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
Sonny Clusters
December 15th, 2011
8:15 pm
Probably a late arrival. Wife got the car.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:16 pm
I saw Ms. Ronstadt in concert back in the day. Also Maria Muldaur after “Midnight at the Oasis.”
MightyQuinn
December 15th, 2011
8:16 pm
Good one MB! Hey who was your first rock chick crush? Quick before kickoff!
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:17 pm
I believe I just provided a partial answer, MightyQuinn.
MightyQuinn
December 15th, 2011
8:18 pm
Maria Muldaur! Oooo la la! Bring your camel to bed????
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:19 pm
Know who else was rather fetching? Yvonne Elliman, who sang the part of Mary Magdalene on the LP “Jesus Christ Superstar.” I saw her on the Fourth of July in 1974 in Columbus. She was providing backup vocals on Eric Clapton’s back-from-heroin-but-deep-into-drink tour.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:20 pm
Maria Muldaur is still making records. And we are Facebook friends.
Fred
December 15th, 2011
8:21 pm
Is anyone watching the broadcast? Who is that loud mouth in the silver suit sitting on the right end?
falconsrus
December 15th, 2011
8:21 pm
My first concert was the Supremes with Mary Wells instead of Diana Ross in a C-5 hanger at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma good show
Poncho
December 15th, 2011
8:21 pm
Let’s Go Falcons!!! Pick up where you left off in the second half of the Carolina game.
mmgtfan
December 15th, 2011
8:22 pm
The stadium actually looked like it filled up………kinda
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:22 pm
I once walked past Diana Ross in the tunnel at Shea Stadium. She didn’t say hello.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:23 pm
As a final note, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Face Who Launched A Thousand Trips — Ms. Grace Slick.
Fred
December 15th, 2011
8:23 pm
I once jammed with Muddy Waters………..
Big Enos Burdette
December 15th, 2011
8:23 pm
Did she sound much taller on the radio?
Sonny Clusters
December 15th, 2011
8:24 pm
You were standing next to Sonny Clusters last month and didn’t say hello.
MightyQuinn
December 15th, 2011
8:24 pm
Gotta say in the ’70’s it was hard to go wrong with either Pat Bentar or Stevie Nicks though.
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December 15th, 2011
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P B Orr
December 15th, 2011
8:24 pm
GS looks a lot like Mike Barnacle these days.
Big Enos Burdette
December 15th, 2011
8:25 pm
Sonny Clusters,
I bet you could get to Texarkana and back with truckload of Coors before kickoff. You are a fine man
falconsrus
December 15th, 2011
8:26 pm
she should have said hello I once snuck up behind Joan Jett on Panama city beach before her encore i scared her a little(Im 6 foot seven ) she didnt respond either lol
dean
December 15th, 2011
8:26 pm
Here i sit in a stnking smoke-filled bar, paying up front for drinks i wont drink. All because i refuse to bend over just to get the NFL network. This must be how a junkie feels.
MightyQuinn
December 15th, 2011
8:26 pm
Saw Grace Slick’s daughter touring with some of the old Jefferson Starship bunch a couple of years ago. She as hot as her mom was!
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:27 pm
I don’t know Sonny Clusters’ secret identity. And I think I like it better that way. Clusters should be an International Man of Mystery.
Big Enos Burdette
December 15th, 2011
8:27 pm
I’ve been snubbed by a lot better than Diana Ross
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:27 pm
Dome is actually more populated than I assumed it would be.
falconsrus
December 15th, 2011
8:28 pm
B Nessler said birds were scizophrenic he must be a football genius
dean
December 15th, 2011
8:29 pm
I got eyeball to boobs with Jane Fonda @ ATL-Fulton County at game 6 of the 92 world series.
Big Enos Burdette
December 15th, 2011
8:29 pm
Watching a little of the Miller Grove game on ESPN and it looks like a summer league all-star game down at the rec center
katherine
December 15th, 2011
8:29 pm
hey everyone…lets go falcons
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:29 pm
OK, here we go. Stevie Nicks returns the opening kickoff.
wayne
December 15th, 2011
8:30 pm
Almost!!
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:30 pm
Michael Turner up the gut for oodles of precious yardage.
Big Enos Burdette
December 15th, 2011
8:30 pm
Dean,
You were looking in a mirror
Bonez
December 15th, 2011
8:30 pm
I hope we use Quizz more
falconsrus
December 15th, 2011
8:30 pm
Burner yes run it son then gun it
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:31 pm
Falcons across midfield.
DONT HAVE ANOTHER HEARTATTACK M.SMITH
December 15th, 2011
8:32 pm
LET GO FALCONS
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:32 pm
Great play-action fake by Ryan. He’s not Boomer Esiason on those, but he’s pretty good.
Sonny Clusters
December 15th, 2011
8:32 pm
Clusters are a lot like Inspector Clouseau as far as Stealth and Surprise and Mystery. We was like that when we was playing ball. The Falcons look good in this first drive.
FalconDawg
December 15th, 2011
8:32 pm
Moving the ball well. Good play selections
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
8:33 pm
Seen this, you been reading my posts? 49ers are frauds.
Thomas Dimitroff is to blame
December 15th, 2011
8:33 pm
These first drives are where Mularkey stars.
Remember our early drives vs. the Packers.
Mularkey tends to know how to attack teams at the start
Fred
December 15th, 2011
8:33 pm
WHy doesn’t the nfl channel stream? Wonder if I can get it from comcast.net……..
mmgtfan
December 15th, 2011
8:33 pm
Turner on a toss is like Rosie O Donnell in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:33 pm
The Falcons throw a screen pass!
mountain_jim
December 15th, 2011
8:33 pm
screen!
P B Orr
December 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
Wow a screen. Is Mularkey stuck in traffic?
falconsrus
December 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
decent screen
Bill
December 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
Can’t believe the games is not on Charter..is it blacked out?