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
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
845 comments Add your comment
P B Orr
December 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
The Falcons have three shutouts of 41-0 – their greatest margin. One more score and hold’em and it’s history.
Draggin Fly
December 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
PB: http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/GA/Atlanta/1978-12-24
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:22 pm
Fire Jack Del Rio!
And FG!
Groundhogday
December 15th, 2011
10:22 pm
Now that throw had some mustard on it………..for a “noodle arm.”
Time for Redman to get some reps.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 15th, 2011
10:22 pm
” Gabbert wasn’t even supposed to play this year, he was third string but the first two are hurt and out for the year.”
This isn’t entirely true. They cut Garrard before the season because they thought they could get by with Luke McCown, and when he predictably sucked they turned to Gabbert. I’m pretty sure Jack Del Rio planned to play Gabbert at some point this season regardless.
I didn’t see why he was rated so highly before the draft, and it looks like in what might end up a pretty deep QB draft, the Jags got a dud. Newton and Dalton are keepers, and Ponder and Locker will probably be at least decent NFL QBs.
Fred Macmurray
December 15th, 2011
10:22 pm
Have the Falcons ever beat anybody this bad,, maybe the Aints?
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
10:22 pm
katherine, yes, but a win by 1, or by 100, it is the same. The fact that Jax has collapsed means nothing about what we will face next week.
hawg
December 15th, 2011
10:22 pm
redman time
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
10:23 pm
This is the most creative I’ve seen the Falcons all year on offense. This is about to become a scary team going into the playoffs.
Heath
December 15th, 2011
10:23 pm
Possible MB column title: Falcons Score Higher Than Smith’s Heart Rate
ijonathan
December 15th, 2011
10:23 pm
Why are about half of my posts getting eaten?? They’re not even controversial.
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:23 pm
Bench Ryan!
Bench Turner!
Pretty please?
JK
December 15th, 2011
10:23 pm
Boom! This is a bloodbath! About time, to be honest. I’ve probably lost 6 months off of my life span watching this team this year and it feels good sit back and watch any easy arse-kicking for once.
JSS
December 15th, 2011
10:24 pm
That 73 team was maddening… Started 1-3, then they ran off 7 straight wins… Then they ran into OJ and Buffalo, it was ugly, Braxton and Simpson ran for 220 combined…
Loserville USA
December 15th, 2011
10:24 pm
OPENING DAY 1973…. Atlanta 62, New Orleans 7….
They also beat San Diego 41-0.
And of course, choked out of the playoffs.
katherine
December 15th, 2011
10:24 pm
the new owner of the jags looks clueless…id be mad if I was a fan
Shahid khan aka Mario
December 15th, 2011
10:24 pm
I am the proud owner of the Jaguars!
1 4 GT
December 15th, 2011
10:25 pm
That MNF Vikings game Tarkington ran out of bounds, really late in the game on 3rd and long, and he could have a made 1st down with about 2 more steps inbounds and probably won the last game of the regular season, 1 other loss in game 1,—–but Nobis had a dead bead on him.
Loserville USA
December 15th, 2011
10:25 pm
‘73 team was an unsolved mystery. Dominant at times, horrible at others.
bostonbcfan
December 15th, 2011
10:25 pm
@Najeh….I disagree that Gabbert won’t be good or even better…..he came from spread offense at Missouri and he had a fantastic college career but he has a big transition to go through, as you can see from tonight. I heard on one of the sports shows that he was not going to play this year unless absolutely necessary, which it obviously became necessary. I think in a couple of years he is going to be good.
katherine
December 15th, 2011
10:25 pm
half of my posts get eaten too
Eric C.
December 15th, 2011
10:25 pm
Ok, get the freakin starters out now
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
10:25 pm
We don’t need Abe holding his shoulder
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:25 pm
A Pakistani bought the Jags…
I’m open to whatever but that sure seems odd. Ugly dude but whatever!
Fire FG!
TGT
December 15th, 2011
10:25 pm
Can we play the Saints this Sunday?
Najeh Davenpoop
December 15th, 2011
10:25 pm
Bench Gonzalez. Please. I don’t want any garbage time fantasy points scored against me.
Loserville USA
December 15th, 2011
10:26 pm
The ‘73 game against the Vikes was ridiculous — off the scales exciting.
JK
December 15th, 2011
10:26 pm
Agree with Phil. Please take Ryan, Turner, Julio out. No need to see them get injured. We’ll need them at 100% next Sunday against the Saints in what will be a much more challenging game.
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
10:26 pm
I saw Abe on the ground holding his shoulder after the first throw to Jones-Drew.
Eric C.
December 15th, 2011
10:26 pm
Abraham, get him out
Ryan, out
Turner, out
Julio, out
Roddy, out
Gonzalez, out
Weatherspoon, out
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:26 pm
Bierman gets a sack?
Humiliating to all jax residents….
Falcons Defense
December 15th, 2011
10:27 pm
Sunshine must love Waffle House because he is getting scattered smothered and covered!
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
10:27 pm
Looks like he’s okay
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
10:27 pm
I just hope security check that guy out real good before they let him into the dome.
Fred Macmurray
December 15th, 2011
10:27 pm
Falcons doing what good teams do,, good to see for a change,,
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:28 pm
Isn’t the Aints game on monday nite after xmas?
And fire FG!
Fred Macmurray
December 15th, 2011
10:28 pm
Falcons doing what good teams do,, good to see for a change
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
10:28 pm
Yea, beirman,…..How stupid can one man be? BTW +9
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:28 pm
Santa is fat…
P B Orr
December 15th, 2011
10:29 pm
The only Falcons game with a greater point differential at this point was the drubbing administered to the Saints on opening day of 1973 – 62-7 in Tulane Stadium. The greatest day of Dick Shiner’s life.
Fred Macmurray
December 15th, 2011
10:29 pm
Wow,, there’s a echo in here.
Loserville USA
December 15th, 2011
10:29 pm
We’re asking for trouble.
TGT
December 15th, 2011
10:29 pm
Weems has seemed on the verge of breaking one all night.
Fred Macmurray
December 15th, 2011
10:29 pm
Santa is supposed to be fat. Especially this time of year.
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:30 pm
4 straight winning seasons….awesome.
Why in the hell are the starters out there? Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 15th, 2011
10:30 pm
They dropped 47 on the Rams in the playoffs in 2004, but they gave up 17 in that game too.
JSS
December 15th, 2011
10:30 pm
Norm was wearing on the 73 team, right when he need to let off that team and guide them in unfamiliar areas… he still tried to use the iron glove… The next year was horrid
JSS
December 15th, 2011
10:31 pm
Salvador Dali lives!
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:31 pm
Santa needs Zocor…
And probably Cialis.
phil
December 15th, 2011
10:31 pm
Baker is fat and flabby….
He is Santa.