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
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
Julio to the schoolyard, as it were. Touchdown
TeenagedBravesFan
December 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
WOW JULIO!
Bonez
December 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
Julio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fast as shhhh
FalconDawg
December 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
Jones is great!!!
Thomas Dimitroff is to blame
December 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
Touchdown!!!
Praise Mularkey!!!
DONT HAVE ANOTHER HEARTATTACK M.SMITH
December 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
JULIO
dean
December 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
JJ is a fast man
Groundhogday
December 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
Bye bye Julio!
falconsrus
December 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
Juli uh oh
mmgtfan
December 15th, 2011
8:35 pm
Oh my
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:35 pm
Might be on one of the local channels, Bill.
katherine
December 15th, 2011
8:35 pm
julio!!!
TeenagedBravesFan
December 15th, 2011
8:35 pm
Was that the Falcons!?!?!
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
8:35 pm
Julio just split them and ran past them. That’s awesome speed.
Matt 'Choke" Ryan
December 15th, 2011
8:35 pm
Nice call, big time run after catch. When Julio gets it going, watch out.
Groundhogday
December 15th, 2011
8:35 pm
That was some serious acceleration.
katherine
December 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
great way to start the game
DONT HAVE ANOTHER HEARTATTACK M.SMITH
December 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
THAT WILL TAKE SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF OF MIKE SMITH HEART! GO JULIO
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
Ch 13 on comcast…..I believe that is what TD was thinking when they drafted JJ.
FalconDawg
December 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
Glad we closed a good drive with 6 instead of 3.
Anon1
December 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
Jones has shown that he definitely has speed after the catch. Means alot of YAC.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
I guess you could have a nicer drive. But it would be difficult.
P B Orr
December 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
Man that was the easiest score of the year, against the #4 overall D.
Groundhogday
December 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
Bill, the game’s on WATL 13 on Comcast
bostonbcfan
December 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
Nice to see that 4.36 speed by JJ early in the game…..man he can accelerate!!!!
72 Million Dollar Bust
December 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
Must be nice to throw a 2 yard lobb and get a great play from the guy everybody wanted to cut.
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
I think the hammy is feeling better.
Fred
December 15th, 2011
8:37 pm
@dean; They are showing the game on WATL as well as on the nfl channel. Grab a 12 pack and head on home. Drop the 123 pack at my house though.
dean
December 15th, 2011
8:37 pm
Enos. Jane is a commie traitor w(b)itch..but she is still Barbarella.
wayne
December 15th, 2011
8:37 pm
As Jed used to say, ” Weeeee Dogie!!!”
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
8:37 pm
Again, watch for the Falcons to peak at the right time. Said it all year.
Jimmy
December 15th, 2011
8:37 pm
how many yards was that last TD pass?
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
8:37 pm
wayne, I know you.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 15th, 2011
8:37 pm
Mike Mayock is fantastic on these NFL Network broadcasts. Great job showing how important Tony G is on that play (and to this offense in general).
DONT HAVE ANOTHER HEARTATTACK M.SMITH
December 15th, 2011
8:37 pm
WHERE IS CHOKE? I CANT BELIEVE HE IS NOT BLOGGING!
FalconDawg
December 15th, 2011
8:37 pm
Would like to see some serious defense now.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
December 15th, 2011
8:37 pm
for those who don’t have nfl network…check WATL, for charter is channel 3
falconsrus
December 15th, 2011
8:38 pm
Who was playing left tackle?
dean
December 15th, 2011
8:38 pm
Fred..im down on the golden isles.
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
8:38 pm
Blaine Gabbert with worst QB in the NFL. When you flinch, your done in the NFL.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 15th, 2011
8:38 pm
The game is on locally on MyATL TV.
FalconDawg
December 15th, 2011
8:38 pm
You are so right Najeh.
bostonbcfan
December 15th, 2011
8:39 pm
Agree with you on that Najeh……Mayock does a great job at the combine every year.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:39 pm
I’ve never met Ms. Fonda — seen her in person many times — but those who have say she is a very nice lady.
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
8:39 pm
Now, load the box and stop Pocket Hercules.
Big Enos Burdette
December 15th, 2011
8:39 pm
Jed didn’t say “Weeee Doggies”
He said “Well Doggies”
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
I thought Uncle Jed said, “Whee, Doggies.”
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
December 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
svitek playing LT…samantha still sore or svitek is proving to be the better tackle
72 Million Dollar Bust
December 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
@kerryb
You Falcons fans are frauds.
Just last week before Julio exploded, you were saying the draft was a mistake, now everything is all good.
That’s why the Saints are the kings of the NFC South.
In the stat sheet the BUST will look like he threw a bomb.
mmgtfan
December 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
Well this is a good start