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
Matt
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
THANK YOU DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reggie
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
Owens just made the play of the game.
Dawgs01
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
Great play spoon
Dwayne
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
What a stop….
bigdave
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
Spoon !!!!!!MVP
Andy
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
Nice job by the D.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
Chris Owens saves seven points and maybe a playoff spot
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
Wow, that saw a freaking TD. Talk about bad coaching.
72 Million Dollar Bust
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
@Mr. Charlie
Don’t call your team elite if you can’t handle the heat….ha ha.
falconsrus
November 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
Steel Feathers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Braves #17 Fan
November 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
That’s what I’m talking about!!!!
Dawgs Man
November 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
The only team worse than the Falcons is Minnesota.
dean
November 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
Fire Van Gorder?
mountain_jim
November 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
Thus Owens play was HUGE
Ted
November 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
Minn needed two scores. Dumb coach.
phil
November 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
Then again, they’re idiots.
They had the score, then they pull a falcons in OT vs the saints….
Owens saved us.
Eric C.
November 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
Ha ha ha haaa haa ha haa ha!!! They actually scored on the previous play…I love it!
Loserville USA
November 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
Feel good for Owens, When players who SUCK do something to help it’s a bonus.
Jimmy
November 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
Where is Grimes today?
Dawgs01
November 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
Got to get one first down here to punt
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
Yea, Owens did earn some kudos there. Holy crap…Don’t get a safety!
jack bull
November 27th, 2011
3:52 pm
Owens with the play of the game
Mr. Panic Button
November 27th, 2011
3:52 pm
Why are these idiots running the ball?
Dawgs Man
November 27th, 2011
3:52 pm
Another Turner 1st down run for NOTHING>
phil
November 27th, 2011
3:52 pm
JJ has had a big day with zero catches…woo hoo!
JSS
November 27th, 2011
3:52 pm
And all of you that went crazy about the 4th and 1 against the Saints, that is what happens when you don’t block regardless of the team…
phil
November 27th, 2011
3:53 pm
Grimes is hurt.
oldfart
November 27th, 2011
3:53 pm
Grimes went out with a knee “strain” in the 1st quarter.
D man
November 27th, 2011
3:53 pm
I change my mind, only fire Van Gorder on 3rd downs… He is calling a great game otherwise…
drmaryb (*_-)
November 27th, 2011
3:53 pm
Chris Owens!
Game saving tackle on a sure punt return for a sure TD! Or, not so sure? LOL!
Game Ball goes to – you guessed right, Chris Owens!!!
welikebaseball2
November 27th, 2011
3:53 pm
Ha!!! We’ve found a home for Owens…special teams…only…and let him stay there…special teams…only.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
3:53 pm
Yea, JJ is looking like a bust.
Matt from MN
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
Fire Mularkey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ernie
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
Fox station having all kinds of glitches. They suck too !
oldfart
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
Qwizzzzzz!!!!!
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
First down. That’s about the game.
Speedy Owens
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
WOW! Chris Owens is faster than I thought. He ran down caught Percy Harvin from behind 104 yards!
fred
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
1st
Andy
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
Looks like Harvin did score on that 3rd down play. Good thing it wasn’t reviewed.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
JIIIZZZZZZ
Sid
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
week after week the defense…..while not great…keeps the Falcons in their games. It’s the offense that seems unable to play 4 quarters…too many lulls.
Dawgs01
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
Game time thats all you quizzzzzz
Matt from MN
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
Thank God!
jack bull
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
terrible play call by Mularkey, right?
phil
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
BIG first down, unless we do something ELSE stupid.
dean
November 27th, 2011
3:54 pm
Rodgers does it again
Mr. Panic Button
November 27th, 2011
3:55 pm
Watch these sorry, conservative coaches be content with running out the clock.
falconsrus
November 27th, 2011
3:55 pm
J QQUIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
phil
November 27th, 2011
3:55 pm
Turner the Churner…
Dawgs Man
November 27th, 2011
3:55 pm
Wow. Big run for Turner. 2 yards.