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
9:31 pm
I don’t see how Ryan didn’t get a concussion from that hit by Ware?!
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
9:31 pm
Mark
I know you are paying attention to the game but your filters are whack sometimes…No comment???
me
November 4th, 2012
9:31 pm
@BobDawg
This is the type of team we will see in the playoffs… We better start smacking them in the mouth back…
They are 3-4. Please stop with this game being some type of benchmark for the Falcons. The Cowboys HAVE to win this game. There season is on the brink. The Falcons will be fine win or lose.
Kyle
November 4th, 2012
9:32 pm
This Dallas team is not that good but we are playing so scared that it just shows they are not ready for the big time yet.
fern
November 4th, 2012
9:32 pm
nbc needs a new crew, Al should retire.
Augusta
November 4th, 2012
9:32 pm
time for a tony turnover…
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:32 pm
You’re not showing up in the filter, kingdaddy. I checked twice.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
9:32 pm
Let’s go D
me
November 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
@BobDawg
This is the type of team we will see in the playoffs… We better start smacking them in the mouth back…
They have beaten NYG, Tampa and Caroline. Please….. They desperately need this game.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
Dang.
Chokeins
November 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
Nice missed tackle.
Augusta
November 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
bad tackle…
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
And I know you folks get frustrated with the filter sometimes … but believe me, you wouldn’t believe what it does catch.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
9:34 pm
Ever notice how Coach Garrett looks like a young Jerry Jones?
DawgNole
November 4th, 2012
9:34 pm
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
9:25 pm
Bradley
What gives with your filters???
______________________
Good question! And it’s over and over again–day after day. A response is highly doubtful–unless MB fools me tonight.
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
9:34 pm
Time to put Romo nappy-poo…
Chokeins
November 4th, 2012
9:35 pm
They can’t get to Romo, no pass rush.
G
November 4th, 2012
9:35 pm
Robinson having a rough night
me
November 4th, 2012
9:35 pm
So far Dallas is able to stop the falcons running game with 6 guys in the box. So they are able to play zone which prevents the deep passes.
Spoons absent shows on our D.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
9:35 pm
Sloppy tackling on this series.
Chokeins
November 4th, 2012
9:35 pm
How do you only rush three and still suck on pass defense?
dean
November 4th, 2012
9:35 pm
Falcons are getting whipped
J.J.M.
November 4th, 2012
9:35 pm
No pass rush once again
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
Two misses on that. They’ve wasted the field position Bosher got them.
Growler
November 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
Lotsa missed tackles by Falcons D tonight.
ramblinwreck80
November 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
the crappy tacklers are back…UGH!!!
Sid
November 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
people wonder why the Falcons get little National Media respect?
Augusta
November 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
Right, really miss weatherspoon…
80sFalcons
November 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
I can’t believe a holding call has not yet occurred with Dallas!
Mora less Petrino
November 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
Wish the Birds were better tacklers.
Falcon James
November 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
Me….
Just thinking the same thing about Spoon. Sure does show when he is not in the game.
F. Sinkwich
November 4th, 2012
9:36 pm
Falcons making Romo look like Johnny U.
Augusta
November 4th, 2012
9:37 pm
where’s abe tonight? And–oh–what’s the other guy’s name we never hear called?
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
9:37 pm
We have no pass rush.
Really need to get a pass rush specialist to go with a new RB
Chokeins
November 4th, 2012
9:37 pm
Truth is Falcons are just not physical, never have been. They consistently get pushed around, that’s why no one fears them. In the crunch you just have to hit them and they fold.
Growler
November 4th, 2012
9:38 pm
More often than not eschewing a long FG attempt like that backfires, even if it’s a great punt. God forbid if Richt had done the same thing yesterday…..
atlfalconsfan0125
November 4th, 2012
9:38 pm
I like the filter. We are here to talk football, nothing more, nothing less.
P B Orr
November 4th, 2012
9:38 pm
They look tight
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
9:38 pm
Dallas is holding on every play.
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
9:38 pm
Mark
I’m sure of that. Already had one under moderation for about 3 mins., then the warning dropped and had one held out for about 5, but it reappeared. Know you’re doing your JOB…THANKS…
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
Another missed tackle.
Eric C.
November 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
Mark, is Matt Bryant’s injury bothering him…why didn’t the Falcons try the fg attempt from the 36? That is in his range for sure.
me
November 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
3 missed tackles on this drive. All resulted in first downs.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
What the heck?
We can’t tackle now?
Mike Smith needs to chew some guys out at halftime.
Augusta
November 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
our secondary is getting creamed tonight…no pass rush…can’t let them get a TD before half
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
Their ball carriers are bouncing off our defenders like a pinball off a bumper.
P B Orr
November 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
Another missed tackle. The little things they’ve been doing right, they are doing wrong.
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
Come on D, wrap them up…
Falcon James
November 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
Do we need another Bi-Week to have a how to tackle clinic again?
80sFalcons
November 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
I guess today we’re not going to tackle