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
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
2:32 pm
Good playcall there. First down and out of bounds at 0:05.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 27th, 2009
2:33 pm
Last week 47 percent passing and today 9 for 22.
bigdave
December 27th, 2009
2:33 pm
wow… great football play! wow…
Kasim Reed
December 27th, 2009
2:33 pm
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JSS
December 27th, 2009
2:33 pm
ha ha ha ha!!!
Meanwhile...building toward the second half
December 27th, 2009
2:33 pm
Why does this seem somehow appropriate?
Once "Recent" Reader
December 27th, 2009
2:33 pm
Hmmmmmm . . . .what just happened?
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
2:34 pm
But a 55-yard field goal is blocked. And the Falcons are lucky the Bills didn’t return it for a touchdown. Awful.
holey roler
December 27th, 2009
2:34 pm
what a play
Once "Recent" Reader
December 27th, 2009
2:34 pm
Pheeeww . . ….Oh No – review.
JTH
December 27th, 2009
2:34 pm
UGH! REVIEW!
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
2:34 pm
But now a video review.
Kasim Reed
December 27th, 2009
2:34 pm
Touchdown or not, THAT WAS EMBARRASSING!!!!
Dawgs Man
December 27th, 2009
2:35 pm
Wow. This could only happen to the Falcons.
JSS
December 27th, 2009
2:35 pm
Lucky!!!
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 27th, 2009
2:35 pm
I hate it when a football game breaks out interfering with TV Land references.
bigdave
December 27th, 2009
2:35 pm
hate to say it.. but thats a touchdown.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
2:35 pm
Bad drive by the Falcons. And not a very good half, considering the opponent.
Dawgs Man
December 27th, 2009
2:36 pm
Once again we show how we play down to the level of competition.
bigdave
December 27th, 2009
2:36 pm
knee down… half over…
still good action…
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 27th, 2009
2:36 pm
He was down. Now where were we…
Once "Recent" Reader
December 27th, 2009
2:36 pm
OK . . ..at least he looks down . . .. .phew . . …or not. Man as a BC fan I had enough of losing big Instant Replay reviews after last night’s game against USC!
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
2:37 pm
Some Bills still haven’t left the field. But it’s not a touchdown.
Reid Adair
December 27th, 2009
2:37 pm
That is not a touchdown. They’ll get this right, and the Falcons will take their 10-0 lead to the locker room – and get the ball back in the second half.
After further review
December 27th, 2009
2:37 pm
The ruling is confirmed
Falcon Hero Zero
December 27th, 2009
2:37 pm
“tell me again why roddy gets all that money”
He’s probably eating those Double Quarter Pounder Combos from “McD’s” again..
He’s built like Wrestler, and runs like one too..
He needs to get on that Vegan diet with TE Tony G.
Reid Adair
December 27th, 2009
2:38 pm
Officials got that right. The last “lateral” was a fumble, and NFL rules say in the last two minutes of a half, the player who fumbled has to recover the ball to advance it.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
2:38 pm
Dominate play but lead by 10 points. If you’re a coach, you’re scared right now.
Meanwhile...building toward the second half
December 27th, 2009
2:38 pm
Is there any chance the second half would be more exciting if we agreed to refer to it henceforth as a donnybrook?
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 27th, 2009
2:38 pm
Mark, 1/2 home.
JSS
December 27th, 2009
2:38 pm
There is no comedy like Falcons comedy!!!
TMoney
December 27th, 2009
2:38 pm
Give the Falcons kickers, Bryant and Koenen, credit for never giving up and trying to tackle, even if it didn’t matter. Two smallest guys are the only ones still running after the play.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
2:38 pm
I believe “brouhaha” would do the trick, Meanwhile.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
2:39 pm
And the halftime show, appropriately, is some Frisbee-snagging dogs.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 27th, 2009
2:39 pm
Wanting more of a pier six brawl.
Meanwhile...building toward the second half
December 27th, 2009
2:39 pm
Do you get the feeling that if the network interrupted the game to show Heidi, no one would complain? Or notice?
Meanwhile...building toward the second half
December 27th, 2009
2:41 pm
Chef as the late great Gordon Solie would say, “Indeed”
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 27th, 2009
2:41 pm
Also at halftime some poo snatching grounds crew.
Sonny Clusters
December 27th, 2009
2:41 pm
Clusters would put some life in this team if they had a chance. We’d have Mr Blank over on the sideline throwing some hammers to the crowd and we’d have Jenkins in the stands trying to catch ‘em.
LantaFalcons
December 27th, 2009
2:41 pm
Yep, I’m convinced, the Falcons WILL lose next week
First the Jets now the Bills.
Falcons will be a .500 team and this season will be a bad bust.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 27th, 2009
2:42 pm
“That Sir, remains to be seen. So long from the great Peach State of Georgia.”
“where’s my scotch, Ole?”
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:42 pm
Mark, i’ve never been scared as a coach.
Sonny Clusters
December 27th, 2009
2:43 pm
Those frisbee catching dogs might help this team.
JSS
December 27th, 2009
2:44 pm
Is it me, or does every NFL highlight or commercial have someone lighting up the Falcons? Even in Ryan’s razor ad, he’s getting stew knocked out of him!
Meanwhile...been there done that Sonny
December 27th, 2009
2:44 pm
They’ve tried the hammer thing Sonny. He dropped it on Matt Ryan’s toe.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:45 pm
instead of cheeseheads like at green bay the falcons could have a hammerhead group. with A M as the lead.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 27th, 2009
2:45 pm
You know you got a team when they can be described as,”Would fight a buzzsaw and give it the first two rounds.”
The Dogfighter Returns
December 27th, 2009
2:46 pm
urban is taking a leave of absence just like tiger woods? apparently he couldn’t keep his hands of tebow and the rest of the team.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:46 pm
Chef, i do believe that Gordon Solie has gone to that great wrestling arena in the sky.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:47 pm
however, tony schavani is still around to talk rasslin