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
2:07 pm
Matthew, the plays he is calling are MM plays. Plus, he has the benefit of seeing the D alignment before he calls the play.
WitStream
November 27th, 2011
2:07 pm
Agreed ijonathan. I like your style, btw. Good to have you around here.
Thid game is looking like I’m teeing it up at Steel Canyon around 3:30. Anyone interested?
Andy
November 27th, 2011
2:08 pm
DHunt
I know that but it’s especially quiet. It’s not because of a smart fan base. It’s because there are a lot of empty seats and a bored crowd.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
2:09 pm
welikebaseball2…I hear you…to me, your comment sounded like someone who never gives Ryan any credit, because truly the two deep throws today, while not perfect, weren’t that bad (and I would argue the second one to White was a very good throw). I know Ryan’s limitations. But watching this offense the last few weeks, I’m seeing signs of maturation. I’m seeing the field open up more. I’m seeing teams far less able to key solely on Turner. I’m seeing more slants and hitting receivers over the middle in stride. I’m seeing Tony G more open then he used to be. I’m seeing Snellilng and Rodgers being used as outlets/change of pace wisely. In short. I’m definitely heartened by the offense. Yeah, Ryan may not hit as high a percentage of long throws as other QB’s but at least we are making the defense think about more than just Turner up the middle and receiver curl and out routes.
72 Million Dollar Bust
November 27th, 2011
2:09 pm
Pretty impressive versus an 0-8 team led by a rookie.
Draggin Fly
November 27th, 2011
2:09 pm
Your words are hurtful. I will NOT be at the pancake social.
JSS
November 27th, 2011
2:09 pm
As great of a talent as Peterson is, he can’t stay on the field… He should have Eric Dickerson like numbers by now…
One-Winged Bird
November 27th, 2011
2:09 pm
Atlanta is a good team. The problem is Green Bay is a great team. They can beat the Vikings,Panthers,and Colts with ease. But until they can beat the Packers the playoffs really don’t matter…
R Brown
November 27th, 2011
2:09 pm
Mark Bradley – I agree, but will it hold up??
Reggie
November 27th, 2011
2:09 pm
Ryan already has 2 touchdown passes and has thrown for about 130 yards. Very efficient too. 12 of 15. He’s balling today.
ernisTbass
November 27th, 2011
2:10 pm
Enter your comments here
phil
November 27th, 2011
2:11 pm
I suppose Montana, Young, Marino, Elway, Tarkenton, Staubach, Brady, etc never feasted on bad teams in more games than good to great teams?
What is Ryan to do? Refuse to play well unless the other team is 5 games over .500?
It’s idiotic to criticize a player or team for simply playing the next team on the schedule….should we forfeit?
After all the years of getting our butts kicked, I’m thrilled to have a team that wins.
JSS
November 27th, 2011
2:11 pm
@ Mark Bradley…
Can you remember anyone who ran as upright as Dickerson that was that durable?
Buzz Aldrin
November 27th, 2011
2:11 pm
Once again…you have to make the playoffs to have a chance. What seed were the Packers last year? Oh yeah, they just got into the dance.
Beat the teams you are supposed to be so you get an invite to the ball and then it is a whole new season.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 27th, 2011
2:11 pm
WitStream : where’s Steel Canyon ?
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
2:11 pm
Long Weems return is negated
JSS
November 27th, 2011
2:11 pm
Weeeeeeeeee-eeeeeeee-eeeeeeeems, I’m back!!!
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
2:12 pm
No! Refs wave off penalty
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
2:12 pm
Waddya all say we punch it in again and make this 21-0 at half?
bostonbcfan
November 27th, 2011
2:12 pm
welikebaseball………it’s okay to be objective. I am. I know that Ryan throws some lousy balls sometimes and tries to squeeze balls in at times when he shouldn’t but all QB’s do that. But, as far as knocking him for not being able to throw the deep ball this offense isn’t designed to do that on a consistent basis. Yes, take some shots downfield now and then, but this offense doesn’t ask Ryan to do that. the offense is designed to move the chains with short to mid range passes and the run game. Move the chains and take time off the clock. It’s sort of a hybrid west coast offense but not a true west coast offense. So, if the offense doesn’t consistently throw the ball downfield you can’t expect him to always be right on target all the time. I saw Ryan for 3 years at BC and he never had trouble throwing the ball deep down the field. He HAS the ARM to DO IT. And you’re not going to see him throw it deep down the field on a regular basis in this offense. It’s just not designed that way.
NoShamSam
November 27th, 2011
2:12 pm
J.J.M……….thanks……great video link to the game. THANKS
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
2:12 pm
If Ryan “made a career” of only beating .500 teams, well, his record would probably be around .500. Its not. Also, Remember 2005, being 6-2 and losing to a 1 win GB team? Or maybe in 2006, 5-2 and losing back to back to back an 0ff-er Detroit and 1 win Cleveland team?
