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
Thomas Dimitroff is to blame
December 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
Scoreboard says it was a 29-yard TD pass. But as with all of Ryan’s passes, it traveled less than 10-yards past the line of scrimmage.
And nobody wanted to cut Julio… it’s just so far this season, the team has played better without him. Best example is the Detriot game, once Julio got hurt, our offense opened up with Douglas
Groundhogday
December 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
Boom! Big Abe!
DONT HAVE ANOTHER HEARTATTACK M.SMITH
December 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
I C U 2 ABRAHAM
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
Abraham is going to own their RT all night.
FalconDawg
December 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
Abe beat two blockers.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
Speaking of doggies … the Jags look like a dog team to me. But it’s early.
falconsrus
December 15th, 2011
8:41 pm
Abe came to play
cybo
December 15th, 2011
8:41 pm
Wiliam Moore is a hitter
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
8:41 pm
Offsides
mmgtfan
December 15th, 2011
8:41 pm
Kind of a late flag
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
8:42 pm
Edwards. Great free agent sign
Thomas Dimitroff is to blame
December 15th, 2011
8:42 pm
Gabbert had all-day to throw the ball.
The long-delayed pressure won’t work against Brees
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
8:42 pm
No 72, we went 13-3 without JJ. He was drafted for the playoffs. If we win a playoff game, he was justified, if not, he is a bust…..
mmgtfan
December 15th, 2011
8:42 pm
Ray Edwards has caused a lot more harm than good
DONT HAVE ANOTHER HEARTATTACK M.SMITH
December 15th, 2011
8:42 pm
WHY DID WE GET RAY EDWARDS?
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:42 pm
You know, that’s a great point. If you throw a 90-yard touchdown pass, they give you 14 points.
Who cares how far the ball travels as long as it traverses the goal line?
Draggin Fly
December 15th, 2011
8:43 pm
Choke may be at the game. Look for a #7 jersey.
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
8:43 pm
Lets worry about the SAints on the 26th
dean
December 15th, 2011
8:43 pm
This Jaguar team destroyed Tampa Bay?
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
December 15th, 2011
8:43 pm
is 72 million another vick supporter?? when will these idiots get over it?
Big Enos Burdette
December 15th, 2011
8:43 pm
I wouldn’t lie about a thing like that. Lots of other things though
katherine
December 15th, 2011
8:44 pm
come on people, cant you be positive for the first quarter at least?
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
8:44 pm
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
8:42 pm
No 72, we went 13-3 without JJ. He was drafted for the playoffs. If we win a playoff game, he was justified, if not, he is a bust…..
___________________________________________________________________________
Julio was drafted for the future. Not just this year.
Thomas Dimitroff is to blame
December 15th, 2011
8:44 pm
We got up on dogs before (see Seattle & Minnesota), so we can’t let up against these Jags.
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
8:44 pm
Tampa sux, horrible coach, even worse QB.
Mike.P
December 15th, 2011
8:44 pm
Thx Dr. Noise…..your a life saver…..man.. Coach smith…please keep the foot on the gas pedal all night…..cant get over that acceleration by JJ….Edwards too busy thinking about his next top model photo shoot…boy did he rob the bank
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:45 pm
Let’s just offer these stipulations and move on:
1. Matt Ryan isn’t the best deep passer in the league.
2. Matt Ryan hasn’t won a playoff game.
3. Matt Ryan isn’t going to win a playoff game tonight.
DONT HAVE ANOTHER HEARTATTACK M.SMITH
December 15th, 2011
8:45 pm
TIPPY TOES TURNER
Mike.P
December 15th, 2011
8:46 pm
amazing the rookie scores on a wheel route last week….and hasnt been seen since….what gives????/
wayne
December 15th, 2011
8:46 pm
It’s a pleasure to listen to Brad Nessler….
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
December 15th, 2011
8:47 pm
agreed MB, but #2 will change soon!!
HedgesHaven
December 15th, 2011
8:47 pm
GTBob, you out there?
Jimmy
December 15th, 2011
8:47 pm
You know…Ryan’s pass may have been only 10 yds, but if he didn’t throw it, no TD.
Gabbert is a good example of a poor QB. Ryan is better than over half the QB’s in this league.
katherine
December 15th, 2011
8:47 pm
its really not funny to joke about m smith having chest pains…just saying
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:47 pm
4. Matt Ryan hasn’t thrown an incompletion tonight.
5. Matt Ryan has never presided over a losing season.
6. Matt Ryan’s team is going to make the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
Thomas Dimitroff is to blame
December 15th, 2011
8:47 pm
Mark, the REASON why you care how far the ball travels is because good teams (aka not Jax) like Houston bring all their men up against us!!! They stuff the run and cover the short stuff.
They dare us to beat them deep and we CAN’T!!!!!!
Everyone watched the Texans game, right? It wasn’t that long ago.
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
8:48 pm
Stipulation 4…Dumping MV7 was the best thing Arty ever did.
HedgesHaven
December 15th, 2011
8:48 pm
Receivers doing work tonight
DONT HAVE ANOTHER HEARTATTACK M.SMITH
December 15th, 2011
8:48 pm
KEEP SNELLING IN THE GAME,HE DONT TIP LIKE TURNER DOES
Groundhogday
December 15th, 2011
8:49 pm
Ryan looks great so far, and so does the play calling. Mularkey needs to keep his foot on the gas. Hope Quizz gets some touches.
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
8:49 pm
Chess pains do not mean you have heart problems. Had they found even the slightest problem with Smitty, he never would have left the hospital. Sometimes, you just have some aches and pains.
DONT HAVE ANOTHER HEARTATTACK M.SMITH
December 15th, 2011
8:49 pm
SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT TIPPY TOES TURNER?
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:50 pm
There’s an incompletion. Ryan stinks!
Jimmy
December 15th, 2011
8:50 pm
I guess you have to be in the top five of QB’s to satisfy some people.
I hate it when they show these games on the NFL network on Thursday’s.
Mike.P
December 15th, 2011
8:51 pm
still think we have issues with a good steady flow when running plays…..who the hell is calling these plays? back to bs play calling….
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
8:51 pm
Don’t, I used to think that too, but Snelling never breaks off 20-30 yard runs.
Groundhogday
December 15th, 2011
8:51 pm
Go for it!
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
8:51 pm
Falcons going for it. I’m not sure I would.
katherine
December 15th, 2011
8:51 pm
exactly mr charlie…..sometimes chest pains can just be anxiety…or gas
Mike.P
December 15th, 2011
8:51 pm
unreal