Live from Falcons-Giants: We’re a lousy sports city, are we?
"If I give you two dimes and a nickel, will you give me a quarter back?" (AP photo)
East Rutherford, N.J. – Here’s a fun little nugget that was posted on the New York Post’s web site yesterday: As of Friday night, the Giants-Falcons playoff game was not sold out.
If said game were being staged at the Georgia Dome, we Atlantans would be hearing yet again how lousy a sports town we are. But this is New York, where millions live and where sports are, we’re constantly reminded, a point of strutting metropolitan pride.
Let the record reflect that an attempt to find available tickets this morning via Ticketmaster was unavailing, so we can assume that the game finally has sold out. Still, the thought of a Giants’ home postseason game with available seats not 30 hours before kickoff would surely come as a revelation to those New Yorkers who love to poke fun at us dumb ol’ Southerners for our indifference/inattention.
But I digress. The Falcons arrive with a point to prove, and the belief here is that they’ll prove it. The belief here is that they’ll win because they are, top to bottom, the better team. The tabloids have been full of Matt Ryan stuff this week, the thrust being that he still hasn’t proven anything in the postseason. (He hasn’t, but I’d suggest two games in his first three NFL seasons isn’t quite a true sample.)
I remember another day in Ryan’s pro career, a Sunday here in November 2009 when he overrode a second-half deficit to force overtime. The Giants won the toss and scored in the bonus canto, but that remains, at least to this dumb Southern observer, one of the shining performances of a very good career.
If you can do it here once, you should be able to do it again. And if you can make it here, the song has it, you can make it anywhere. I think Matty Ice will author his playoff breakthrough today, but maybe you disagree.
Which is why we have these little live chats — for you to interact with a dumb Southern writer like yours truly. I invite your comments. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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4,613 comments Add your comment
Matty Iced
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
2 points from Me (Matty Icey) – oops I mean 0 points
Mark Bradley
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
Really hurts, that nothing drive after the safety.
JSS
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee- oh touchback
phil
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
Andy
January 8th, 2012
2:03 pm
That looked like a different team on offense. What happened?
We punted on 4th and inches. We play not to win. This is nothing new.
Falcons4Eva
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
Matt Ryan time to show his mettle.
mike
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
terrible fans. half these posts say game over. not even half time for ffs.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
lol i think its hillarious that you all continually attack me for being a fan and trying to stay positive…
AIGHT MATTY ICE
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
TOUCHDOWN MATT RYAN
Time to rise up in the big apple!
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
Time for the Offense to RISE UP! Or Go Home!
stendek
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
I am so sick of the heartless uncaring brand of football that the Falcons play! No fire or intensity. Just betch dogs. Nothing more. Will never be worth a damn. So very ashamed to follow these quitters. May be most heartless squad of all time! That is an ultimate insult. Clear all of the bestards out. Tired of looking at this cesspool of trash!
TN Jeff
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
Again the underachieving Falcons & their explosive offense have come away with 0 points in almost 1 half of football. Does Mularky know that you can throw the football on 3rd & short? For some reason folks think this team is gonna win. Pathetic
this dawg want hunt!!
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
Falcons run defense looks alot like Ga.Tech. Atlanta is a lousy sports town.
Steve-o
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
It’s over. Once again, it’s “we’ll get ‘em next year.” Next year never arrives.
Draft RGIII
January 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
See you next season.
Offseason-to-do-list:
Fire Mike Smith.
Fire Van Gorder.
Sign some guys on defense who can tackle.
Bring someone in to compete with Ryan.
Falcons4Eva
January 8th, 2012
2:06 pm
They Giants front 4 is about to be unleased….See if Matt get Happy feet.
Live from Falcons-Giants: We’re a lousy sports…
January 8th, 2012
2:06 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Frank B
January 8th, 2012
2:06 pm
Time for a int return for td. Where is that explosive falcon offense! Where is roddy and julio? Funny how the saints have receivers who get wide open and these two clowns can’t get open at all.
Dawgs Man
January 8th, 2012
2:06 pm
Whoever is calling our plays should be fired!
O'Brien
January 8th, 2012
2:06 pm
Our offense needs to answer back. Plus our defense is tired.
Tomahawkin
January 8th, 2012
2:06 pm
katherine
“its the second quarter and even if they do score its not over by any means lol geez”
We Just Want a playoff win! Add to the Fact that there is a lot of Testerone Up In here! We Need to Win
tmc
January 8th, 2012
2:06 pm
No picks or fumbles here…
we’re only down 5… not the end of the world.