Don’t ever criticize a team for “only” beating bad NFL teams. It is the NFL, they are all pros.
mountain_jim
November 27th, 2011
2:12 pm
negated NOT
Reggie
November 27th, 2011
2:13 pm
If I’m Mike Smiht, I’m letting Ryan run no-huddle from here on out. Maybe that was the problem in the playoffs? He never got the chance to really shine. In the playoffs, whoever has the better QB play usually goes on to win the Super Bowl. Well put it on Ryan’s shoulders and I guarantee you he will come through.
DHunt
November 27th, 2011
2:13 pm
Weems earning his paycheck today. Again, all phases looking good.
phil
November 27th, 2011
2:13 pm
21-0.
Amen. Crunch em.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
2:14 pm
I remember in 2005, we were 6-2, and our 100 Mil bust QB lost to a 1-7 GB team. We finished that season 8-8, and did not get 2 winning seasons in a row. Now, talk about a loser QB…..
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
2:14 pm
Jim Brown ran pretty upright. He lasted a decade. Then he got shot at the end of “The Dirty Dozen.”
DawgNole
November 27th, 2011
2:14 pm
“72,” they’re not 0-8. That’s the trouble with jerks like you; you just throw crap out there and hope it sticks.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
2:14 pm
I’d rather be a fan of a team that “takes care of its business” consistently against the lesser teams and is “competitive” against the upper echelon teams. Nothing is more frustrating than to be a fan of a talent-laden squad that continually trips up against inferior opponents.
The challenge, of course, is that once you get in the playoffs, you generally only run into good teams, to that can become problematic.
Once Recent Reader
November 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
Hey I’ll take 14 – 0 or more at halftime. The Vikes were up 17-13 against the Packers a few weeks ago. Lost 33-27. As I mentioned earlier, 1 point or 25 point win . . …I don’t thing that points scored comes into affect early on in the Tie-Breaker rules for Wild Card spot. Win matters first, win against conference helps too. Big game to win – no matter by how many.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
I think we are just scratching the surface of what Ryan is capable of doing. He does seem a lot more comfortable in the no huddle.
JSS
November 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
What you clowns keeps forgetting the about the 10-6 #6 seed Packers is this: losses were by 3,3,3, 4, 3, and 3 points… They were never overmatched the entire year… One loss came in OT, the other was on the final play of regulation…
Matthew
November 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
Mr Charlie, I know that Mularkey provides the schemes and terminology, but Ryan has to set the tempo, read the defense, call the plays, stay balanced with the run and pass, all while the defense is trying to kill him. A tough job, for sure. He is a special QB and as long as we have him we will be a playoff team.
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
2:16 pm
In the NFL, records don’t matter….Ask the Ain’ts about the Rams.
Matthew
November 27th, 2011
2:16 pm
As soon as I say that…he fumbles
72 Million Dollar Bust
November 27th, 2011
2:16 pm
Oh great the whimpy fumble specialist strikes again.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
2:16 pm
Whoops. Ryan fumbles. Gets it back.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
2:16 pm
What are the chances of our new starting RG being one Sam Baker?
mountain_jim
November 27th, 2011
2:16 pm
Hawley not helping
J.J.M.
November 27th, 2011
2:16 pm
There goes the chance for a TD
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
Now Douglas drops the ball.
Once Recent Reader
November 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
Oh by the way MB . . . .after the initial “3 and Out” tie for Falcs and Vikes . . . outside of 14-0, the Falcs also lead 15-2 in First downs.
welikebaseball2
November 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
ijonathan: Understood. I agree with you about seeing better signs out of the offense lately. You make an interesting point about the slants…they have indeed worked well. I’m just not convinced slants & passes to the middle will stretch top-tier defenses. In the playoffs we’re going to have to establish a vertical passing threat or it’s going to be the same old same old.
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
perfect throw to HD…and a drop.
phil
November 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
Harry drops another one….all ryan’s fault.
Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2011
2:18 pm
Field goal.
Minnesota calls time. So it can have 30 seconds to run a draw?
ijonathan
November 27th, 2011
2:18 pm
Seriously, Ryan has thrown some super accurate passes today, in the 10-25 yard range.
72 Million Dollar Bust
November 27th, 2011
2:18 pm
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
I think we are just scratching the surface of what Ryan is capable of doing.
—–
At age 26 how many more years will that take?
Mr Charlie
November 27th, 2011
2:19 pm
Matthew, yes, but we seem to have found something that is working, and I just think Ryan is scratching the surface of what he is capable of doing. No way we even think about changing offensive systems until we find out how far it can take us.