!!!
September 27th, 2009
4:03 pm
Offensive play calling stinks, Ref’s stink, HOUSTON STINKS! Got outplayed by a team that is in no way better. We need serious help on defense and if Michael Turner doesn’t learn to hold onto the ball! All of our momentum went out the window the second he fumbled in the first half. I hope Coach Smith tears them a new one after the game is over.
Once "Recent" Reader
September 27th, 2009
4:03 pm
Reading the posts . . .different from past two weeks. It reminds of the big build-up down here on Radio for Canes – Va Tech. Everyone was so excited and confident. But Canes were still a young team – like Falcs. Va Tech was still Va Tech . . .like Pats at home. I’m not totally down on today’s game . . ..heck Falcs were there for a while and again . . .. calls, penalties, turnover didn’t go there way at clutch times. They’ll be just fine!!
David
September 27th, 2009
4:03 pm
Nikki,
I’m aware it’s a Falcons thread. Why don’t you learn to read…. I was sticking up for the Falcons, and chastising the idiot who’s all against Ryan and all-for Vick. Learn to read past a 2nd grade level before you come back at me, please.
Bull butter
September 27th, 2009
4:03 pm
The falcons were never in this game.They were flat as a pancake.You can lead a horse to water but you know the rest.
Joshua
September 27th, 2009
4:04 pm
Pats had the ball for 40:00 mins to the Falcons 20:00 mins…….kinda hard to win a game like that. Poor game plan. Plain and Simple
playmeortrademe
September 27th, 2009
4:04 pm
Cards take the lead on the rockies, braves leadoff single and 9th and can’t advance the runner, then inning ending DP. Sometimes I think there is a black cloud over this city.
Frank Wren
September 27th, 2009
4:05 pm
Matt Ryan was his usual great self but too many drops and this D isnt that good. Thats 2 fumbles for Turner this year.
NikkiFree
September 27th, 2009
4:05 pm
My thoughts excactly, OH NO!
Traver
September 27th, 2009
4:05 pm
Well, got to get back to work. The 49er game in two weeks just got pretty improtant. Have to keep moving forward. This would have been an exceptional win had we pulled it off. We didn’t so just have to get better.
Chattanooga Chuck
September 27th, 2009
4:05 pm
If we’re still far away from the Superbowl then why did we trade for Gonzalez? I like the direction we’re headed but we might wish we’d kept that draft pick.
Nativebird
September 27th, 2009
4:05 pm
Not having Jerry in the middle really showed today. Gotta tell ya, inability of Malarkey to adjust today was astounding. If I see Ryan roll to the right one more time on 3rd down just to inevitably throw the ball away, im gonna explode.
What’s the ol saying? continue the same thing and expecting a different outcome?
doug
September 27th, 2009
4:06 pm
All i saw today was a little home cooking ! Alot of Falcon defense jerseys stretched out of shape, and our offensive lineman not learning what they can get away with ! Were there any holding penalties called today ? Amazing !!!
Joshua
September 27th, 2009
4:06 pm
I understand sportsmanship and all, but I can’t stand to see members of the losing team giving high fives and laughing with the other team……thats happens when you have a $600,000 a week pay check waiting on you at home, whether you win or not.
David
September 27th, 2009
4:07 pm
That 49′ers game looks scary. I know Mularkey is going to run, run, run, run, run, and the Vikes, who have a better offensive line and better running back, haven’t been able to run at home today. Let’s hope Mularkey opens it up a little more than he did today.
dawgfan1911
September 27th, 2009
4:07 pm
On a bright note, the young egnimatic bulldawgs moved up in the polls, the Brave are threatening to take a lead in Washington, the Rockies are losing.
Once "Recent" Reader
September 27th, 2009
4:07 pm
I agree on the roll out play for Ryan. I always thought that greatly limits opportunities . . .and boy the Pats had that one covered really well. Ryan is much better in the pocket than rolling out.
