Live from the Dome: The risen Falcons eye their culmination
A proud patron on Dec. 10, 2007. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
It was a Monday night in December, and the Saints were in town. It was not a tough ticket. It was simply tough to watch.
It was Dec. 10, 2007. Earlier in the day Michael Vick had been sentenced to 23 months in jail by a judge in Richmond, Va. That night the team Vick used to lead lost to New Orleans 34-14 under the Georgia Dome to fall to 3-10. The next night would see Bobby Petrino, who had coached the Falcons those 13 games, being introduced as the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks.
For a franchise that had seen its share of valleys, that week — it closed with the Falcons losing 37-3 under interim coach Emmitt Thomas in Tampa — was the nadir. It was possible to view this city’s NFL entry as having nothing: No coach, no quarterback, no hope.
On a Monday night three years and 17 days later, the Falcons again played host to the Saints on a Monday night, and this time it wasn’t a occasion best avoided. It was, on the contrary, an event being billed as the biggest home regular-season in the Falcons’ 46 seasons of operation. Win and the Falcons would, in one fell swoop — and Falcons do swoop, last we checked — do all of the following:
• Beat their biggest rival, who happens to be the reigning Super Bowl titlist.
• Win their division for only the fourth time ever.
• Clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
That the Falcons could actually lose to the Saints and still accomplish Nos. 2 and 3 on the above list by beating woeful Carolina here six days later meant nothing to the man who’d made all this happen. In January 2008 Falcons owner Arthur Blank had interviewed New England’s chief scout from Boulder, Col., via Webcam, and such was the impression Thomas Dimitroff made that he was named general manager.
Within 12 months, Dimitroff had hired a coach (Mike Smith) and signed a feature back (Michael Turner) and drafted a quarterback (Matt Ryan) and lifted this woebegone franchise, miracle of miracles, to the playoffs. From there the men of Dimitty and Smitty have moved from strength to strength: A second consecutive winning season under arduous circumstances last season, and now 12 victories over the first 14 games of 2010. Funny how much easier things work with folks of surpassing smarts in charge.
But back to Dimitroff on Monday afternoon: He lives in Buckhead, but he’d abandoned the family home. He called the director of team travel and asked for a room at the team hotel downtown, Dimitroff said, “so I can get some work done and return phone calls.” But he wasn’t too harried to read AJC.com — presumably the Falcons get complimentary wireless — and he felt compelled to ring one writer (i.e., me) and remind him of an unusually sunny forecast offered in preseason.
“You going to be there tonight?” Dimitroff said. Then: “It should be something.”
It was convenient in December 2007 to say that Vick’s indictment/incarceration had set the Falcons back three years. As it turned out, they made the playoffs in their first season under Dimitroff, and nearly every move since has sped the plow. The trade for Tony Gonzalez last year and the signing of Dunta Robinson this spring were moves that had to be made if the Falcons were to be taken seriously, and we saw in big-time tests against Baltimore and Green Bay how serious this team is.
And now it was a Monday night in December in the final week of calendar 2010, and a culmination was there to be grasped, a culmination nobody could have foreseen three years and 17 days ago. In December 2007 the operative emotion regarding the Falcons was pity. We feel sorry for them no more. We feel only admiration.
And with that, the floor is again open for questions, comments and Christmas caroling. I’ll be here all game, and I’d appreciate the company. It gets mighty lonesome with only 70,000 of my best pals around.
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1,621 comments Add your comment
whodat70816
December 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
WHO DAT?
That’s why we are the Super Bowl Champions you dirty birds!
Did you watch that last drive by Drew Brees? That’s what makes him ELITE and why Matty Ice will never be!
GEAUX SAINTS!
Savannah Fan
December 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
Should have never ever punted the ball with 3 min left-not aginst a team as the Saints -not against the Eagles -not against anyone this late in the season
Freddie G
December 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
Falcons win next week and secure No.1 seed in the NFC. Make it to the Superbowl.
Geaux Saints
December 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
Hey The Joker,
We won the Super Bowl last year. Aints no more. Bitch.
RISE UP
December 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
No one will EVER accuse Mike Smith and co. of outcoaching anyone.We will be one and done with that a$$clown Mike Smith and Mularkey . Matty Ice melts under pressure every time. No balls Smith sealed our defeat by punting and all they needed was a first down…something they had no problem doing all night long. That maggot Brian Williams needs to be cut TODAY for not knowing how to tackle and that POS Michael “tippy toe ” Turnover can POUND F-= ING SAND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM MAD AS HELLLLLLLLLLL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tough Nolla Guy
December 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
Football wife
December 27th, 2010
11:53 pm
Was hoping for a win but good game. With a 19-1 record at home and an eight game winning streak, this loss will make our Falcons hunger with those ditch diggers from La. come back for a visit in a few weeks.
—–
19-2. why do you ‘cons struggle with simple math?
ARRRGGGHHH!!!
December 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
COULD THOSE ESPN BROADCASTERS BE ANY MORE BIASED IN THIER REPORTING OF THIS GAME TOWARD N. O. AND AGAINST ATLANTA?????
