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
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
9:24 pm
MB, catching the ball OOB is not making a play…But, he did hold onto the ball, so ya got that.
Reggie
December 15th, 2011
9:24 pm
ijonathan, we have 17 points, so your pattern sucks azz.
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:24 pm
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
9:20 pm
Phil, lol….Not fat, it is his heala monster pose.
******
Whatever it is, it ain’t purty…
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
9:25 pm
Let’s also note that Ryan has played much better the second half of the season. Sometimes I nitpick him, too, but we can’t lose sight of the big picture.
Heath
December 15th, 2011
9:25 pm
When Ryan completes passes my happiness is tempered by feelings of sorrow for the people who will forever hate him because it’s the Falcons fault that their former QB is a felon. And a terrible leader.
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:26 pm
Well, how bout ole Burl’s Winter Wonderland?
mountain_jim
December 15th, 2011
9:26 pm
the oline has gotten much worse this game as Ryan has
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
9:27 pm
I don’t know why I have such a violent reaction to “A Holly Jolly Christmas.” All I can tell you is that I do.
ijonathan
December 15th, 2011
9:27 pm
Reggie, no it doesn’t. Yes, I forgot the awesome 1 play drive from inside the 10 after the fumble. So the pattern wasn’t as bad as I listed…but the trend is as I laid out.
Big Enos Burdette
December 15th, 2011
9:27 pm
Matty shares the same affection for a “diablo and a dr pepper” as my friend Sherrif Buford T Justice
mountain_jim
December 15th, 2011
9:27 pm
Peters is in
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:27 pm
Heath
December 15th, 2011
9:25 pm
When Ryan completes passes my happiness is tempered by feelings of sorrow for the people who will forever hate him because it’s the Falcons fault that their former QB is a felon. And a terrible leader.
******
wrong. Vick was a heroic figure to the masses.
Does he have an xmas album?
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
9:28 pm
Man, you guys change on ever freaking possession. You sure you are not woman?
ijonathan
December 15th, 2011
9:28 pm
The oline has been leaky up the middle. That’s tough on a QB
katherine
December 15th, 2011
9:28 pm
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.
I have a great life phil….i feel sorry for you though…..so negative….you just might have a heart attack
bostonbcfan
December 15th, 2011
9:28 pm
Spoon got pancaked bad on that 3rd down play but his teammates picked him up to hold on 3rd down. whew!
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:29 pm
Big Enos Burdette
December 15th, 2011
9:27 pm
Matty shares the same affection for a “diablo and a dr pepper” as my friend Sherrif Buford T Justice
*******
An all time funny movie!!
Fire Burl!
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
9:29 pm
When you’re up 17-0, you don’t need to make spectacular plays. You just need not to make plays that give the other guy hope.
You play to win the game. I believe Herman Talmadge said that. Or Herman Munster. Some Herman guy.
Loserville USA
December 15th, 2011
9:29 pm
I could watch Snelling run all day.
Guy’s gonna get paid next year. Just watch.
Reggie
December 15th, 2011
9:29 pm
Man we’ve gotta score here. 24-0 would almost crush the Jags on national tv.
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
9:30 pm
We need to get p 24-0 and it will be over because this offense can’t come back from that.
ijonathan
December 15th, 2011
9:30 pm
Mark, not exactly. You need to build on the momentum from the 2nd half of the Carolina game, and that has started to fizzle.
katherine
December 15th, 2011
9:30 pm
I love this time of year….just wish is was colder already
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
9:30 pm
My favorite is when Choke refers to the Vick curse. And I agree with him, it started when we traded up to draft him, and passed on Drew Brees, and now Vick has carried that curse up to the Eagles.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
9:30 pm
24-nil at the half is Tap City, to invoke Al McGuire.
Big Enos Burdette
December 15th, 2011
9:30 pm
It was Herman Cain
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:30 pm
Katherine – give it a rest and pick on someone else.
Keep in mind, it was you accusing me of obessing over your posts a month ago.
Clear enough for you? Bug off.
ijonathan
December 15th, 2011
9:30 pm
Wow…what the heck is happening with the pressure right up the middle??
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
December 15th, 2011
9:31 pm
i know a super bowl trophy is the ultimate status, but as a longtime falcon fan, i’m just glad that we’ve had winning records the past 4 years and made it to the playoffs. can anyone remember the 80s/90s falcons?? jeeeezzz
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
9:31 pm
Pretty nice pitch-and-catch on third-and-7.
bostonbcfan
December 15th, 2011
9:31 pm
Katherine….it’s plenty cold up here…..be careful what you wish for!!!!!
katherine
December 15th, 2011
9:31 pm
ohhhh nice throw!
mmgtfan
December 15th, 2011
9:32 pm
Perfect throw
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
9:32 pm
Dr, exactly….And it is nice to have a reason to watch year in, year out.
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
9:32 pm
That was a nice toss by ole noodle arm.
Mark Bradley
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
I can remember the ’80s. I came here in 1984. It wasn’t until 1991 that I saw either the local baseball nine or NFL eleven break .500. Think about that.
katherine
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
bostonbcfan
December 15th, 2011
9:31 pm
Katherine….it’s plenty cold up here…..be careful what you wish for!!!!!
I know….last year it actually snowed on christmas and it was so nice though
mmgtfan
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
Turner with a stiff arm!
phil
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
Winning IS nice but a title would be sweet.
Groundhogday
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
The Roddy on tonite looks like the Roddy of last year.
Mr Charlie
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
See, turner just clicked off 16, you rarely see Snelling go over 10 years.
kerryb
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
He threw Weems!!
Big Enos Burdette
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
the falcons couldn’t close an umbrella. another Justiceism
Loserville USA
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
What I’d like to have is THIS offense with the 1977 defense. Now THAT was defense.
mmgtfan
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
To his own man!
Malcolm
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
Mark, good fer you for having the jeuvos to stick up for Ryan. We’re lucky to have him.
dean
December 15th, 2011
9:34 pm
School is in session!
Loserville USA
December 15th, 2011
9:34 pm
But William Moore hits in the mold of Tom Pridemore — for all you old timers.
AtlNative
December 15th, 2011
9:34 pm
Looks like the guys are really focused tonight. Maybe the scare to coaches health will keep them that way so Smitty doesnt have any high blood pressure tonight.
katherine
December 15th, 2011
9:35 pm
we are lucky to have matt…he is a good qb and a very classy guy.