Live from Falcons-Vikings: Anybody excited about this one?
"Hey, I'm pumped. Who's with me?" (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
I wish I could say I’m looking forward to a great day of pro football here at the Dome, but I’d be a big fat liar. The Atlanta Falcons tend to play to the level of the opposition, and if that happens today …
(Pause to shudder.)
The Minnesota Vikings are awful, and they’re without their best player. (Adrian Peterson, RB.) They’re also without Brett Favre, Randy Moss, Alan Page, Joe Kapp, Carl Eller, Fran Tarkenton, Chuck Foreman, Cris Carter, Mick Tinglehoff and anyone else who ever put the pop in the Purple. The Vikings are 2-8, having beaten two other terrible teams (Arizona and Carolina).
This is one of those games the Falcons should win by three touchdowns, and I’m thinking it’s a game they need to win by three touchdowns. Even at 6-4, there’s scarcely a buzz about this team nationally or locally. I got out of Mass later than usual this morning, and I was thinking I might hit traffic around the Dome, but I drove right in at 11:30.
It’s 12:03 as I write, and there’s almost nobody in the house. I know it’s the Sunday after Thanksgiving and the day after Tech-Georgia, but still … this is, on the record, a pretty good NFL team. I wondered in preseason why more people weren’t talking about the Falcons, and on the final Sunday of November I’m wondering still.
So I ask again: Are you pumped about the Birds? Are you too stuffed with Thanksgiving turkey to care? Has watching Florida fall to 6-6 and Clemson to 9-3 last night dulled the senses? Is there anybody out there? Is this microphone on?
With that, I’ll hang up and await your responses. Assuming there are any.
By Mark Bradley
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1,179 comments Add your comment
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
3:18 pm
Dawgs, NO DOUBT. We should just hide under the desk, because we are going to FAIL….
mountain_jim
November 27th, 2011
3:18 pm
Come on defense – you have to bail out our conservative offense and special teams crud now!
72 Million Dollar Bust
November 27th, 2011
3:18 pm
I repeat: This is versus a 2-8 rookie led team on the road.
Just a thought.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
3:18 pm
Yea, Smitty does need to perfect the red flag management.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
3:19 pm
Thank goodness for the rubber dust they use to stabilize the field turf
phil
November 27th, 2011
3:19 pm
Um, Mark? Shaub is on IR…
Loserville USA
November 27th, 2011
3:19 pm
4th and 15. Ed Donatell defense.
J.J.M.
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
houston down to their 3rd string
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
That’s what I mean, phil. Someone said the Falcons will definitely lose to the Texans.
HawksFanNorcross
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
good call
Dumbo
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
72 Million Dollar Bust….you are a total butthead…scared to answer a simple question
72 Million Dollar Bust
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
What has the bust done in the 2nd half?
I know you Ryan lovers were so shocked to see him with decent stats in 1/2 a game you couldn’t
wait to celebrate. Ha ha.
jack bull
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
that was clear enough that even fill could see it
Loserville USA
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
I hate this team.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
OK, I take it all back. Everybody must go!
AtlNative
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
LOL
Now there is a deep arm threat.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
72 are you talking about a rookie QB winning, like the 11 times Ryan won as a rookie? Don’t discount the ability of a rookie, as Ryan taught the NFL.
Reggie
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
WHAT THE HELL! You gotta be kidding me!
J.J.M.
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
lmao this team sucks
Falcons: Play 60!
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
shocking!
… not
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
Lofton on a wide receiver?
phil
November 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
Sad…but not surprising.
Any comments from you idiot homers?
Andy
November 27th, 2011
3:21 pm
We gotta ballgame here people. You awake now Mark?
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
3:21 pm
LOL, how do you let that happen?
dean
November 27th, 2011
3:21 pm
Im actually laughing
72 Million Dollar Bust
November 27th, 2011
3:21 pm
The meltdown is comingggggggggggggg.
JSS
November 27th, 2011
3:21 pm
The Texans better be calling that Texting Man in Mississippi! What do they have to lose besides money in a lawsuit!!! Percy Harvin!!!
jack bull
November 27th, 2011
3:21 pm
nice…lol
Jimmy Crack
November 27th, 2011
3:21 pm
THERE HE IS!!!!!!!!!!
OWENS!!!!!!!!!!
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
3:21 pm
Ah yes, Chris Owens showing up late on the scene.
Loserville USA
November 27th, 2011
3:21 pm
Van Gorder is a true MORON.
SRF
November 27th, 2011
3:21 pm
Owens burned again – he ran right by him
D man
November 27th, 2011
3:21 pm
We rushed 3 AGAIN on 3rd and long. Sick…
Joel
November 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
Total BS, rush this blows
Falcons: Play 60!
November 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
it’s no wonder why this team isn’t and shouldn’t even be considered a Super Bowl contender (maybe not even a favorite to go far in the playoffs)
Reggie
November 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
Oh my goodness. How do you let that happen?
R Brown
November 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
Most everyone on the blog is a Falcons fan but if you think the second half can be applauded you are not being objective. Here we go again!!!
SRF
November 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
72 – how is the D sucking Ryan’s fault ?
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
Where was the safety?
mountain_jim
November 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
See why you open the 3rd with the passing that worked in the first half, Mark?
We totally let them back in and now may lose our playoff chances – way to get conservative and FAIL!
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
Yes, I’m awake. And aghast.
phil
November 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
Why not blitz there? This is absurd.
Jimmy Crack
November 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
At least now we won’t be mistaken for elite ever again.
jack bull
November 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
now, it’s a ballgame..let’s have some fun!!
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
It seems an obvious score. I don’t get the review.
Bonez
November 27th, 2011
3:23 pm
MIKE SMITH=MOST OVERRATED COAH IN THE NFL
Mr. Panic Button
November 27th, 2011
3:23 pm
These SORRY MF’n Falcons!!! They’ll never fail to let you down. We have circus clowns playing in the secondary.
OHIOdirtybird!!!!
November 27th, 2011
3:23 pm
Owens is a joke!!!
Reggie
November 27th, 2011
3:23 pm
NO PASS RUSH, NO COVERAGE= BEAT EVERY TIME!
LOFTON ON HARVIN! WTF?! You can’t be that stupid.
Dawgs Man
November 27th, 2011
3:23 pm
As i said this team SUX.