(but if we turn it over and give up a TD, we may never recover)
Ramblin man
January 8th, 2012
2:06 pm
we can’t get inches on 4th with a 6 5 qb and the giants can on 4th an inches. there is the big difference. Ryan acts like he is scared to advance the ball on on sneaks. no excuse not to pick up inches on a sneak. NONE! Eli likely will shred this secondary in the 2nd half which is soft as oatmeal.
JSS
January 8th, 2012
2:06 pm
@ Phil…
He doesn’t have a set of Payton’s!
Falcoons
January 8th, 2012
2:06 pm
This Falcons team reminds me of the Bucs when they were so close with Dungy but could not take it to next level. Smith has done all he can do here. Rise up in 2012 and hire a new coach.
Joe
January 8th, 2012
2:06 pm
Amazing how similar UGA and the Falcons are.
Coaches are scared to be aggressive. There is absolutely no identity on offense (are we a power running team or a vertical passing team?). Offensive playcallers shrink up like a turtle head when the game gets tough.
The main thing they have in common is that they are MENTALLY WEAK. No toughness whatsoever.
Falcons4Eva
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
Matt Ryan —-<bDO NOT THROWN AN INTERCEPTION BEFORE THE HALF!
TN Jeff
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
Just like that moron Richt – play NOT to lose. That’s a recipe for getting beat!
Falcons 2012
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
@Caesar.
It’s not Ryan but the play-calling, especially on 4th and one.
Dumbo did not learn from the Saints game.
Yo Vince
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
Well we have been complaining about the Ravens top 3 defense is the reason they win playoff games. Well our defense was playing like a top 3 defense for most of the 1st half, and Matt still has not given us a lead.
Just saying.
stendek
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
Looking for Matthew Ryan to do more than pad worhless stats? FORGET IT! Bum is loser with capital L. No matter what all you damn apologists cry!
bigdave
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
for our defense to be talked about soooo bad.. im still waiting for the passing game to hold up their end of the deal.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
if you all hate the falcons so much, why are you here? why dont you let those of us who want to enjoy the game and cheer for our team do that without constant attack?
FHZ
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
“So they drew first blood. We’ll score before the end of the half, plus we’ll get the ball back.”
Falcons should be up 9 – 0, but the offense wilted…Ryan won’t let go of the ball, and is trying to micro-manage the game too much.
Now, when they are down 20 to 10, Guess What? Then, they will open-up the offense out of desperation! It’s a mindset!
Frank B
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
I feel a turnover
Mark Bradley
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
One of the dirtbags (so called) jumped
Sid
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
this is getting really funny.
Mr. Falcon
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
I think this game just ended?
bigdave
January 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
now we try to get cute..
Texans game rewind.
Pick 6 Time
January 8th, 2012
2:08 pm
Enter your comments here
Falcons4Eva
January 8th, 2012
2:08 pm
The strings is about to unravel
Tommy B
January 8th, 2012
2:08 pm
Is it me or does Malarky melt down when we get into other teams side of the 50
FHZ
January 8th, 2012
2:08 pm
Veterans making mistakes..lol
stendek
January 8th, 2012
2:08 pm
FALCON O IS SHET TOO! Maybe FG kicker will come through. Who in Hell knows?
Matty Iced
January 8th, 2012
2:08 pm
Green Bay is healthy at the right time – except for Nick Collins – this game don’t matter anyway. But this Falcon team needs to win a playoff game – so we can inch slowly and inch slowly to the level of Green Bay
Tomahawkin
January 8th, 2012
2:08 pm
Gawd Dammit!
Here Come The Stoopid Penalities!!!
Come On!!!
Frank B
January 8th, 2012
2:08 pm
Great job O line
Tremaine
January 8th, 2012
2:08 pm
bigdave
January 8th, 2012
2:04 pm
“28 soft as toilet paper.”
not a Decoud fan.. but, he hits harder than our starting MLB
If you look at the long run by Jacobs he goes for a arm tackle and miss then the 4th down play Lofton had him stopped but 28 comes in and try and make another arm tackle.
Isthaturbesteffort....roflmao
January 8th, 2012
2:08 pm
Like I said, this Falcons team are a bunch of punk bullies…hit em in the face and they fold up like a tent. 2 wins against teams with slightly winning records is the glaring stat for this year.
mmgtfan
January 8th, 2012
2:08 pm
WOW!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 8th, 2012
2:08 pm
Hey JSS, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Ray Edwards and his stripper girlfriend split up, so no more hand on ass portrait.