Live from the Dome, where consolation is available
The Dome positively pulses with energy at 11:43 a.m. Or perhaps not. (Photo by M. Bradley)
The Falcons can’t make the playoffs. You know that already. They can, however, get to 9-7. Which would be huge. But you knew that, too.
Beyond that, I don’t have much for you. Inactives haven’t been announced. The opponent, Buffalo, has 18 men on injured reserve. Brian Brohm is expected to start quarterback, which could make this an all-Petrino day if Matt Ryan can’t go the distance. (Both Brohm and Falcons backup Chris Redman played for Bobby P. at U of L, as you also know.)
Speaking of which: I’ve seen Petrino’s name listed as a possibility for the Florida post. At such times I ask myself, “Who makes these lists?” He’s a good coach who’s bad with people. That wouldn’t fly at UF. He’s never in anything long-term, as the Falcons know too well. The only chance Petrino would have to coach the Gators is if the first 10 choices turned Jeremy Foley down. Which they won’t. It’s the best job in the nation.
Back to the Falcons. Today’s tilt has a consolation-game feel to it. Like many of you, I fully expected this season to extend into the second week of January. (Sporting News had the Falcons playing in for the NFC championship.) I have to say I’m disappointed, but I’m not massively surprised. By October it was clear this offense wasn’t quite what it needed to be, and it was apparent in August this defense wouldn’t stop many people.
So here they sit, 7-7 two days after Christmas. The schedule didn’t help. Injuries didn’t, either. But the cold truth is that they never were as good as we/they hoped. And if they still manage to get to 9-7, I’ll call that good value for an underwhelming season. Not to mention the needed end to a streak that should have never gotten started but has, astonishingly enough, lasted into the 44th season.
With that, I’ll open the floor for discussion. And I’ll be here to entertain comments until the final whistle, which I predict will arrive at 4:02 p.m. EST. And I am, as we know, never ever wrong.
OK, here’s your inactives. For the Falcons: Troy Bergeron, Chris Houston, Michael Turner, Charlie Peprah, Harvey Dahl, Jason Rader and Jamaal Anderson. For the Bills: Who cares?
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733 comments Add your comment
Mel in Midtown
December 27th, 2009
1:03 pm
If you are as tired as I am of watching jock-sniffing Falcons’ owner Arthur Blank roaming the Falcon’s sideline acting like some kind of sports celeb, send a message to the Falcons by joining my Facebook Fan Page “Keep Arthur Blank OFF the Atlanta Falcon’s sidelines!” at http://bit.ly/5mjRyA
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:04 pm
Babineaux with a big hit on the first play from scrimmage. First Weems, then Babineaux. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.
Meanwhile...dare I say it?
December 27th, 2009
1:04 pm
I’m not saying there’s an absence of buzz for this game, but not only was its excitement prospects rated lower than watching paint dry, they were rated lower than watching dry paint.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:05 pm
And now Brohm is sacked by Babineaux. Bills looking good.
brewdawg
December 27th, 2009
1:05 pm
Pun intended on “big hit”?
JTH
December 27th, 2009
1:05 pm
The defense is fired up. They totally collapsed the pocket and Babs got him
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:05 pm
Actually, there was no pun intended. I swear.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:06 pm
Touchdown on the first Falcons play.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:06 pm
Deep ball from Ryan to White.
JTH
December 27th, 2009
1:06 pm
Ol noodle arm hummed that out there didnt he
Mel in Midtown
December 27th, 2009
1:06 pm
Really H|UGE crowd today, Arthur. Just wait til those 5% season ticket increases kick in next year! This will seem like a big crowd!
mmgtfan
December 27th, 2009
1:07 pm
RODDY’S ON MY FANTASY TEAM!!!!!!
Sonny Clusters
December 27th, 2009
1:07 pm
Mr Blank liked orange a lot like Clusters. The Marston coat-of-arms was orange. Mr Blank’s first apron was orange and Clusters always favored orange at Parkview and at Clemson. They is an orange theme working here. Maybe the Falcons should change colors to orange and change the name to Atlanta Hammers. They could bring in Nardelli to be GM. Wait, that might not be the thing to do . . .
Meanwhile...dare I say it?
December 27th, 2009
1:07 pm
Roddy White one, watching dry paint zero. Jury still out on watching paint dry though.
bigdave
December 27th, 2009
1:07 pm
look @ no pressure… having fun out there…
Mel in Midtown
December 27th, 2009
1:08 pm
WHOOPS – typo – meant “50% season ticket increases next year…!!!”
Noodle Arm
December 27th, 2009
1:08 pm
What now, CHOKE?
