Live from the Dome: OK, I’ve decided – I’m picking the …
All is in readiness in the city where snow and ice never descend. (Photo by M. Bradley)
True confession: I’ve actually spent a lot of time thinking about who’s going to win this game. (Ordinarily I just go with my gut, which can prove problematic. Perhaps you knew that already.) And I, at the risk of blowing it for everyone, am picking the Falcons. My rationale:
The Falcons have been the better team. The Falcons are playing at home. The Falcons have already proved they can beat Green Bay.
Ergo, the better team/home team/proven team should win. By the count of 20-17, let’s say. And now, having said that …
Green Bay is the only team remaining in the NFC bracket capable of coming here and stealing one. The Bears? No. The Seahawks? Get real. The Packers are a good team capable of winning if the Falcons perform the way they did against New Orleans on Dec. 27. But I’m thinking the Falcons won’t. I’m thinking they’ll learn from that night that a game of such magnitude is no place for timidity. I’m thinking, in sum, that the Falcons will get past this impediment and play in Super Bowl XLV.
But that’s just me. And I’ve been known to be wrong. But I’ve just spoken to a high-level Falcons official — have fun guessing who — and that individual is frankly peeved at the plethora of pundits picking the Packers tonight. (Try saying that three times fast with a mouthful of peanut butter.) And I’m thinking the home side will render a performance to remember — for good reasons.
And with that, this floor is again open for questions, comments and threats for having jinxed the Falcons. I’ll be here all night, and I’d appreciate the ride-along. (Speaking of riding along, I rode to the game from the Atlanta Bread Co. on South Cobb Drive with esteemed colleague Darryl Orlando Ledbetter. D-Led has a sporty Mustang. Bet you didn’t know that about him.)
But I digress. Time to get ready for some football. Time to rise up. Time to watch the Falcons send the Pack packing. Join me, please. You’ll be sorry you did.
By Mark Bradley
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1,956 comments Add your comment
Joe "Choke" Flacco aka Mr Charlie
January 15th, 2011
8:00 pm
Lets see, Choke Vick goes down like a 2 dollar *****. Flacko go is handed 14 pts by his D, gets a big put return, and can’t even complete a pass when the game in on the line……and Choke Ryan is nowhere to be found…..Classic.
Falcons2010
January 15th, 2011
8:03 pm
funny how some of these guys talk like Matty is still a rookie going to the playoffs. In terms of playoff appearances, Matty has seniority over Rodgers.
Everyone on Fox, except Terry, picks Green Bay
BlackMoses
January 15th, 2011
8:04 pm
Packers tonight…..It will all center around Aaron Rogers ability to make and extend plays.
Joe "Choke" Flacco aka Mr Charlie
January 15th, 2011
8:05 pm
BUT BUT BUT, Joe, and Rogers won wild card games…AND Vick is starting the Pro Bowl.
FalconIce
January 15th, 2011
8:05 pm
FWIW,
Pregame commentators running the show 4 picked Green Bay and only Terry picked the Falcons.
Let’s hope they are incorrect! They were 1-3 last week!
kerryb
January 15th, 2011
8:06 pm
Come on Falcons.Lets not just beat the Packers. Lets kick the crap out of them. I’m tired of all these media talking heads and ex-coaches and players disrespecting us. Picking a #6 seed to beat a #1 seed. Lets show them something and get or respect.
Tampa Falcon
January 15th, 2011
8:06 pm
FALCON!!!!
Mark Bradley
January 15th, 2011
8:06 pm
The Falcons are being introduced
Joe F; Mike V "Choke" aka Mr Charlie
January 15th, 2011
8:06 pm
Funny how Choke Ryan is hiding line a little *****
BostonBCfan
January 15th, 2011
8:06 pm
Greetings Falcon Fans!!! Been following the live blogs all year but haven’t contributed cause I got sick of seeing the crap from the Ryan haters – Flacco/Vick lovers. ( I mean Joe “Choke” Flacco). But, I wanted to come on and tell all you Falcon fans that we up here in Boston are rooting hard for your team and our boy Matty Ice. We had the privilege of having him up here for 4 years and it was a pleasure watching him in many come-from-behind wins at BC. He’s tough as nails (go on youtube and check out the video of the hit he took his first game at QB for BC against Clemson. Bounced right up after it and it was vicious) and yes, he CAN throw the deep ball. I tried to tell you all 3 years ago when the Falcons drafted him to just give him time and watch out.
Regardless of what happens in the game tonight you guys finally have a franchise, a team and a face of the franchise you can be proud of for many years to come. You can believe MR will never embarrass himself, the team or the city. And I see super bowls in the Falcons future. So good luck tonight…..Go Falcons!!!!!! Send the Pack back to green bay with their tails between their legs.
God help me if the Falcons and Pats get into the super bowl…..I don’t know how I’m going to root against MR if that happens. We love the kid up here.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 15th, 2011
8:06 pm
I think this game is going to come down to which teams plays better on special teams. If Weems has a big game, the Falcons win. If he doesn’t, the Falcons could still win, but they are going to need a big play from somewhere else to compensate.
drmondo
January 15th, 2011
8:07 pm
Come on Falcons!!! Shut the doubters up!!!