Greg Mendel
December 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
No nitpicking from me. Falcons lost to a good team, and not by much. Won’t happen next year. We’re still in the playoffs.
HELP ME
December 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
BRING VICK BACK PLEASE!!!!!!! BRING VICK BACK PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE FALCONS ARE HORRIBLE. WE WERE LUCKY ALL YEAR.. SHOULD HAVE LOST 8 GAMES. WE PLAYED THE EASIEST TEAMS ALL YEAR. WE ARE NOT A GOOD TEAM. BYE BYE SUPERBOWL.
NEW POWER RANKINGS OUT AND FALCONS FALL FROM 2ND TO 10TH. THEY ARE FRAUDS.
JB
December 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
A real back has a big game when you need it. No offense at all means we needed it and he was too busy laying on his back (and fumbling…). TRADE HIM!!
Now you know
December 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
The Falcons are impostors. With out Turner @ his best this is a very average team with no offense…Mattie Ice? Guys dont make me laugh. Were talking noodle arm here..
2 words
Michael Vick
2 more words
Author Blank.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
“not ryan’s fault brees has thrown for 300+ yards”
Brees took 49 passes to get those 300 yards and threw two picks, one of which was maybe the worst I have seen all year. He’s not the reason the Saints won. The Saints won because their defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage all night.
Brian west palm beach
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
I just hope we gave all the NO fans that were there hell. You do not come in the dome in opposing colors.
GO VOLS!
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
Tough crowd. I’m still not sure how the Saints took this one. The dirty birds were in a dog fight, no pun intended. They looked good, but almost doesn’t count.
Vick Supporter
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
GTfan
December 27th, 2010
11:51 pm
Vick supporter your just a dumb monkey and a band wagon fan. Your no Eagles fan.
—————————–
Here comes the racism,lol
Tough Nolla Guy
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
I like guys, especially those prison guys, like MV7… Mmmm so soft.
Frozen Dope
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
ns1960
December 27th, 2010
11:52 pm
Hey Bradley…so the Falcons are “elite” and the Saints are “last year”….eat crow
Hey num nuts, 1-1 with the Saints on the year. Saints got 2 unforced turnovers. Falcons will win the division and have home field advantage. You will probably be in jail by then.
Chipload
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
Coaching was perfect! Execution was terrible. Atleast 3 missed tackles for sacks, fumble on the goal line, dropped pass by Roddy (BIG MOUTH) White. Offense was pathetic!
Tough Nolla Guy
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
Savannah Fan
December 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
Should have never ever punted the ball with 3 min left-not aginst a team as the Saints -not against the Eagles -not against anyone this late in the season
—-
that’s what chumps do. they show their true chumpionship form at crunch time.
roota4au
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
the better team won…better qb who makes plays when they got behind..falcons will be one and done in the playoffs..
KimZ'spackage
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
It sucked but I called it a few days ago. I think we saw the Falcons Defense grow-up a lot tonight. Tech and the Falcons both Fumbled the leading TD on the 1 yardline. Well, it is all good. We will win next week the Panthers want to keep the good draft pick. they have no fight left in them.
BradleyCurse
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
“Hey Bradley…so the Falcons are “elite” and the Saints are “last year”….eat crow”
one of these days people will learn that whatever Bradley spews on these pages will always be wrong, guy is the biggest walking jinx alive.
FalconsBESTRecordNFC
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
Great game, even if the Saints loss last week rendered it completely meaningless for the Falcons. Falcons defense dominated, and in a meaningless game for them, that’s pretty awesome. But the main thing is it looks like the Falcons didn’t get any big injuries to key players, and that is all I or I’m sure the coaching staff was worried about. We will have homefield throughout playoffs, so good to save our players for the games that count.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
But I will say this, because I can’t resist:
Vick would have won this game. Easily. No 4th quarter comeback required.
Sean
December 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
I’m trying to figure out who is in first place in the NFC South. Hmm, maybe its the FALCONS! Aints are in 2d place and will stay there. Have fun as a wild card team.
316 Falcon
December 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
The Saints deserved this game. Drew Brees threw two costly picks and we still lost. Michael Turner’s fumble was bad, but we still had plenty of other chances. How many sack opportunities did we miss on Brees? Matty Ryan still acts like he is scared to throw the ball down the field.
GO VOLS!
December 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
“I just hope we gave all the NO fans that were there hell. You do not come in the dome in opposing colors.”
I have yet to encounter a classless Falcon fan, and I go with black/gold/umbrella in tow. Lucky me
BIASED ANNOUNCERS
December 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
ALL NIGHT THE ANNOUNCERS: “THE FALCONS ARE HANGING IN THERE” WTF!!!! HANGING IN THERE??? WE WERE LEADING UNTIL THE END YOU IDIOTS.
MIKE SMITH IS A FOOL TO PUNT AT MID-FIELD. OUR DEFENSE WAS TIRED. PLAY TO WIN YOU FOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tough Nolla Guy
December 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
Tough Nolla Guy
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
I like guys, especially those prison guys, like MV7… Mmmm so soft.
