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
me
November 4th, 2012
11:24 pm
That guy was not out of bounds.
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
11:24 pm
This party is just starting…
Bill 2
November 4th, 2012
11:25 pm
G-R-E-A-T..W_I_N !
8-0 Baby
Tommy
November 4th, 2012
11:25 pm
8-0!!!!!!!!!!!
kerryb
November 4th, 2012
11:25 pm
FALCONS 8-0!!!!!1
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
11:25 pm
In your face haters!
Growler
November 4th, 2012
11:25 pm
An appropriate ending for the Cowboys there, not even trying to lateral the ball on the final play.
Walker the Infant Falcon
November 4th, 2012
11:25 pm
“Falcons reach the halfway mark of the season 8-0….” …never heard that one before!
tmc
November 4th, 2012
11:25 pm
wheeeeeew.
Falcon James
November 4th, 2012
11:26 pm
I got the first round at the Magic Club…….Who is with me!!!
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
11:26 pm
8-0….. I wonder what our Power Ranking is now??? Folks are jumping off bridges in Vegas…
Augusta
November 4th, 2012
11:26 pm
Great win…Now let’s see which cowboy NBC interviews first…
80sFalcon
November 4th, 2012
11:26 pm
P!$$ on all the pundits!! 8-0 Baby! Ugly, but 8-0!
Big Crimson 75
November 4th, 2012
11:26 pm
8&0!!!!
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
11:26 pm
Pretty impressive.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 4th, 2012
11:26 pm
Good job Mark … I enjoyed it.
Bill 2
November 4th, 2012
11:26 pm
It don’t matter Collinsworth lost too..bum
FALCONSRUS
November 4th, 2012
11:26 pm
Thats what a prevent big D is all about 8 and zero baby!!!
Mora less Petrino
November 4th, 2012
11:26 pm
Julio on D. Love it!
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
11:26 pm
Here’s the game column, if you’re inclined
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2012/11/04/a-battle-of-defenses-robs-boys-lose-to-nolens-no-names/
Tommy
November 4th, 2012
11:26 pm
fyi, Vegas is no longer taking action on the Falcons winning the NFC South. .. .
Hackjobs
November 4th, 2012
11:27 pm
Those are the games you just have to win.
Bill 2
November 4th, 2012
11:27 pm
Yea thanks Mark..
CC
November 4th, 2012
11:27 pm
Oh yeah… sure. “The Cowboys missed a GOLDEN chance… “. How blatantly biased against Atlanta. No respect.
But we don’t mind.
me
November 4th, 2012
11:27 pm
Cowboys have many weapons on offense and seem to under perform.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 4th, 2012
11:27 pm
And it feels so good!!!!
Growler
November 4th, 2012
11:27 pm
Sensing a Falcons-Packers rematch in the Dome in January……..
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
11:27 pm
I’d make them walk back to Texas….
FALCONSRUS
November 4th, 2012
11:28 pm
Thnx Mark
dean
November 4th, 2012
11:28 pm
I had to sign a paper the other day saying I understood that tomorrow’s trip to the doc could result in, ahem, death. Well, God, if it happens at least the Falcons BEAT THE FRIGGIN COWBOYS!
Good night mates.
playmeortrademe
November 4th, 2012
11:28 pm
Let’s go Texans. A 2-game cushion for the nfc would be nice.
LOL at the Aints
November 4th, 2012
11:29 pm
Great Win! Would someone please punch Chris Collinsworth in the mouth,, got sick of hearing him make excuses for the Cowgirls instead of giving the Falcons credit… Go Birds!! Lets make in 9 and 0
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
11:29 pm
It’s always about the LOSER!!! THERE IS OUR MVP’S ON TV….
DILLIGAF
November 4th, 2012
11:30 pm
It’s good to be a Falcon fan right now, this team is pretty good and getting better every week just like the Bulldogs. Can’t wait for the beatdown on the Plains on Saturday as we clinch the East.
GATA!
UGA85″
JK
November 4th, 2012
11:30 pm
Collinsworth is bawling in a box of tissues right now. I’m stunned that NBC is interviewing Matt Ryan first, and not Tony Romo!
85 Bears
November 4th, 2012
11:30 pm
Greatest NFL there ever was. Ditka is Gad! Ok.
aaa
November 4th, 2012
11:32 pm
Will anyone ever say that Romo is over-rated?
Michael "the dynasty" Vick
November 4th, 2012
11:32 pm
Damn, another win.
I am close to having my relevance (sorry, I just spit my coke all over my keyboard) removed from the anals of Atlanta football greats.
playmeortrademe
November 4th, 2012
11:33 pm
Orlando Scandrick may not be employed tomorrow after Jerry Jo Jo watches the game film.
JK
November 4th, 2012
11:33 pm
@aaa – Collinsworth certainly won’t.
Jim (not Mora)
November 4th, 2012
11:35 pm
What is up with Chris Collinsworthless? Could it have been any more obvious that he was pulling for the Cowboys? I think it even embarrassed Al Michaels towards the end of the game.
jo
November 4th, 2012
11:35 pm
Great win falcons, nice to hear all of the excuses by the broadcasters ….
Michael "the dynasty" Vick
November 4th, 2012
11:40 pm
8-0 but ugly…EVERY WEEK. No way this team goes all the way.
Michael "the dynasty" Vick
November 4th, 2012
11:45 pm
Tomorrow night I will start MY 100TH NFL GAME.
Get this my QB rating after the 2002 season (my first full year) was 81.7. My NFL lifetime rating is now 80.7.
So, for all your prophets that said I would never be a great back in 2003 ….YOU WERE RIGHT.
Michael "the dynasty" Vick
November 4th, 2012
11:50 pm
Tomorrow night I start my 100 NFL game.
My QB rating at the end of 2002 (my first full year was 81.7) My lifetime NFL rating is now 80.7.
So, for all you prophets that claimed back in 2003 that I would NEVER BE A GREAT QB, you were correct.
Joe
November 4th, 2012
11:59 pm
Yes, we do not get the love from the media, but who cares as long as we are collecting W’s that is all I care about. Keep you head down and your game up. Go Birds
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