MATT WOULD WET HIS PANTS WITHOUT TURNER
September 27th, 2009
4:08 pm
Flacco sets career-high with 342 yards as Ravens force four turnovers
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Team Stat Comparison
1st Downs 11 28
Passing 1st downs 8 17
Rushing 1st downs 2 9
1st downs from Penalties 1 2
3rd down efficiency 3-12 4-11
4th down efficiency 0-0 1-1
Total Plays 52 66
Total Yards 186 479
Passing 115 337
Comp-Att 17-27 26-37
Yards per pass 4.3 9.1
Rushing 71 142
Rushing Attempts 23 28
Yards per rush 3.1 5.1
Red Zone (Made-Att) 0-1 3-6
Penalties 5-46 8-84
Turnovers 4 1
Fumbles lost 0 1
Interceptions thrown 4 0
Defensive / Special Teams TDs 0 0
Possession 28:42 31:18
Air/Ground Leaders
Cleveland Passing
C/ATT YDS TD INT
Anderson 11/19 92 0 3
Quinn 6/8 34 0 1
Baltimore Passing
C/ATT YDS TD INT
Flacco 25/35 342 1 0
Smith 1/2 4 0 0
Cleveland Rushing
CAR YDS TD LG
Harrison 16 52 0 17
Davis 5 10 0 5
Baltimore Rushing
CAR YDS TD LG
McGahee 7 67 2 34
Rice 11 48 1 9
Cleveland Fumbles
FUM LOST REC
Adams 0 0 1
Baltimore Fumbles
FUM LOST REC
McGahee 1 1 0
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER CLE BAL
TD 10:15 Willis McGahee 7 Yd Run (Steven Hauschka Kick) 0 7
FG 01:16 Steven Hauschka 36 Yd 0 10
SECOND QUARTER CLE BAL
FG 05:37 Steven Hauschka 33 Yd 0 13
TD 00:55 Willis McGahee 15 Yd Run (Steven Hauschka Kick) 0 20
THIRD QUARTER CLE BAL
TD 07:32 Ray Rice 9 Yd Run (Steven Hauschka Kick) 0 27
FOURTH QUARTER CLE BAL
FG 14:55 Billy Cundiff 29 Yd 3 27
TD 08:05 Derrick Mason 72 Yd Pass From Joe Flacco (Steven Hauschka Kick) 3 34
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson reacts during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the…
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Associated Press
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens looked every bit like an undefeated team, and the Cleveland Browns fulfilled their role as a struggling franchise in disarray.
Joe Flacco threw for a career-high 342 yards, Willis McGahee scored two more touchdowns, and the Ravens cruised to a 34-3 victory Sunday.
After Baltimore (3-0) held the Browns to 78 yards while building a 20-0 halftime lead, Cleveland coach Eric Mangini pulled quarterback Brady Quinn in favor of Derek Anderson. The switch did nothing to turn around the fortune of a team that has been outscored 95-29 this season.
Quinn went 6 for 8 for 34 yards and an interception. Anderson, who lost his job to Quinn last year, was 11 for 19 for 92 yards and three interceptions.
The Browns (0-3) have scored one offensive touchdown in their last nine games dating back to last year.
Not only is Mangini winless in his first season as Cleveland’s head coach, but he received unwanted headlines by fining one of his players $1,701 for not paying the hotel bill for a $3 bottle of water.
Flacco went 25 for 35 with a touchdown, and McGahee ran for scores of 7 and 15 yards, giving him six TDs in three games. Baltimore is 3-0 for only the second time in franchise history, thanks heavily to an offense that is averaging 34.3 points per game.
Derrick Mason caught five passes for 118 yards, including a 72-yard TD that made it 34-3 with 8:05 remaining. His third reception made him the 23rd player in NFL history with 800 career catches.
Cleveland played without running back Jamal Lewis (hamstring) and kicker Phil Dawson (leg). The Browns’ lone score was a 29-yard field goal by Billy Cundiff with 14:55 left.
Baltimore set the tone in the opening five minutes, when Domonique Foxworth intercepted a Quinn pass and McGahee followed with a touchdown run. The 31-yard drive was extended when Flacco ran for 2 yards on a fourth-and-1.
Completions of 10, 26 and 17 yards by Flacco led to a 36-yard field goal by Steve Hauschka and a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Baltimore’s next possession was similar: Flacco went 6 for 8 during a 16-play drive, but the Ravens again had to settle for a field goal after holding the ball for more than seven minutes.
After another Cleveland punt, Baltimore covered 80 yards in eight plays — seven of them passes by Flacco — before McGahee ran in from the 15 for a 20-0 lead.
Anderson completed his first two passes, then threw an interception to set up Ray Rice’s first career touchdown, a 9-yard run that made it 27-0.
David
September 27th, 2009
4:08 pm
Joshua,
It pains me, too, but it’s life. It’s sad that the fans care more about who wins than the players, but, like you said, when you have a $600,000 a week paycheck, it’s easy to smile despite your play on the field.
