Live from the Dome: A stress-free Falcons’ victory at last?
Matty Ice, shown in an un-holly-jolly mood. (AP photo)
The Falcons have played 13 games. Two have been blowouts: The opening loss at Chicago and the dismissal of winless Indianapolis. In the Falcons’ six home games, all have been in doubt in the fourth quarter, and one beyond that. (Fourth-and-1 at the 30 in overtime. I’m guessing you remember.)
I mention this because we might be about to see an actual Dome wipeout. The Jacksonville Jaguars arrive having already shed coach Jack Del Rio but still lugging the 32nd-best offense in a 32-team league. I also mention this because the Falcons’ head coach has been in the news for having chest pains. An actual runaway by the home side would be the nicest holiday gift Mike Smith could imagine.
I should also mention that the Falcons need only to beat two bad teams here — Jacksonville and then Tampa Bay on New Year’s Day — to reach 10 wins. Ten wins will almost surely book playoff passage and claim the NFC’s No. 5 seed in the process, and you’d rather be No. 5 and have to play the Giants or the Cowboys or the Eagles than be No. 6 and face a Round 1 game in the Superdome.
I could mention other things, but I really don’t feel a pressing need. This one shouldn’t be close, except that the Falcons are pretty good at making games close. Let’s see if they break character tonight.
And with that, the floor’s yours. I eagerly await your comments, questions and submissions for favorite seasonal song. And if anyone suggests Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” that person gets banned in perpetuity. So be warned.
By Mark Bradley
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845 comments Add your comment
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:12 pm
The Mazetti 5 fg game lives on in my fevered brain….a great night.
JSS
December 15th, 2011
10:13 pm
Mazzetti wasn’t on the 73 team, that was Nick Mick-Mayer era…
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
10:13 pm
Phil, why do you say that? We shut Brees down, and came back from 10 down. Sure we lost, but it was not because of Brees.
1 4 GT
December 15th, 2011
10:13 pm
I haven’t seen a Falcons shutout in forever. Hope they get one tonight.
AtlNative
December 15th, 2011
10:13 pm
@Grace
Yeah that is a great song. By one of the all timers
Groundhogday
December 15th, 2011
10:13 pm
I think 1 or 2 more series of Ryan and Redman needs some snaps. Quizz needs some carries too.
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:14 pm
Rest the starters?
They’ve rested all season!
katherine
December 15th, 2011
10:14 pm
i bet everyone is watching the dever/patriots game this sunday…it will be a huge ratings bonanza
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
10:14 pm
If we play like this the cheating Aints are going to need their whistles.
P B Orr
December 15th, 2011
10:14 pm
My bad, they had a shutout against Oakland in Oakland in 2008.
Falcons have 13 shutouts in their entire history. 6 at home, 7 on the road.
JSS
December 15th, 2011
10:14 pm
Mazzetti was 78…
bostonbcfan
December 15th, 2011
10:14 pm
Geez, JJ is fast!!!!
P B Orr
December 15th, 2011
10:15 pm
1 ATL 2011 2011-12-15 JAX 15 14 Thu T 0-0 0 0 0
2 ATL 2008 2008-11-02 @ OAK 9 8 Sun W 24-0 24 0 24
3 ATL 2002 2002-11-24 @ CAR 12 11 Sun W 41-0 41 0 41
4 ATL 2002 2002-10-20 CAR 7 6 Sun W 30-0 30 0 30
5 ATL 1993 1993-11-14 @ RAM 11 9 Sun W 13-0 13 0 13
6 ATL 1992 1992-11-29 NWE 13 12 Sun W 34-0 34 0 34
7 ATL 1988 1988-11-06 GNB 10 10 Sun W 20-0 20 0 20
8 ATL 1982 1982-12-12 NOR 6 6 Sun W 35-0 35 0 35
9 ATL 1981 1981-09-06 NOR 1 1 Sun W 27-0 27 0 27
10 ATL 1978 1978-10-15 DET 7 7 Sun W 14-0 14 0 14
11 ATL 1977 1977-11-27 @ TAM 11 11 Sun W 17-0 17 0 17
12 ATL 1977 1977-10-09 @ SFO 4 4 Sun W 7-0 7 0 7
13 ATL 1976 1976-09-26 @ CHI 3 3 Sun W 10-0 10 0 10
14 ATL 1973 1973-10-21 @ SDG 6 6 Sun W 41-0 41 0 41
bostonbcfan
December 15th, 2011
10:15 pm
Scary fast he is
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:15 pm
Why run Julio Hamstring on an end around with a 34-0 lead?
Stupid.
