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
Once Recent Reader
November 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
72 Mill Choke . . . .green bay had a tough time against the Vikings. They actually were losing to them at the half and managed to win by 6 33-27. So I don’t think they are looking at Falcons any differently due to this game.
Reggie
November 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
Uh Oh
JSS
November 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
Percy Harvin!!!
bigdave
November 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
great hustle Owens 21
oldfart
November 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
They can’t stand prosperity.
AtlNative
November 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
LOL
Man, this is just painful……
Dawgs01
November 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
The defense has to step up now was playing great till midway thru the third. Our secondary has major issues. Are you kidding Harbin is killing us
Andy
November 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
Are you kidding me????
jack bull
November 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
Van Gorders fault
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
A 100-yard return, but not for any points
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
Owens got a points there.
dean
November 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
You KNEW that wad going to happen!
Dawgs Man
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
HA HA HA HA HA. Losers
72 Million Dollar Bust
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
If the no huddle is so deadly, why didn’t it work vs Chicago, Tampa, Green Bay and New Orleans?
It only works vs losing teams.
Dawgs01
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
Harvin
fred
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
Thanks Owne..damn didn’t quit!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
A 104-yard return
keepinitreal
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
Even if we win, this is just dispiriting.
Matt from MN
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
Major props to Ryan on that drive. They looked horrible all half and have answered the challenge for now.
Wutehvah
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
Well, that mo’ shifted quick
jerry
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
How’s that no huddle and arm waving and yelling going to go over on the road in a noisy playoff atmosphere?
SRF
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
props to owens
Matt
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
72 Million Dollar Bust
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
It aint over Falcons heart breakers.
This game is still a Ryan Pick 6 away….ha ha.
phil
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
Just pathetic…
J.J.M.
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
can we put away a under 500 team…
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:47 pm
Wow. What a game
Loserville USA
November 27th, 2011
3:48 pm
Nothing good to feel about. Team can’t put 60 together. Coaches don’t have killer mentality. Translates to weak performances at times.
Dawgs01
November 27th, 2011
3:48 pm
Our secondary will never win us a championship neither will noodle arm though
Bonez
November 27th, 2011
3:48 pm
The Foulcans smh
falconsrus
November 27th, 2011
3:48 pm
chasing recievers finally pays off for owens keep running dude go birds
Braves #17 Fan
November 27th, 2011
3:48 pm
Offensive face mask!!!
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
3:48 pm
All JSS and 72 can do is toss up random meaningless crap. Fact is, we are 6-4, fighting for a playoff spot. That’s all.
JSS
November 27th, 2011
3:48 pm
OK, just for historical perspective, since 1966, the Packers have been terrible in Minnesota…
DawgNole
November 27th, 2011
3:48 pm
Gotta salute Owens on that one. Course he never should’ve been put in that position by our special teams in the first place.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:49 pm
Third and goal at the 2
Andy
November 27th, 2011
3:49 pm
Good job Ponder. Lose three yards and don’t go out of bounds to stop the clock.
Ernie
November 27th, 2011
3:49 pm
Special teams really suck!
jack bull
November 27th, 2011
3:49 pm
Donovan needs to be careful, he may trip over that..
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:49 pm
Fourth down. Ball at the 1
Dawgs01
November 27th, 2011
3:49 pm
Falcants can not close a team out and I put that blame on the coaches
phil
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
Pray they kick..
Loserville USA
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
ONly good news: Clock is running.
Reggie
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
Nice hustle by Owens. This could prove to be huge.
JSS
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
“Random and meaningless?” You mean like the mess you randomly “rah-rah?”
oldfart
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
Deeefense!!!!
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
Stopped. Spoon.
Andy
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
Even if they do score a TD here. They had to run 2-3 minutes off the clock.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
looked like a TD
Loserville USA
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
SPOOOOOOOOOON!