Sunshine
September 27th, 2009
4:08 pm
Well at least we still have college football for now. GT seems to back in form. And whats up with the braves? How are they still hanging around.
Rural Education
September 27th, 2009
4:09 pm
We better have a plan other than run Turner, because it is pretty obvious that Turner is not going to be anywhere near as productive this season as he was last year. He looks a least a half a step if not a step slower and he has already pull the ball on the ground twice, both times when we were driving. Hope we have a backup plan.
FalconHeroZero
September 27th, 2009
4:09 pm
(”Team is still very very young. They still lack playmakers on defense. They are getting better, but they are a long long way from the superbowl.”)
That won’t happen unitl next season.. Gonzalez and this offense is ready now..
The Falcons have a phenom QB who is ready now, if this regime actually gets him a speed WR that actually “wants it”.
Now, all you will hear form The national media is Mark Sanchez because their team “gets it”. The Jest are aggressive.
Dimitroff can stock-pile picks, but you will be waiting unitl Matt Ryan is about 35 in the new Blank Field in Dultuh lololololol for a defense from those picks.
Sometimes, you have to trade picks…high picks, or trade-up.
These Falcons do not have The Patriots with a winning tradition.
David
September 27th, 2009
4:10 pm
Matt,
The Ravens’ opponents have 12 wins combined all of last year. Our three opponents? 33. Get real, man. The Browns have looked inept all last year and all this year, same with the Chiefs. Your biggest win was against the Chargers, who got in the playoffs last year only because of a horrible AFC West division.
PS: Joe Flacco would wet his pants without that defense.
SRF
September 27th, 2009
4:10 pm
You just answered your own question – Flacco has a supporting cast – Ryan is surrounded by ???
FALCONS SORRY
September 27th, 2009
4:10 pm
MATTY HOPELESS ICE MELTED !!! JUST LIKE I SAID VICK WILL SHOW YOU MATTY HOPELESS HOW TO WIN THE BIG GAME!! aUTHOR BLANK YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE TO WIN THE SUPPER BOWL WITH VICK BUT NOW YOU HAVE MATTY HOPELESS WITH HIS NOODLE ARM TO BLOW EVERY BIG GAME HE IS IN!! DEC 6 WILL BE THE DAY ALL OF THE VICK HATERS IN THE ATL GET TO CRY ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN AND HOW MATTY THE GREAT WHITE HOPELESS CAN NEVER WIN A BIG GAME!!CAN YOU SAY ROMO?!
MATTY ICE MELTED LIKE A SHRINKING VIOLET IN NEW ENGLAND JUST LIKE I SAID HE WOULD!!!JEFF SCHULTZ HOW YOU LIKE THAT LOSER??!!
BugKiller
September 27th, 2009
4:11 pm
Hey!!!
Bad News is BACK, people! He’s changed his name, but not his M.O.
Only, because his Favorite Felon SUCKED so badly today, he’s back on his Joe Flacco Bandwagon.
Hey, douche bag, I guess the fact that Baltimore has the best defense in the NFL has NOTHING to do with it, right?
Or that Flacco has played against three of the WORST defenses in football in his first three games has nothing to do with it, right?
Bad News is a giant douche. No matter what his name is.
GOFALCONS610
September 27th, 2009
4:11 pm
HEY FLACCO GUY,
WE DON’T CARE. MATT RYAN IS RANKED HIGHER THAN FLACCO AND HE IS A FALCON. NUFF SAID. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE YOU THUG.
David
September 27th, 2009
4:11 pm
I can’t even respond seriously to someone who types in all caps. So I just won’t.
Once "Recent" Reader
September 27th, 2009
4:12 pm
What????? You guys don’t like them shaking hands being cordial afterwards?? What matters is that they are trying during the game. Hell, some of them are good friends and that doesn’t stop them from trying to knock each other’s heads off. You’ve never been to happy hours?? Folks from competing Companies get along just fine . . ..doesn’t mean they want to lose contracts to the other guy/gal.
Hillbilly Deluxe
September 27th, 2009
4:13 pm
The Falcons couldn’t stop the run and they couldn’t put any pressure on Brady. The score could have been a lot worse.
It didn’t make any difference but the fumble recovery/incomplete pass call that Smith had to challenge in the first half is one of the most ridiculous calls I’ve ever seen. I’ve been watching football since the 60’s and seen a lot of bad calls but that one took the cake.