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
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
That’s White…
atlfalconsfan0125
November 4th, 2012
10:17 pm
Roddy!
homo
November 4th, 2012
10:17 pm
WHITE WHITE WHITE
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
10:17 pm
Cowboys’ D blew that third-and-12. Couldn’t get 11 men on the field.
CC
November 4th, 2012
10:17 pm
I’d think the pure laws of physics would dictate that when you go to make a tackle you slow down enough within 10 feet to change directions slightly if needed.
These flying misses are looking slightly GA Tech-like.
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
10:17 pm
Ryan just threads the needle again and again…
homo
November 4th, 2012
10:17 pm
LETS GO FALCONS
dean
November 4th, 2012
10:17 pm
Arrrggggghhhhh!!! Lost power !
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
10:17 pm
Ouch…
me
November 4th, 2012
10:18 pm
Douglas not even looking for the ball….
Where's the rushing offense?
November 4th, 2012
10:18 pm
We gotta draft some offensive lineman that know how to block and pass protect!
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
10:18 pm
Our Oline is getting hammered…
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
10:19 pm
Field goal for the lead.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
10:19 pm
Baker missed the rusher.
He does that too often.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 4th, 2012
10:19 pm
Damn. Defensive effort.
J.J.M.
November 4th, 2012
10:19 pm
Smh you can’t win with field goals….”finish off drives”
dean
November 4th, 2012
10:19 pm
Whew. It’s back on.
homo
November 4th, 2012
10:19 pm
NOT WHAT WE WANTED. O LINE IS A SLEEP
Sid
November 4th, 2012
10:19 pm
Baker is awful.
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
10:19 pm
Wide right.
me
November 4th, 2012
10:20 pm
OMG…
atlfalconsfan0125
November 4th, 2012
10:20 pm
Damn it
Pigskin
November 4th, 2012
10:20 pm
Game over.
Where's the rushing offense?
November 4th, 2012
10:20 pm
Nothing is going well tonight!
J.J.M.
November 4th, 2012
10:20 pm
Again finish off drives or dallas will break one of them long runs
tmc
November 4th, 2012
10:20 pm
Memo to offensive Cord.:
Do not leave defensive right end unblocked anymore.
Or, we will be looking for new qb for the rest of the season.
k?
me
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
#54 is gambling, watch for the pump fake and TG down the seam the next series.
playmeortrademe
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
Screens and pump fakes should ease the pressure. Hit Julio on a bomb after a nice fake.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
Bryant letting us down.
So is Baker and Turner.
Steve From Dalton
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
Can’t run the ball and keep missing FG.
Rob
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
Wrong
Claude
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
What the hell is wrong with Bryant tonight?!? That’s two he should have nailed.
CC
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
Well my mistake. I thought the locker room was going to dial in the attitude they finished the 2nd quarter with. But heck, when you already 7 – 0 why play hard.
Crap.
stizz
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
May not be our night boys.
dean
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
I missed a missed FG. Whoopee
Falcons: Play 60!
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
this team has prime time issues too
atlfalconsfan0125
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
Romo is over due for a pick.
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
We need to keep Turner in to help block on the left side… Ryan is getting killed and still making plays… Momma better have some Advil waiting after this game…
jo
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
With a running game, the falcons can make the Superbowl. Without it…. its going to be tough…we need to beat the cowgirls with defense. Already missed 2 fg attempts so the home teamis in real trouble.
Kyle
November 4th, 2012
10:22 pm
I thought this stupid S.O.B. kicker could handle pressure but I guess not. He looks just like that pathetic waste of life that kicks for Georgia.
Where's the rushing offense?
November 4th, 2012
10:22 pm
Enter your comments here
kerryb
November 4th, 2012
10:22 pm
Falcons: Play 60!
November 4th, 2012
10:21 pm
this team has prime time issues too
______________________________________________________________
Didn’t we beat the Broncos is prime time?
me
November 4th, 2012
10:22 pm
@Sid
“Baker is awful.”
The guy he is going against is paid $12 million per…. There is a reason.
Dan
November 4th, 2012
10:22 pm
what a waste peria jerry has been
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
10:22 pm
I hate the Dallas Cowboys.
Always have.
They make me sick.
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
10:23 pm
easy KYLE… I think Bryant has some back issues I read earlier…
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
10:23 pm
No pass rush.
me
November 4th, 2012
10:23 pm
The lack of any running game is killing the Falcons. Cowboys are dropping 7 men.
Claude
November 4th, 2012
10:23 pm
‘Sup with Bryant tonight? Falcons should be up 6.
Where's the rushing offense?
November 4th, 2012
10:23 pm
It looks like (right now) the cowboys made good halftime adjustments and we didn’t.