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
Big Dog Bill
December 28th, 2010
12:08 am
This game meaningless? Can always spot the bandwagon fan.
Falcons have won nothing. Next week Panthers have nothing to lose – but the Falcons do. Panthers are now a threat.
rc35
December 28th, 2010
12:08 am
Great teams rise to the occasion. The Falcons are still hoping to become a great team.
First down futility over and over again.
Matty Ice met a Cool Brees and melted.
I just hope the chokers learned something tonight about championship football. If not, it will be a short postseason.
Savannah Fan
December 28th, 2010
12:08 am
Anouncers are now saying a legacy is being built in ATL-Just not on 4th down against NO
Bobby
December 28th, 2010
12:08 am
I do want to say some of you Falcons are being very unfair to Matt Ryan and company. It was still a very good game. Was Coach Smith’s to punt a good one. Depends. Had he not punted and the Saints, you would be complaining why didn’t he punt. Their were plenty of heart attacks for both Falcons and Saints fans tonight. Falcons won in New Orleans and Saints won up here. Either team may be in Dallas come SuperBowl time.
Miguel
December 28th, 2010
12:08 am
vick supporter and nolla …i mean wow im just speechless at how lame and how big of losers yall are.. who gets on other teams blogs and talk smack for hours straight.. please run into a knife and dont call 911 yall suck at life and do not deserve the privledge of living..please do us the favor and leave this earth..
That goes for all “Vick supporters” and Saints fans.. I strongly dislike all of you and wish nothing but the worst
Jay
December 28th, 2010
12:08 am
Am I the only tired of seeing Turner run for no gain??? I like Turner, but it’s time to go in a different direction at RB. Just think what an Adrian Petersen or even Adrian Foster would do behind that Falcons offensive line! We also need another Offensive Coordinator! Mulurkey doesn’t even call the high percentage plays like quick slants or screens. Those plays are in all of the great Teams playbooks!
Congo Square...WHO DAT?!
December 28th, 2010
12:09 am
Defending NFL Champs> NFC Champs, just sayin…
Pop @ 12:04 Carolina will intentionally lose this game for one reason: # 1 DRAFT PICK CAM NEWTON. You can bet the house on that.
KimZ'spackage
December 28th, 2010
12:09 am
Go VOLS pick a team worth backing or move to one of the pathetic towns the teams you cheer for reside.
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
12:09 am
@Miguel
Shut it up,lol. I’ve been on these blogs for years, as a falcons fan and as an ex falcons fan
BirdsAtHomeAllDaWay
December 28th, 2010
12:09 am
This is why we kicked butt all year…so we could afford to have a game that didn’t matter and still have the division and homefield wrapped up. Entertaining game, but the aints looked terrible eeking out a win against many Falcons backups and a VERY conservative, safe, no-injury risk game plan (wisely so, too!) put in place by Coach Smith.
12-3 looks so much better than 11-4 with Carolina (lol) on the horizon!
stizz
December 28th, 2010
12:10 am
They better blitz the hell out of little jimmy clausen and control that run next week.
Kramer318
December 28th, 2010
12:10 am
Saints fans and Vick lovers can celebrate today, but end the end, this game won’t mean anything. You come back and beat us in the playoffs and then maybe you can talk. But you sure have a big mouth smelling our behinds in the standings. I have no doubt we played a different game today than we would in the playoffs. We were conservative. Not a lot of play action. No wrinkles in the play book. Why show your hand if you already have the #1 seed. And yes, we will have the #1 seed come Sunday. Stop trying to fool anyone to think Carolina has a chance next week.
Eldridge
December 28th, 2010
12:11 am
Hey NFL, can you give us a Super bowl like the one you gave the Aints last year. Times are hard here, too.
Mora less Petrino
December 28th, 2010
12:11 am
The Saints lost their last three regular season games last season and still won the Super Bowl. The Birds will be fine. Learn from tonight and take care of business with Carolina.
Falcons2010
December 28th, 2010
12:12 am
Falcons got punked? The Saints had to play all 60 minutes to just beat this falcons team that made so many mistakes!
