Live from the Dome: Big D against the overrated (?) Falcons
"Hey! You there! Are you the one calling us overrated? This next one's for you, pal. " (AP photo)
Rob Ryan, brother of Rex and son of Buddy, has predicted his Cowboys — Rob is the defensive coordinator — will beat the Falcons tonight. Falcons fans will probably take offense, no pun intended, but really, what’s he supposed to do? Say, “I’m guessing Atlanta wins by 10″?
For those easily riled, here’s another in the lengthening series of Atlanta-isn’t-as-good-as-its-record stories. (I know a bit about these, having written one myself.) In this one, Gary Horton of Sports Inc. declares on ESPN Insider (link requires registration) that the Falcons have issues running the ball and stopping the run — no news there — and wonders if this offensive line will hold up and if the defense can improve its red-zone efficiency. These are legitimate issues, no question, but still:
About here, I’m waiting for someone to predict that these Falcons are absolutely, positively going to tick off the ‘72 Dolphins by going unbeaten. Maybe I’ll get around to it, assuming Rob Ryan’s forecast doesn’t come to fruition.
While you’re waiting for toe to meet leather, here’s another little serving from ESPN Insider, this from Jeff Gold, in which he states his belief that the Cowboys are a great underdog play tonight. (They’re a 4 1/2-point underdog. They’re also a sub-.500 team.) And yet another from the Worldwide Leader, this from the Grantland imprint, wherein Bill Barnwell claims the Falcons are “a tad overrated” — how, I ask, can they be overrated if everybody’s writing how they aren’t all that great? — but figures they’ll finish as the NFC’s No. 1 seed and Matt Ryan will win MVP. (Barnwell does not, however, pick the Falcons to win the Super Bowl. He likes Green Bay.)
Oh, wait. There’s one more. From Jason York of ESPN Stats & Information, we learn that the Cowboys have beaten a team 7-0 or better three times since 1991 — and all three of those teams won the Super Bowl! So that presents a real dilemma, assuming you’re a Falcons’ fan: Do you root for 8-0, do you pull for history?
I’ll leave you to ponder that metaphysical stumper, but I hope you’ll return for tonight’s festivities. I’ll be watching and commenting, and I hope you’ll join me. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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1,048 comments Add your comment
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
10:06 pm
Don’t ya’ll think Asante Samuel had the play of the game so far… He still has great closing speed….
Growler
November 4th, 2012
10:06 pm
Okay given the unlikely events of the final minute check out the box score:
http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=321104001
I’d be surprised if there was any game in the NFL this season with more virtually identical stats in every category at halftime.
Marc Richt
November 4th, 2012
10:06 pm
Up to this point, this game reminds me of the Georgia-Ole Miss game. I hope the Falcons play like the Dawgs did in the second half of their game.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 4th, 2012
10:07 pm
Jerry is out for the game.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
10:07 pm
Jerry being out hurt us on that play.
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
10:08 pm
Spoon and Jerry are both out now… Ouch…
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
10:08 pm
Boys think they can run it on us now…
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
10:08 pm
We are getting no push.
Their O Line is handling our D line.
romo
November 4th, 2012
10:09 pm
uh oh.. and jerry is out with knee injury.. out for season?
Augusta
November 4th, 2012
10:09 pm
Never realized jerry’s impact until now…
tmc
November 4th, 2012
10:09 pm
i would never throw the ball against the Falcons defense.
They don’t tackle. PERIOD.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
10:09 pm
We are in trouble.
Better get that run stuffed fellows.
romo
November 4th, 2012
10:10 pm
atlanta looks bad on offense
Claude
November 4th, 2012
10:10 pm
Falcons are losing the battle on both sides of the line of scrimmage. If O-line doesn’t figure something out fast, it will be a tough second half. Right now, D-line is getting gashed repeatedly, too.
CC
November 4th, 2012
10:10 pm
DawgNole — guess I just took exception to the “be fine win or lose” statement. I get a bit nervous about that, especially when it comes to the Birds in the post-season. Didn’t mean to come down so hard.
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
10:10 pm
I believe establishing the running game is a point of Dallas emphasis now
nobody
November 4th, 2012
10:10 pm
How much can collinsworth talk about the cowboys? Jeez
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
10:10 pm
We can’t stop the run.
Keep giving it to Roma.
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
10:10 pm
Sack. Or a flop, more precisely.
romo
November 4th, 2012
10:11 pm
heck yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we needed that…
Augusta
November 4th, 2012
10:11 pm
finally got to romo…
atlfalconsfan0125
November 4th, 2012
10:11 pm
This D gives up yardage but makes the key play! smh.
Still proud to be a Georgia Bulldog!
November 4th, 2012
10:11 pm
6-6 looks like another squeaker! That’s fine. How bout them Dawgs!
Pigskin
November 4th, 2012
10:11 pm
Big stop!
Falcons: Play 60!
November 4th, 2012
10:11 pm
Franks just doesn’t want to get hit does he?
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
10:11 pm
R we not allowed to run back punts???
nobody
November 4th, 2012
10:11 pm
Franks is doing his best Rhett Mcgowan impression today
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
10:12 pm
Let’s see if we’ve made any adjustments.
Dallas has a good D, but we should be able to pass on them.
Sid
November 4th, 2012
10:12 pm
finally got Romo
romo
November 4th, 2012
10:12 pm
bradley- have you heard anything about jerry’s knee? i hope he is ok.. we are going to score with this possession.
Augusta
November 4th, 2012
10:12 pm
Must develop semblance of a run strategy if we hope to take charge of this game…
Big Crimson 75
November 4th, 2012
10:12 pm
Fair catch Franks!!
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
10:12 pm
The Falcons have said nothing more about Jerry’s injury. I doubt they will until tomorrow, if then.
me
November 4th, 2012
10:13 pm
@Growler
“Boy that was lucky. ”
Distinguished denizen of loserville.
Tom1
November 4th, 2012
10:13 pm
Some serious issues to overcome: fundimental tackling, consistent pass rush, some sort of running game. Stopping them on a fourth and one and getting in their backfield is a good start.
playmeortrademe
November 4th, 2012
10:14 pm
Turner. Why?
nobody
November 4th, 2012
10:14 pm
Turner is back to his old self of running into the Lineman and just stopping
romo
November 4th, 2012
10:14 pm
wow our running game is stale this year.
J.J.M.
November 4th, 2012
10:14 pm
Rid the running game…replace with screens
me
November 4th, 2012
10:14 pm
Turner tip toeing again when he approachs the hole. Notice I didn’t say ‘hits’ the hole. Because he is slowing down when he reachs the line of scrimmage.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
10:15 pm
good grief.
Turner.
homo
November 4th, 2012
10:15 pm
again.. turner is horrible
homo
November 4th, 2012
10:15 pm
let jaquiz run
homo
November 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
oh well.. another punt coming..
Growler
November 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
@me, LOL! Keep it up all game! It won’t work! And tell me, if you will, what did you think of the Falcons punting from the Dallas 37?! Is that Winners-ville?!
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
screen pass time… and why don’t we go up-tempo after a 1st down???
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
Turner is the reason we had to make a 3rd and 12
me
November 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
Tom1
November 4th, 2012
10:13 pm
Some serious issues to overcome: fundimental tackling, consistent pass rush, some sort of running game.
Yeah. If we did those things we might not have lost a game.
homo
November 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
WHITE IS THE MAN
tmc
November 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
Turner blows. He’s too slow for Dallas Def.
Get Snelling or Quiz in there and leave Tip-toe on the bench.