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
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:15 pm
Big gain again for Turner. Another first down. Still no-huddle
J.J.M.
November 27th, 2011
1:15 pm
I smell a playaction coming
Loserville USA
November 27th, 2011
1:15 pm
Ryan just audibled OPRAH! LOL!
TruthSeeker
November 27th, 2011
1:16 pm
The lack of buzz says a lot about how high the expectations have been raised. We should be 7-4 at the end of the day. Three years ago, everyone was ecstatic when we were 7-4. Now it just elicits a collective yawn. The Falcons have sort of become like the Braves. Regular season success is taken for granted. Win some playoff games and then we’ll be excited.
Once Recent Reader
November 27th, 2011
1:16 pm
Nikki . . .I get that College Football rules . . .. but to be on a Live Falcons game blog and want to begin talking about a different game occurring on Saturday after only 5 minutes? Just doesn’t compute in my little practical and logical (hopefully) brain.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:16 pm
Turner just made a great cut. I kid you not.
J.J.M.
November 27th, 2011
1:16 pm
asher allen got carried
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:17 pm
Holding on Hawley
J.J.M.
November 27th, 2011
1:18 pm
I can hear every word ryan is saying…is it because the crowd is so quiet?
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:19 pm
Touchdown Douglas. (TD, get it?)
Loserville USA
November 27th, 2011
1:19 pm
Atlanta is a great place for the no-huddle….quiet crowd. Actually works to Ryan’s benefit.
PMF
November 27th, 2011
1:19 pm
DOUGLAS DOUGLAS DOUGLAS!
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:19 pm
Caught a slant, broke a tackle, scored. Nice.
Buzz Aldrin
November 27th, 2011
1:19 pm
Hairy Harry for the TD!!!! Speaking of…where is Choke today?
JSS
November 27th, 2011
1:20 pm
And that is how a team becomes 2-8…
DHunt
November 27th, 2011
1:20 pm
Harry Douglass on the crossing pattern is lethal all day every day.
And yes MB, some of us are excited about this game, as a good tune-up for bigger games coming down the road. Always excited about Atlanta Falcons football.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
1:20 pm
Ryan is a bust, just horrible play calling by Malarkey. We should just forefit.
JSS
November 27th, 2011
1:21 pm
Why do you people always call people out when they are not around?
bostonbcfan
November 27th, 2011
1:21 pm
JJM……..the NFL has the centers miked this year for a better TV experience for the fans so we can hear more going on out on the field. The coaches hate it.
JSS
November 27th, 2011
1:22 pm
And then when they say something you start crying…
DHunt
November 27th, 2011
1:22 pm
Any kind of crossing pattern, be it slants, drags, etc. just have to have him going from one side to the other rather than straight upfield.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
1:22 pm
I must say, Bosher has improved this year from being an embarrasingly bad kickoff/punter to a decent kickoff guy/punter.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:22 pm
This isn’t the worst crowd ever. It’s bigger than a preseason gathering.
Gary32
November 27th, 2011
1:24 pm
Sorry your so bored Mark….it’s articles like you just posted why Atlanta gets a bad rap as a sports town….always negative!!!
J.J.M.
November 27th, 2011
1:24 pm
oooh ok thats why
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
1:24 pm
J S S… you know the drill…deep down, CHOKE needs the “attention” he/she gets on this blog, and the regular blog denizens/Falcons fans need CHOKE to elevate their own attention.
The Yin and the Yang.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:25 pm
Wondering how long the Vikings will need to get a first down
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:25 pm
I’m wondering no more.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
1:26 pm
GRIMES…NO!!!
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:26 pm
Brent Grimes was down. Walks off. Mike Smith will tell us how he is by Wednesday.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
1:28 pm
Owens…oh no.
J.J.M.
November 27th, 2011
1:28 pm
oh god chris owens
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
1:29 pm
Wow, this is getting ugly.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:29 pm
And now Dunta is injured
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
1:29 pm
Hopefully just a stinger?
JSS
November 27th, 2011
1:29 pm
@ ljonathan, that is a load of crap… There are about 6 of you guys who come on here and egg him when he’s not even on the blog… I had a three of you taking your shots last week at me, and I wasn’t on here… That is a punk move… If he’s here, then start something… If not, why even say something!
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
1:29 pm
Here’s your chance Dominique
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:30 pm
Good thinking by the Vikes: Falcons missing both cornerbacks, so they run on third-and-1. And get stopped.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 27th, 2011
1:30 pm
Frisbee catching dogs, waterskiing squirrels at halftime.
bostonbcfan
November 27th, 2011
1:30 pm
Spoon is really starting to become the player they hoped he would. good to see.
Mr. Panic Button
November 27th, 2011
1:30 pm
I don’t want to see any conservative play calling today–on either side of the ball.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
1:30 pm
J S S…you talked pretty tough on this blog last week. you got your policeman’s hat on again today?
Nikki
November 27th, 2011
1:30 pm
Okay….now we REALLY need the offense to sustain some very long drives and keep our defense off the field as much as possible.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
1:31 pm
I would think one should test Owens and Franks.
Draggin Fly
November 27th, 2011
1:31 pm
Do you google yourself to see who’s been talking about you?
mountain_jim
November 27th, 2011
1:31 pm
Going to need our best pass rush today
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
1:32 pm
I know, really JSS, get over yourself.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:32 pm
Weatherspoon will be the Falcons’ best defensive player soon, if he isn’t already.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
1:32 pm
@JSS, oh, and I can’t remember when I last “egged him on” when he wasn’t already on here. Although I’m sure you will try to find it in the archives somewhere if in fact I did.
Are you saying that you’re not allowing us to even mention any regular poster unless they first clock in?
King Kong ain’t got nothin’ on you.
mountain_jim
November 27th, 2011
1:32 pm
Hope Dunta’s shoulder is not badly dislocated