Who does that tell you more about: the Falcons .. or Saints hmmmmm I can’t believe some of you are acting they beat them by 20+
Congo Square...WHO DAT?!
December 28th, 2010
12:12 am
Old Gold @ 12:01, I’m pretty sure it’s “Fulmer”
And while you’re wishing ill wills on people, please be careful in that ice out there. You and your loved ones. God bless
greatgameplan
December 28th, 2010
12:12 am
Falcons kept their playoff gameplans under wraps. Meanwhile, the saints showed everything. Smart moves, Coach Smith, smart moves. Saving it for the games that matter.
Football wife
December 28th, 2010
12:12 am
Tough Nolla Guy–you’re a prime example of the no class twits in New Orleans. Yes, Matt is 19-2 at home NOW–we’re even for the season. Oh WAIT! The AINTS lost to the RAVENS so you’re still looking up at us in the division!
Now you know
December 28th, 2010
12:13 am
No, really, yall call Matt noodle arm Ryan a quarterback?
Falcons2010
December 28th, 2010
12:13 am
“Pop @ 12:04 Carolina will intentionally lose this game for one reason: # 1 DRAFT PICK CAM NEWTON. You can bet the house on that”
and i’d win rather easily, they’ve already locked up the number 1 pick ………
D'onvon
December 28th, 2010
12:13 am
I towd yous, the Saints gone wins in the atl. I cames up hears for NOLA ands I lov dat games. Who dats. Yo prety white boy canet win fo yuos tonites.
Now you know
December 28th, 2010
12:14 am
Who do you think yall going to fool in the ;playoffs?
Edward
December 28th, 2010
12:14 am
Vick supporter, you are a moron, period.
stendek
December 28th, 2010
12:14 am
BAD NEWS! Victory over Panthers no lock. Even at Georgia Dome! Not the way the damn Falcon offense did its disappearing act. Very depressing. NO better than Falcons. Would take Brees over choke Ryan any time! STENDEK
Falcons2010
December 28th, 2010
12:14 am
“Who do you think yall going to fool in the ;playoffs?”
Saints, Eagles, Patriots … in that order
Najeh Davenpoop
December 28th, 2010
12:15 am
“Just think what an Adrian Petersen or even Adrian Foster would do behind that Falcons offensive line!”
Arian Foster is NOT better than Michael Turner, I’m sorry. Houston throws more down field than the Falcons do, and they pass to set up the run unlike the Falcons, so Foster has more running room near the line of scrimmage than Turner. Give me Turner any day of the week.
Freddie G
December 28th, 2010
12:15 am
I would have liked to see Matt trust his receivers more on the outside when they are in single coverage instead of going to Harrry Douglas over the middle. Harry seems to lack cconfidence going over the middle and so does not get open to present himself as a viable target. The offense was mediocre tonight, Roddy could not get open despite his tweet of last week, also Tony G was a non factor, not to mention Turner whose fumble cost us the game. We will face the Saints in the playoffs and win if we can run the ball better than we did tonight.
TCCB
December 28th, 2010
12:15 am
Don’t blame Michael Turner the Falcons played a REAL team Tonight And That team was Healthy and that makes a differance. To you guys a win is a win The Falcons beat the Ravens with 7 starters on IR and you call that a WIN “COM ON MAN” but when you play world Champions not only can you not have turnovers but you have to complete passes as well too; many 1 2 3 and out. the center funbled the ball why not blame him? The Team LOST
This IS NOT A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM one round in the playoffs and they are done!!!!!!!!!
Now you know
December 28th, 2010
12:15 am
Falcons kept their playoff gameplans under wraps.
Thats some funny chitt!
You mean the give the ball to turner and throw to white on 3rd down secret game plan?
lmao
greatgameplan
December 28th, 2010
12:15 am
Carolina playing for Cam Newton or the treasure trove of picks they can get trading their #1 draft pick. Congratulations, birds…1-1 vs. the Saints, whoa! Better division record than the Saints, Whoa! And most important, better record vs. common opponents than the Saints…WHOA! Now thatza NFC homefield all da way to da Superbowl!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 28th, 2010
12:16 am
“Victory over Panthers no lock.”
