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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,179 comments Add your comment
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
1:57 pm
Notice that Fox sidn’t show a comparison between AP and Turner on yards per carry…
DawgNole
November 27th, 2011
1:58 pm
I’m with Draggin Fly. That Sam and his love-interest kicker garbage wore thin long ago.
JSS
November 27th, 2011
1:58 pm
The beauty of “rah-rah” types is that when the walls come tumbling down on all of their myths and lies, they never have any to fall back on but name calling and little quips…
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:58 pm
Nothing wrong with that throw. Douglas for the first
Buzz Aldrin
November 27th, 2011
1:58 pm
Ijonathon, no QB has that much time in the pocket, aight?
Loserville USA
November 27th, 2011
1:58 pm
Well — he sounds like Manning……..
phil
November 27th, 2011
1:58 pm
Nice throw to Harry…
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
He threw the ball before Roddy slipped. He just lofted it up for Roddy to go and get. But you are right, had he thown it to where Roddy was, and Roddy had not slipped, it would have been underthrown, and we would have heard about the weak arm. Like you said,, can’t win……Douglas our best reciever.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
What a horrible pass from Ryan to Douglas. Made Harry dive and get his pants all rubbery.
drmaryb (*_-)
November 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
Click-It “or” Ticket!
When will my Falcon “Click” on offense? What do they do all week in practice? Roddy stumbling like Marvin Williams now? Come on Roddy!!! That Pro-Bowl was in Hawaii – and, it was last year!!!!
phil
November 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
Arrrggghhhh! The first down run when it was obvious!
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
First and goal. Ryan to Gonzalez
Draggin Fly
November 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
Same announcers cause Billick likes to eat Sunday dinner with his brother-in-law.
phil
November 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
TG!
Andy
November 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
It sounds like the Dome is empty. You can pretty clearly hear Ryan call the plays.
WitStream
November 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
Billick is the best color guy out there. Sirigusa is a clown.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
The beauty of negative nellies is when the team executes, they generally just disappear.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
Buzz, just pulling your chain. I was assuming the personality of certain blog opinions on here.
Loserville USA
November 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
Mercedes
Oprah
Dallas
Gas
Oil
I like it.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
Touchdown to Roddy. Wide open.
kevkat
November 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
Is there a site where the game can be seen online?
JSS
November 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
Really, the YPC is not that bad on Peterson-to-Turner…
bostonbcfan
November 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
geeez, a bunch of really crappy passes there…..hmmmmmmm.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
See JSS……Ryan making you guys look pretty stupid today.
phil
November 27th, 2011
2:01 pm
Roddy gets him one! Nice throw, nice catch…
I blame Mike Smith for that TD…
AtlNative
November 27th, 2011
2:01 pm
Hello fans and Mark,
To answer the question from your article Mark, I think with the Falcons, and with all Atlanta sports teams really, we as fans are always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
What I mean by that is, even when the teams are good, and look like they could do something – inevitably there is a mental meltdown (Braves blow division lead) or they don’t show up for playoffs (Hawks and Falcons past several years)
I would call the fan base tentative at this point. We like what we see, but its hard to buy in until we see something more.
That being said, the Falcons are looking good today – I hope we can put together four or five TDs today to get some rhythm and confidence moving forward.
drmaryb (*_-)
November 27th, 2011
2:01 pm
TD!
Roddy White! Let’s Go!
J.J.M.
November 27th, 2011
2:01 pm
http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/94928/1/watch-minnesota-vikings-vs-atlanta-falcons.html
stream
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
2:01 pm
I agree…I feel fortunate to have Billick call a lot of our games. He’s one of the best 2-3 color guys out there.
I also like Siragusa. I does raise some good points, and isn’t afraid to call guys out for things (and is occasionally funny).
Loserville USA
November 27th, 2011
2:02 pm
Apparent after 3 1/2 seasons they finally think Ryan is ready to assume control.
Good call. Guy’s smarter than the coaches.
Buzz Aldrin
November 27th, 2011
2:02 pm
Damn, get Ryan out of here. Only 2 TD passes today? Red-Man! Red-Man! Red-Man!
142.6 QB Rating for this game is unacceptable!
phil
November 27th, 2011
2:03 pm
Mr. charlie is Mr. negative….
