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
Hank Hill
November 4th, 2012
8:13 pm
Dang it Bill! Where’s Troy Aikman when I need him? This Romo fella just ain’t cuttin it.
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
8:13 pm
Falcons going to the Sugar-bowl…
Eric C.
November 4th, 2012
8:16 pm
Big Crimson 75…agreed. Peterson is the salty, smart vet that can get it done if he is called on…hope he has a few big plays left for tonight.
lees
November 4th, 2012
8:17 pm
Morning headline, ESPN, “America’s Team and Romo falter, lose to Falcons” That’s OK…..ESPN will think Dallas lost because they weren’t on their game. This is same group of writers who still think Philadelphia is a better team than the Falcons. To be honest, I hope the all knowing national media keeps it up. It’s begun to be really amusing to read the stuff they post every Monday.
Big Crimson 75
November 4th, 2012
8:17 pm
Time to Gitty-Up!!
Round up them Cowboys!!
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
8:18 pm
Mr. Bradley
I believe you just gave me the Texas two-step, lol…
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
8:18 pm
Georgia is favored by 15 over Alabama?
Sounds right.
dean
November 4th, 2012
8:18 pm
Lock n load! Cowboys came into the wrong gol-darn rec- room!
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
8:20 pm
What up 75???
gO dEeP
November 4th, 2012
8:21 pm
Show-time in the A T L
MFranklin
November 4th, 2012
8:21 pm
Wish we had black britches… and make them (cowthings) wear there blue tips…
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
8:22 pm
Crowd is very loud tonight.
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
8:22 pm
Much louder than for the Broncos game.
MFranklin
November 4th, 2012
8:22 pm
Crowd needs to be so loud that the freakin turf jumps
Eric C.
November 4th, 2012
8:24 pm
Good to hear about the crowd…defense will need it tonight.
dean
November 4th, 2012
8:24 pm
Falcons ain’t going undefeated but I would take 3 losses for a W tonight.
Big Crimson 75
November 4th, 2012
8:24 pm
King — expecting a Falcon win tonight.
dean
November 4th, 2012
8:26 pm
Even phil has to be pumped for this game
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
8:26 pm
Had me a double Tejas steer burger to get primed for the game.
Faith Hill looking sweet, somehow, I don’t miss Jr. as much…
dean
November 4th, 2012
8:27 pm
Wrong night kingdaddy
Big Crimson 75
November 4th, 2012
8:28 pm
We better cover #82.
We better block #94.
dean
November 4th, 2012
8:28 pm
filter is screwed up
Arno
November 4th, 2012
8:28 pm
So loud you could boil peanuts.
Adrian goode
November 4th, 2012
8:28 pm
Here we go!!!!! Birds Rise Up Haters!!!!!
Eric C.
November 4th, 2012
8:29 pm
Mark, ha, you got your letters ‘A’ and ‘U” reversed @ 818pm
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
8:30 pm
BIG CRIMSON… Nice win last night and scoreboard, right??? I’m interested in how we block and how our lines hold up against the Boys which gives us a read against the Giants later on also…
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
8:30 pm
Cowboys kicking. Falcons receiving. Or so they hope.
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
8:32 pm
Pass to the fullback on first down. Dropped.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
8:32 pm
The Falcons are not that good.
We’ve been so lucky to win 7 games.
We have a weak schedule.
Just keep talking national media.
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
8:33 pm
Big Crim
I expect them (wins) every game. Falcons making us proud. I wonder if our fans would treat the Falcons after a loss, like the Dawgs fans do after a loss??? (Fire EVERYBODY) LOL, I don’t want to know, just keep winning. We gonna miss Spoon….
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
8:33 pm
Ryan misses Douglas. Douglas wanted a flag.
Receivers always want a flag.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
8:33 pm
Dallas D looking tight.
That was pass interference.
playmeortrademe
November 4th, 2012
8:34 pm
Falcons are best when Ryan runs the offense. Not sure why they don’t go no-huddle all the time.
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
8:34 pm
Nice return. Dwayne Harris. Almost a touchdown
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
8:34 pm
Dallas holding on the runback.
No call.
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
8:35 pm
Great start…
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
8:36 pm
Another Ogletree! I see those guys wherever I go, and they’re always making plays.
J.J.M.
November 4th, 2012
8:37 pm
Is this game in dallas?
Big Crimson 75
November 4th, 2012
8:37 pm
Take the flag home with you smitty
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
8:37 pm
Let’s go birds
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
8:37 pm
Odd call on second-and-goal from the 6. You’re not running it in from that far out.
playmeortrademe
November 4th, 2012
8:37 pm
Ya know, it has been about a month since an Atlanta pro team laid an egg on in the national spotlight. The city may be overdue.
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
8:38 pm
Stopped. Field goal. Good stand.
Big Crimson 75
November 4th, 2012
8:38 pm
Good hold
DawgNole
November 4th, 2012
8:38 pm
In the glare of the national spotlight, big enthusiastic home crowd, playing a tradition-laden team. How have ATL teams fared historically in such situations? We all know the answer to that–and it the primary reason that we seldom earn national respect.
Does the city change that perception tonight, with its undefeated Falcons squaring off against a so-so Cowboy squad? I certainly hope so. If not, the tradition of “Losersville” will continue.
Do your job, Falcons. We’re tired of Losersville.
Humphrey
November 4th, 2012
8:38 pm
Good job to hold them to 3.
secson
November 4th, 2012
8:39 pm
Romo will find a way to hand the falcons their eighth win.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
8:39 pm
Yes. Roma Tomato panic.
FALCONSRUS
November 4th, 2012
8:40 pm
D######
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
8:41 pm
Dean
more of a comment about Faith Hill, but thank anyway. I am aware he was Monday night though…