Yeah it is. I don’t know if you have seen the Panthers this year. The Falcons could start Redman and Snelling and win by 30.
Now you know
December 28th, 2010
12:17 am
MV7
Mark Bradley
December 28th, 2010
12:17 am
Here’s the game column, if you’re of a mind.
Savannah Fan
December 28th, 2010
12:17 am
Turn out the lights the Party is over-who said that??-ATL DID
greatgameplan
December 28th, 2010
12:18 am
Yep…that’s what I mean. Michael Turner wasn’t even in the game that much, if you didn’t notice. Kept him on the sideline, nice and HEALTHY. This game meant nothing. Only a moron would use up their players and plan to win a game that had NO playoff implications for the Falcons whatsoever.
CONGRATS DIRTY BIRDZ! NFC SOUTH CHAMPS! (oh, and homefield advantage, too, yeah, yeah..do little bird dance now..heehee)
Bobby
December 28th, 2010
12:18 am
I have had to listen to Falcon fans at work for the past two to three weeks before this game. I’m going to not say a word tomorrow. The black and gold smirk on my face will be enough.
As to Miguel’s comments about people living in Atlanta that support the Saints. I’m from Louisiana, moved here in 1976, but have been a Saints fan since 1967 when they first came into the league – I was 13 at the time. I used to go to Saints games at Tulane Stadium before the Superdome. I’ve cheered for the Saints though some mighty thin seasons as well as them doing well against a great team tonight. So, I do prefer living in Atlanta and wouldn’t trade it for New Orleans but I will never support any team other than the Saints as long as they carry the New Orleans name.
Now you know
December 28th, 2010
12:18 am
“Who do you think yall going to fool in the ;playoffs?” Other than Falcons2010
Jay
December 28th, 2010
12:18 am
@ Najeh Davenpoop…Dude Turner can’t “Turn” the corner! We need a faster back!!!
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
12:19 am
Edward
December 28th, 2010
12:14 am
Vick supporter, you are a moron, period.
——————-
A smart one. Get it right
RMikel58
December 28th, 2010
12:19 am
WHO DAT! Now you know who’s KING. You have the home advantage, undefeated at home, 8 game win streak, 24-0 when leading in the 4th quarter but yet WHO DAT youre playing? Can you say “WHO DAT”? You got outscored, out coached, out played we spotted you 7 points and your defense say “WHO DAT” “Who Dat that went by”? WHO DAT that just kicked your butts?
SAINTS!!!!!!!!!! DAT WHO ! We’re at FULL STRENGTH and you gotta go through WHO? to win the NFC. THATS OUR STATEMENT TO YOU ATLANTA.
Roddy White- non factor, Gonzalez- non factor, that fat running back ah oh yeah Michael Turner, Matt Ryan- non factor.
The fairy dust just wore off you and you had to sit there with bad taste of beer in your mouths and watch the clock run out.
We picked apart your defense better be glad you dont have to play in the 1st round and better pray you get home field advantage throught the playoffs and definitely pray you dont see us again. You wont make it past the 2nd round anyways but atleast you’ll be warm in the dome.
Your Defense sucks….. love the zone ya’ll play. Get ready to play some real teams Atlanta, ones you want have such a easy time winning in the last minute. Remember the feeling tonight and the bitter taste cause you’ll get the same feeling in 3 weeks after you lose again.
You won 5 or 6 games in the last minute but that’ll all be erased when you start facing real teams with real men and real players on them. Let Roddy White talk more smack like he always does. How many catches tonight? how many? You had to blitz all night because your front 4 is to fat and slow to put a rush on them so send the whole team. How many sacks? How many? 1 uh oh wow thats tremendous amount of sacks.
Atlanta i thought, we thought this was your STATEMENT GAME. It most definitely confirmed that youre not invincible at home. As usual when everything is on the line when everyone started to think you might be a good team, a formidable opponent your boy scout team shows up.
Oh yeah go ahead and destroy Carolina next week, wont prove a thing but remember WHO DAT was that made a STATEMENT tonight.