—–
‘con fans are like kids. so gullible. did you really think you were going to beat us again?
come on now. grow up.
Tony
December 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
Obviously, vpi83 has not been watching football this season. What do you want, the Falcons to win every single game? They just loss to the rival and Super Bowl champ Saints. The Falcons have the number 2 power ranking in the NFL by the heralded ESPN, and were previously number 1. The Falcons need a loss really to come back to reality. Now they are set to take a win, and NFC South title into the playoffs…get your Visa ready for a Super Bowl ticket purchase, Falcons in Dallas! Go Dirty Birds!
Now you know
December 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
What happened to the super quarterback mattie ice? He is nothing without Turner. Turner Makes him.
Jimmy
December 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
The Falcons D was great all game.
Our O let us down.
dd
December 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
What a bunch of know nothing idiots and losers hiding behind keyboards!!
The birds were due for a loss.
Couldn’t overcome the mistakes tonight.
Played the defending world champs.
Would you rather lose now or in the playoffs?
or
Maybe you think you could coach them better.
Goodnight low lifes. You folks are pathetic.
Come-on-man
December 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
Too many mistakes by offense. Defense is peaking at the right time of the season. Problems on offense are correctable. Can we run a screen pass or a reverse?
extremus
December 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
Tough loss, but honestly the Falcons blew a metric TON of golden opportunities tonight. Whether it was Brian Williams repeatedly trying to arm tackle Drew Brees or cough-ups by McClure and Turner, it was a sloppy show at times. The defense really came to play, but the offense tended to sputter at the most inopportune times. Frustrating to be sure.
But it’s only one game, and fortunately the Falcons still hold the division lead. Should they beat Carolina next week, perhaps the Falcons can tighten up on the fundamentals in time for the playoffs. And if I know Mike Smith and these players at all, I believe this loss will make them focus even harder.
Chipload
December 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
Officiating sucked, like usual. In 37 years of watching and playing football, I’ve never seen offense and defensive pass interference called on the same play. Terrible spot on the last Saints drive. Just gave them a yard.
crabapplejoe
December 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
Well now…you have to give props to Drew Brees tonight….he was the difference….he was like Houdini out there. For all those that hate on Brian VanGorder, he drew up a great defensive scheme…the “athletes” didn’t execute….how many times did Brian Williams have Brees in his grasp and it ended up being a 15 yard completion….great game…great rivalry….just got to beat the Panthers now and it all didn’t matter.
whodat70816
December 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
TURNER WHO???????
LMAO…So glad my boys brought you dirty birds back to reality!
SRF
December 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
The Falcons D was great ? Really – with 7 missed sacks ? Really ?
GO VOLS!
December 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
I know you all are pissed off, but Matt Ryan has been one of the best 4th q quarterbacks in the league this season. He didn’t get the one that mattered most, though. Tough, tough crowd
Kisha
December 27th, 2010
11:58 pm
Although I would love the Saints to get another Superbowl, I am now satisfied that they beat the Falcons WHO DAT
Teabagger Johnson
December 27th, 2010
11:58 pm
You would think the Falcons got absolutely crushed in this game with the way SportsCenter started . . .
Kramer318
December 27th, 2010
11:58 pm
Simply put. They needed this game. We did not. Probably had an effect on our playcalling. Who cares? We blow out Carolina next week and we did everything we needed to do in the regular season. This game means nothing to us.
Falcons2010
December 27th, 2010
11:58 pm
“I’m trying to figure out who is in first place in the NFC South.”
Falcons, we own the crucial Common Opponents tiebreaker
terry-dawg
December 27th, 2010
11:58 pm
Just saw the Falcons lost. yawn… Still already clinched division and homefield. Congrats Falcons on NFC South CHAMPS.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 27th, 2010
11:58 pm
Tough Nolla Guy
December 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
Tough Nolla Guy
December 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
I like guys, especially those prison guys, like MV7… Mmmm so soft.
—–
‘con fans are like kids. so gullible. did you really think you were going to beat us again?
come on now. grow up.
—–
Someone is stealing my handle… I do like you falcons. and guys.
falconfromduluth
December 27th, 2010
11:58 pm
Super Glue the game ball to Turner.
Tough Nolla Guy
December 27th, 2010
11:59 pm
for those of you who think this was a meaningless game you obviously have never played competitive sports at a high life.
the falcons are crushed.
Vick Supporter
December 27th, 2010
11:59 pm
Ryan: 15-29 148yds td
PATHETIC. What happened to all that “accuracy” and “arm strength” from Ryan????
LOL. He needs some roids so he can complete a 20yd pass
Vick is more accurate than Ryan…who would have thought that?!?
WWHHHOOOOO!!!!!!!!
crabapplejoe
December 27th, 2010
11:59 pm
@nowyouknow who wrote: “What happened to the super quarterback mattie ice? He is nothing without Turner. Turner Makes him.”
Dude, seriously….Michael Turner’s fumble on the goal line cost us the game….are you on drugs?