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
Reggie
December 15th, 2011
9:13 pm
Matt Bosher is growing into one of the best punters/kick off men in the league.
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
9:13 pm
You got that right Mark. I believe he is finally there.
Eric C.
December 15th, 2011
9:13 pm
Falcons can’t let up…remember that Tampa was up 14-0 last week
Groundhogday
December 15th, 2011
9:14 pm
I knew Jones-Drew would get his eventually…..man, he’s a stud.
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
9:14 pm
71 not sealing the end
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:14 pm
katherine
December 15th, 2011
9:12 pm
it wasnt a compliment phil…you are a very negative, judgemental person
*******
well no kidding, doofus.
As for the second part, just relax….you badly need a life.
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
9:14 pm
Reggie, so can we put Bosher on the list of successful TD draft picks?
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
December 15th, 2011
9:14 pm
katherine @ 9:11- exactly!!!
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:15 pm
Great start tonight…
Where is that Ryan hater?
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
9:15 pm
You know, it’s not as if Brady or Brees or even Rodgers never throws an incompletion or an interception or takes a sack. At last check, their teams don’t win every game 73-0.
Do I think Matt Ryan is one of the NFL’s five best quarterbacks? No. Is he one of the 10 best? Oh, yes.
Reggie
December 15th, 2011
9:15 pm
Gotta hold em here. Great hustle play by Moore though saving the TD. Jones-Drew is a beast. He’s gonna get his. But our run defense hasn’t been stellar for a few weeks now. Gotta tighten up if we wanna compete in the playoffs. Good defense.
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
9:15 pm
I live MJD. Just a guy who has been told he can’t, but does.
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
9:15 pm
Chris Owens made a play????? I don’t believe it.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 15th, 2011
9:16 pm
I think Gabbert is going to be a bust when all is said and done, but in fairness to him, he probably has the worst group of WRs in the league.
dean
December 15th, 2011
9:16 pm
The bottom line is: all of our tickets will get punched. 2 days ago I almost got t-boned on my way home. Enjoy life now. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.
Nice play by Owens!
mmgtfan
December 15th, 2011
9:16 pm
You know the JAGS WR’s are bad when Chris Owens of all people is making plays
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:16 pm
Fire FG!
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
9:17 pm
Bradley? What is up with sticking up for Ryan? I don’t even need to be here if your gonna do that!
Reggie
December 15th, 2011
9:17 pm
I think we let that 2nd ranked rush defense get in our heads. Gotta improve and get better. Ever since the Texans game we’ve been leaking in run defense. I have confidence we’ll get it fixed though.
Mr. Charles, YES you can include Bosher in the good TD draft choices. Bosher will prove to be better than Koenen.
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:17 pm
Has Peters gone to the locker room?
Cart or own power?
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
9:18 pm
Nav, agreed. Gabbert does have to develop a lot before he can even be considered and average QB. But like you said, he does need a guy how can catch the ball.
mmgtfan
December 15th, 2011
9:18 pm
Yes, Bosher has done a complete 180 since the beginning of the year
dean
December 15th, 2011
9:18 pm
Losing 91 would stink BIG time.
Reggie
December 15th, 2011
9:18 pm
Gotta stab the Jags right in the heart here. Make it 24-0 and almost take the life from them. I mean damn. 24, maybe 31 points in a half? That’s incredible.
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:18 pm
Notice the double chin in Ryan’s pic on here.
Fat and in need of a treadmill….
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
9:19 pm
Don’t see Corey Peters — UK man, by the way — on the bench.
Reggie
December 15th, 2011
9:19 pm
Is it me, or does Jason Snelling hit the hold harder than Turner does? He runs with more juice.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
December 15th, 2011
9:19 pm
keep the foot on the petal!! enough of the runs up the middle!! although, great run by snelling!!
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
9:19 pm
They need to pay Snelling in the off season this year.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
9:20 pm
Another bad Ryan throw. Trade up to draft Andrew Luck!
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:20 pm
Ryan’s inaccuracy is killing us…
It’s only 17-0….see?
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
9:20 pm
Phil, lol….Not fat, it is his heala monster pose.
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:21 pm
Attaboy, Harry!
falconsrus
December 15th, 2011
9:21 pm
Harry D on the J O B
ijonathan
December 15th, 2011
9:21 pm
Reggie…it isn’t just you.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
9:21 pm
8. Ryan isn’t the greatest thrower on the move.
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
9:21 pm
I hate that bootleg play
72 Million Dollar Bust
December 15th, 2011
9:22 pm
That’s at lease 2 picks by the BUST.
ijonathan
December 15th, 2011
9:22 pm
What kind of route was that by Roddy? He ran around the receiver?
Bonez
December 15th, 2011
9:22 pm
Don’t use Quizz like that
ijonathan
December 15th, 2011
9:22 pm
^^around the DB
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:22 pm
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
9:20 pm
Another bad Ryan throw. Trade up to draft Andrew Luck!
*******
That’s something i would say!
Groundhogday
December 15th, 2011
9:22 pm
The HS school wrestler in Roddy came out again on that play LOL…….I love it when he does stuff like that.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
9:23 pm
Julio makes another play. Called OOB, though. Probably the right call.
Andy
December 15th, 2011
9:23 pm
Mark
Ryan is the 10th rated passer in the NFL coming into tonight’s game so so were spot on.
ijonathan
December 15th, 2011
9:23 pm
Typical Falcons pattern…first drive, look great, TD. Then a FG. Then nothing since.
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
9:23 pm
Julio and Roddy are not dropping them tonight
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:23 pm
Release Bosher!
P B Orr
December 15th, 2011
9:23 pm
The star of the game so far is color analyst Mike Maycock. That guy is a real pro. When was the last time you heard a color analyst actually talking about football basics?
Reggie
December 15th, 2011
9:24 pm
We are regressing right now on offense. Came out smoking but now Ryan is looking inaccurate, and isn’t hitting his receivers right. Tigten up. Step on their throats.