Edward
December 28th, 2010
12:19 am
Road to the super bowl STILL goes through Atlanta. We gave this game away, won’t happen again. Think Turner fumbles again from the one? Don’t think so. Think Ryan plays that bad? Don’t think so. Think we miss that many missed tackles again? Don’t think so. And please, don’t EVER refer to yourself as a falcons fan. You are anything but. I still believe in this team and look forward to making it to Dallas. We lost to the defending champs by 3 to snap our EIGHT game winning streak. I think we’re be ok.
Now you know
December 28th, 2010
12:20 am
These aint the DIRTY BIRDZ these are the Pheasants under Glass…
Falcons2010
December 28th, 2010
12:20 am
“Yeah it is. I don’t know if you have seen the Panthers this year. The Falcons could start Redman and Snelling and win by 30″
yep, even if this offense shows up next week (and scores the same number of points) out of every game Carolina has played this year .. Carolina would only win 5 times (scored over 14), lose 7 (less than 14 score), and tie 2 times (exactly 14 scored) .. and if Bryant becomes a factor they’d probably win 3 more games.
whodat70816
December 28th, 2010
12:22 am
Take Turner out of the game and Matty Ice Melts!
We all knew that…and the Saints executed very well!
GEAUX SAINTS!
greatgameplan
December 28th, 2010
12:22 am
Falcons 12-3. orleans 11-4
Head to head: EVEN
in division: FALCONS WIN
against common opponent: oh, YEAH, FALCONS WIN dat, too!
Falcons NFC South Champs! And most important, Falcons won’t have to play a single playoff game outside the JAWJA DOME! hee-heeee! Ba-buh-bah-bah-buh…I’M LOVIN’ IT!
playmeortrademe
December 28th, 2010
12:22 am
For all of you saying that Mike Smith didn’t open up the playbook, that is just dumb. We showed them everything on D and since we’ve played them 6 times in the last 3 years with essentially the same teams and coaches, nothing is new to anybody.
The thing is the Saints game planned to stop Turner, and when they did Mularkey never adjusted. The most successful drive was in no-huddle with Ryan reading the defense and calling plays ath the line. No coincidence there. Of course turnovers were a big reason but actually the turnovers were a wash at two apiece with essentially points being negated. I still but a lot of blame on Mularkey and the insistence that we stay with the run.
Vick Supporter
December 28th, 2010
12:23 am
Poor Edward…his little feeling are hurt
Now you know
December 28th, 2010
12:23 am
Vick Supporter why do they hate so hard? MV7 just demonstrated how you go on the road against your division rival and take the big game on national TV.
Noodle arm just showed why he is the # 1 handoff artist in football…What 138 yards in the air and stunk up the place on MNF.
Thanks mattie lice
DAWG FAN
December 28th, 2010
12:23 am
I’m an Atlanta native and grew up watching all those horrible Falcon teams. In fact, when I was a kid, I’d root for the other team when I went to games. With the exception of a few seasons, the Falcons have been average to poor for most of their existence. Arthur “Merchandising Genius” buys the team and they actually draft a good quarterback (and kept him; anybody remember that idiot Jerry “The Man In Black” Glanville trading that guy named Bret?). They’ve had a great season, but they haven’t really put anybody away. They’re too conservative on offense and it appears the coaches played not to lose tonight. They’ve had too many close games and it finally caught up with them. The birds should win next week to clinch the division and claim home field advantage. But Ryan was a non-factor tonight. Execution was poor at best and the play calling was terrible. Did they forget about Gonzales? Three and out will kill you and continuing to try to run the ball with the box filled is akin to Mike Bobo play calling. Lastly, the secondary is terrible and gave the Saints way too much room. Played to soft. The prevent defense does one thing: prevent victory.
GO VOLS!
December 28th, 2010
12:25 am
KimZ: A team worth rooting for. You mean like… UGA?
And I’m sure the dirty bird bandwagon is full enough. Suffice all that to say, MAKE ME.
Why do folks come on here DEMANDING things of faceless screen names?