WHAT NOW???
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:08 pm
About the crowd: You’re talking to a guy (one of the few) who witnessed the Falcons’ final game of the 1989 season on a cold Christmas Eve at the old stadium. The crowd was 7,500. I went and interviewed everybody sitting in one section — all two of them.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
1:09 pm
dont tell me Brook is on the PA…
Dreman1731
December 27th, 2009
1:09 pm
RODDY’S STARTING FOR ME TODAY TOO! I should have gotten our defense!
JTH
December 27th, 2009
1:09 pm
This really should be no contest. The Bills are decimated with injuries and got a TE as the 3rd QB. Both our lines are looking good so far(one play on offense I know, i know).
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:09 pm
Brook Whitmire is not on the PA, Coach. He reserves his vocal stylings for Saturdays in Athens.
Meanwhile...dare I say it?
December 27th, 2009
1:09 pm
Sonny, unless they upgrade the defense, I’d hold off on the orange. Too tempting to call them the “Orange Crushed”
treaddawg
December 27th, 2009
1:10 pm
What was that pump thing Ryan did after the TD. Did I see some new tendons in those noodle arms?
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
1:10 pm
is anybody at the game other than you, D O, and A M?
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:10 pm
This really should be no contest, JTH. And the Bills are penalized for a false start as a I type.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
1:11 pm
Well, I’m sure you’re thankful for that.
Frank Wren
December 27th, 2009
1:11 pm
So why not use his career year to get a big bat so that we can get post-season baseball back in Atlanta,
Because the other GM’s arent stupid either. They know his numbers are likely to come back to earth.
Frank Wren
December 27th, 2009
1:11 pm
OK ill stop. its football time
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:11 pm
Jeff Van Note is here. The pride of Bardstown, Ky.
Frank Wren
December 27th, 2009
1:12 pm
Touchdown!!!!
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:12 pm
I’m thinking the Bills will consider it a job well done if they make a first down.
JTH
December 27th, 2009
1:13 pm
Frank Wren change your name to Thomas Dimitroff and talk about the Falcons and breaking the curse
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
1:13 pm
Mark, from your legal knowledge, is it possible for a team to plead nolo?
TMoney
December 27th, 2009
1:13 pm
Block in the back. Dumb play, should have been a fair catch.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:15 pm
I think having a tight end as your emergency quarterback constitutes “nolo contendre,” Coach.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
1:15 pm
one of the best football photos I’ve ever seen was one of Van Note snarling with a gap where his 2 front teeth once were. that’s football passion.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
December 27th, 2009
1:15 pm
The Brian Brohm Era is underway for Buffalo. On that sack, he tucked and covered up early and well. He reminded me of the Great Joey Harrington with how he stood so tall in the pocket.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:16 pm
Yes. Dentists were late in coming to Bardstown, Ky. But not to Maysville, Ky. There were five in Maysville. My dad was one.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
1:16 pm
I think nolo contendre also means going to a bowl game with grad assistants as coaches.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:17 pm
I should tell you that Bobby Petrino always believed Brohm would be a good pro.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
1:18 pm
I was trying to give your great state the benefit of the doubt and assume Van Note lost them in competition, not malnutrition.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:19 pm
I should mention that George Catavalos is the secondary coach for Buffalo. He was the secondary coach when I covered Kentucky 32 years ago. Great guy.
He was also the secondary coach on the 0-13 Indianapolis Colts of 1986, who beat the Falcons on the infamous blocked punt. Not that I expect such a thing to recur today.
JTH
December 27th, 2009
1:19 pm
Petrino does have a eye for talent. Just dont try to make eye contact with him. I will puke if he gets the Florida job.
Tom
December 27th, 2009
1:19 pm
The Bills’ defense would make an NBA All-Star proud.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:20 pm
I appreciate the consideration, Coach Willie.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
1:20 pm
Maysville sounds idyllic, like Mayberry. I dont remember a dentist in Mayberry though.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
1:20 pm
Well, the Bills get a stop. Good for them.
Barkin'Dog
December 27th, 2009
1:21 pm
Mel in Midtown – Funny miss on 5%-50%. Reminds me of the joke/story of an old junk dealer who made millions. A young lady reporter asked how he made millions selling junk, the old man replied, “It’s easy, really. You buy stuff for a dollar and sell it for $3. You’d be surprised how fast that 3% profit adds up.” Gotta wonder if Blank thinks that way…..
TMoney
December 27th, 2009
1:21 pm
Jenkins just standing on the sideline when the defender was in front of him. Move up the field and give your QB a chance.