DHunt
November 27th, 2011
2:03 pm
There’s a whole lot of complaining on here about a team that is looking pretty damn good in all phases today. We missed on a couple of deep passes, both of which were great routes and great passes, that just didn’t connect. Nobody is dropping wide open passes, everyone is on their assignment, only a couple of penalties, both relatively minor, and one coverage sack. Mularkey and BVG are both calling great games.
Some of you won’t be happy even when we win the Super Bowl. Probably still making ignorant comments about Julio being a bust.
Falcons Fans Rise Up!
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
2:03 pm
Fact is, 1 team does not disappoint, the other 31 go home losers. So, you can be negative and protect your feelings, because the odds are with you. But it takes guts to believe, negative nelly’s have not spine.
R Brown
November 27th, 2011
2:03 pm
OK first half so far despite injuries (hope Grimes is minor). Wonder what’s in store for the 2nd.
Matthew
November 27th, 2011
2:04 pm
Ryan seems to be having a solid game. I am always amazed that he can call a better game, on the field, than the OC can from the box. Mark, how much longer do you think we hang on to Mularkey?
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
2:04 pm
Ryan looks much better not trying to get the ball to JJ. Thats OK.
welikebaseball2
November 27th, 2011
2:04 pm
I just don’t get why you all call any critics of Ryan “haters.” I just don’t get why you can’t be objective enough to admit his weaknesses. I just don’t get how you don’t see your own “blindness.” For the record, I don’t call him overrated & a mere game-manager for that throw to White…it’s the tons of throws made behind White/Jones or over their heads. We have every right to, in all objectivity, voice our displeasure with Ryan’s inability to hit downfield receivers in stride. Another thing for the record, I’m a lifelong Falcons fan & would love nothing more than to see them truly stretch the field & wreak havoc on opposing defenses. I just don’t believe Ryan has the deep-ball-ability to facilitate such an offense. That doesn’t make me a “hater.” It makes me a passionate, objective fan of the hometeam.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
2:04 pm
JSS…you’re right, AP does have an edge over Turner on YPC, but not as much as I would have expected. Reasonably close.
Once Recent Reader
November 27th, 2011
2:05 pm
ijonathan . .. . . was just looking. M. Turner and A. Petersen have very similar stats this year. 888 to 872 yards (M Turner – more yards) before today’s game. 11 to 8 TDs (Petersen more TDs), and 4.7 to 4.4 yards per carry . . .again before today. (Petersen has the 4.7 yards per carry.)
kevkat
November 27th, 2011
2:05 pm
Thanks J.J.M.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
2:05 pm
I’ve always believed Mularkey’s stock is very high in-house.
phil
November 27th, 2011
2:05 pm
Atlnative is dead on….
The usual disappointment is painful….
Our one title in 1995 almost wasn’t too….but thank you, David Justice and Tom Glavine!
mountain_jim
November 27th, 2011
2:05 pm
I really liked Matt’s pump fake on that ‘overthrow’ to Roddy. It’s nice that he finally has the time to set up that play like that.
DHunt
November 27th, 2011
2:05 pm
@Andy, the home team crowd is supposed to be quiet so the offense can hear. That’s the sign of a smart fan base.
Andy
November 27th, 2011
2:06 pm
Billick is solid but he seems kinda like a know-it-all type and there’s gotta be a reason why he hasn’t gotten another head coaching job.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
2:06 pm
I’m thinking the Falcons have enough points already.
72 Million Dollar Bust
November 27th, 2011
2:06 pm
As long as there are playoffs, Ryan will always make my name live on.
I just want to know will Art Blank extend his rookie contract if they don’t win a playoff game
this season.
I doubt it, and I doubt if Smitty will be around much longer.
JSS
November 27th, 2011
2:07 pm
Stupid? What have you missed about what I’ve said about Ryan? He has made an career off of .500 and below teams… You do realize that is a 2-8 team on the other side of the ball? Oh yeah, “rah-rah” and talk a lot of crap when someone wasn’t on-line last weekend… I’m here, why don’t you crack that can of bad a** open that you have?
phil
November 27th, 2011
2:07 pm
Fire Dhunt!