Reggie
December 15th, 2011
10:15 pm
I know the Taint fans are watching this game. We are embarrassing the Jags on national tv. But I have no beef with the Jags. If we can get pressure on Brees like this, we’ll beat the Jags. Thing is, Brees will look downfield with pressure in his face, unlike Gabbert. Doesn’t matter. We’ll get after Brees and beat the Aints. Or Taints.
.
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
10:16 pm
This is the #4 defense in the league and we are clicking against them.
Heath
December 15th, 2011
10:16 pm
MB must be busy writing his column. Possible Title: “No Heartache For Smith Thursday Night”
Reggie
December 15th, 2011
10:16 pm
We get 10 days to prepare for the Saints. No doubt we’ll be prepared. I just hope the Saints are ready. They’ll be at home, so they’ll have HFA. I think it’s going to be another dogfight like ALWAYS. Hmmm, where are the haters? I don’t see em.
Loserville USA
December 15th, 2011
10:16 pm
JSS — My bad it was Mick-Mayer — I was thinking of Mazzetti who also had 5 FGs vs. the Rams in ‘78.
Good catch.
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:17 pm
JJ is catching the ball….
katherine
December 15th, 2011
10:17 pm
i dont know why the falcons would be scared of the saints……they lost in overtime…its not like the saints killed them
JSS
December 15th, 2011
10:17 pm
Charlie, clueless as Cher…
Reggie
December 15th, 2011
10:18 pm
For EVERYONE’s INFO who might want to bash us and might say we’re playing a “low team” or say “look who you played.” The Jags actually aren’t bad on defense. They’re actually top 5. And we’ve got 34 and counting.
Heath
December 15th, 2011
10:18 pm
Hasn’t road team won last five or so in Saints-Falcons series.
Draggin Fly
December 15th, 2011
10:18 pm
@PB Orr: “The 78 WC game was played on Dec 24 – it never got below 39 and the high was 46.”
The low was 30 on that day. There was ice on the tarp.
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:18 pm
#4 D?
How?
bostonbcfan
December 15th, 2011
10:19 pm
@katherine……you wouldn’t believe the noise going on up here for the Pats/Broncos game coming up sunday….that’s all everyone is talking about….Tebow vs Brady and what’s going to happen….and the game is in Denver
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:19 pm
That penalty on Hawley is Sam Baker’s fault!!
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
10:19 pm
Falcons are not scared of the Saints. Our offense is just as good and our defense is better than theirs.
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
10:19 pm
What happens in this game means nothing. It is a W, that is all. Big thing is, we get some 10 days to work on things. But the Saints game is not a must have anyway.
LK
December 15th, 2011
10:19 pm
Falcons have only 10 days to forget how to win…but I have faith that they will.
Loserville USA
December 15th, 2011
10:19 pm
It’s great to discuss the real old days — find out who the real fans are.
Fred Macmurray
December 15th, 2011
10:19 pm
I got you babe.
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:20 pm
Nice JJ effort…
Eric C.
December 15th, 2011
10:20 pm
Have to agree with you Phil…don’t get the plays to Julio, and why show your cards to the Saints?
katherine
December 15th, 2011
10:20 pm
i think they should take julio out to be safe
P B Orr
December 15th, 2011
10:20 pm
Draggin,
http://classic.wunderground.com/history/airport/KATL/1978/12/24/DailyHistory.html
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
10:20 pm
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:18 pm
#4 D?
How?
____________________________________________
Go look at defensive stats on ESPN. they are #4 in total defense. That’s how.
Loserville USA
December 15th, 2011
10:20 pm
KEEP THE FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL!
mmgtfan
December 15th, 2011
10:20 pm
Surgery
Fred Macmurray
December 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
Hopefully get Grimes healthy,, but these guys are doing ok,, of course this is the Jaguars,,,
ijonathan
December 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
Take a seat Matty, your night is done.
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
This is great fun!
We never do this….ever.
Bonez
December 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
Dizzamn this is a beat down
bostonbcfan
December 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
Damn, Ryan just can’t throw the ball…..LOL
AtlNative
December 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
Might be time to rest the starters now.
Hey Mark, are there ANY Jags fans in the stadium at this point?
Loserville USA
December 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
Is Mularkey in the booth? Or is someone else calling the plays?
katherine
December 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
10:19 pm
What happens in this game means nothing. It is a W, that is all. Big thing is, we get some 10 days to work on things. But the Saints game is not a must have anyway.
But this game doesnt mean nothing…its a must win for the playoffs
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
What is the TD/TO differential up to JSS. I noticed you were keeping track of that during the Texans game….Were are we at?