Tampa Falcon
January 15th, 2011
8:08 pm
James Stark, again. I hope we stuff him big time.
Tampa Falcon
January 15th, 2011
8:08 pm
Buck says its loud — Hope it stays that way all night!!!!
kerryb
January 15th, 2011
8:09 pm
I’m also tired of them acting like this Stark kid is the second coming of Emmitt Smith. He’s a one hit wonder and they think he is going to run on us. All of a sudden the Packers have found a running game, NOT.
drmondo
January 15th, 2011
8:09 pm
Mark, what are the chances that the Falcons go after free agent CB from Oakland (you know, the one I’ve got no chance of spelling correctly)?
Ron Choke Mexico
January 15th, 2011
8:10 pm
Mr. Charlie,
so true, choke sure knows how to pick’em
Falcons2010
January 15th, 2011
8:10 pm
.. Seth Brown Band? Hope I heard that wrong …
Chop Buster
January 15th, 2011
8:10 pm
Let’s go FALCONS…we’re ready to kick some Packer butt!!!
SCAMRUN NEWTON
January 15th, 2011
8:12 pm
Tony Gonzalez looked constipated!!
Ross L not Ross B
January 15th, 2011
8:12 pm
Falcons look loose, Packers look tight.
Once "Recent" Reader
January 15th, 2011
8:12 pm
Flacco has played well in Playoff Games Ravens have won . . .I think 4 since he’s been there – actually against the Pats last year I think he really didn’t have to do much . ..and didn’t, but no mistakes. But the losses . . …he’s been pretty bad.
Ross L not Ross B
January 15th, 2011
8:13 pm
You know it’s really dumb to have to monitor two blogs. And where’s D-Led?
Mark Bradley
January 15th, 2011
8:13 pm
Zac Brown Band, I’m pretty sure
Mark Bradley
January 15th, 2011
8:14 pm
Green Bay wins the flip. Defers. Confidence or folly?
I say the latter.
drmondo
January 15th, 2011
8:14 pm
Nnamdi Asomugha is the guy I’m asking about.
BostonBCfan
January 15th, 2011
8:15 pm
Let’s go Falcons…hit em hard, hit em fast, and hit em often….don’t let up for a second tonight!!
Mark Bradley
January 15th, 2011
8:16 pm
Let’s see if the Falcons wing it on the first play
Najeh Davenpoop
January 15th, 2011
8:16 pm
Joe Buck giving props to the Dome crowd. I think this is the first time the national media has ever given Atlanta fans any respect for any reason.
Tampa Falcon
January 15th, 2011
8:16 pm
Rise Up!!!!!
Buckhead Bulldog
January 15th, 2011
8:16 pm
Let’s go get it, Falcons!!!!
Mark Bradley
January 15th, 2011
8:17 pm
I’m not sure that’s what I meant.
Mark Bradley
January 15th, 2011
8:17 pm
Turner for four. Third down
Mark Bradley
January 15th, 2011
8:18 pm
Ryan buys time, finds White. First down.
Falcons2010
January 15th, 2011
8:18 pm
there’s one!
Tampa Falcon
January 15th, 2011
8:19 pm
First Down White!!!
Tampa Falcon
January 15th, 2011
8:19 pm
I hope Turner can be as good as James Stark
Mark Bradley
January 15th, 2011
8:20 pm
Ryan under duress. Hits White. Another first
Tampa Falcon
January 15th, 2011
8:21 pm
Ryan is a man and we are 2 for 2 on thrid down conversions.
Once "Recent" Reader
January 15th, 2011
8:21 pm
Hung in there on that one . . . . .. Roddy finding some space in the short middle so far on 3rd down.
Mark Bradley
January 15th, 2011
8:21 pm
I jinxed the falcons with my pick, congrats to myself, or kudos as I say.
Joe F; Mike V "Choke" aka Mr Charlie
January 15th, 2011
8:21 pm
Oh yea, Vick beats that blitz. hahahaaha
BostonBCfan
January 15th, 2011
8:21 pm
Yea, sure, MR is not accurate….right!!!! Great pass!
Tampa Falcon
January 15th, 2011
8:22 pm
Third and 10. Not good.
Mark Bradley
January 15th, 2011
8:22 pm
Another third down
Once "Recent" Reader
January 15th, 2011
8:22 pm
OK . …now 3rd and 10 is not where we (or any team) wants to be. Let’s see if they can go 3 for 3. Will be tough!
Mark Bradley
January 15th, 2011
8:22 pm
Go here?
Punting
Joe F; Mike V "Choke" aka Mr Charlie
January 15th, 2011
8:23 pm
Back em up,,,maybe a fake?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 15th, 2011
8:23 pm
Falcons are so good on 3rd down in large part because most of their 3rd downs are manageable. They can’t afford to be losing yards on 2nd down and face long 3rd downs.
BostonBCfan
January 15th, 2011
8:23 pm
That’s alright, flip the field, take that time off the clock.