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
playmeortrademe
November 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
Poor fundamental tacking on defense. Sign of fatigue?
Falcons: Play 60!
November 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
still need to teach persons on this team how to tackle, that’s sad
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
9:40 pm
ME… You are right, this game win or lose is no big deal to us…BUT, their lines are big time and that is what I’m watching, how we handle them, and you have to admit, Ryan is getting smacked around pretty good…
me
November 4th, 2012
9:40 pm
How can the Falcons be overrated? All that matters in the NFL is the record. There is no Notre Dame rules in the pros.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 4th, 2012
9:40 pm
They will have film to look at now.
DawgNole
November 4th, 2012
9:40 pm
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.
____________________
Thanks for acknowledging the problem, MB. I’m sure it catches plenty that it should, but you wouldn’t believe the total innocence of many of the comments it snags. Here’s a good example from last night:
“Can’t say that I disagree with you on that one.”
Now let’s be honest here. If a filter stops that comment–and it certainly did last night–the AJC needs to take a hard look at its filters. This is supposed to be an open forum. Stop the vulgar stuff and the racism–of course. But completely inoffensive comments, like the one I cited? That’s wrong to the core.
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:41 pm
I try to check the filters every couple of minutes. But I’ll have to step away soon to do print duty, so bear with me.
Growler
November 4th, 2012
9:41 pm
Jimmy I thought the long completion to Ogletree coulda been a hold on Tyron Smith (77), and it certainly seems like the zebras are letting Dallas O-line get away with some stuff tonight.
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
9:41 pm
I do finally like our coaching staff and they will be a huge difference going into the playoffs this year…
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
9:41 pm
Dallas is the Notre Dame of pro football.
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:42 pm
The reason that comment wasn’t approved was because it referenced another post (by someone else) that I had banned, DawgNole.
me
November 4th, 2012
9:42 pm
@BobDawg
“Ryan is getting smacked around pretty good…”
Yeah, our OLine is usually the issue. Tonight we can’t run or pass protect.
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:42 pm
Are they going for it?
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
9:43 pm
Nice stand…
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:43 pm
Nope. Timeout.
Another stop by the D. Nice. After so many missed tackles, too.
son's who?
November 4th, 2012
9:43 pm
Maybe the coach who teaches blocking also teaches tackling?
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:43 pm
Ryan with a minute-plus and three timeouts.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
9:43 pm
That 3rd down play had a ridiculous hold that was not called against Dallas.
FALCONSRUS
November 4th, 2012
9:43 pm
D### way to hold the line Falconators
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:44 pm
Peria Jerry with a knee injury. Return is questionable
BobDawg
November 4th, 2012
9:44 pm
Now that is smacking them in the mouth!!!
playmeortrademe
November 4th, 2012
9:44 pm
Jerry Jones must’ve dropped some pocket change near the review booth as he walked by.
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
To go back to the filters and last night: We were getting way too political on here. This is a sports site.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
What are they reviewing?
Why are they reviewing after Dallas went out to run another play?
Falcon James
November 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
Enter your comments here
me
November 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
Wow, NFL really needs Dallas in the mix. Blatant holds are ignored and they are going to review that play?
dean
November 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
How are they able to review the spot now? Making up rules as they go along?
Dum-Bass
November 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
All is well with the world, whether or not the Falcons win. I say that because the Redskins lost to Carolina this afternoon, which means Mr. Romney will be our next President. 18 out of the 19 times in the past that they lost on the Sunday prior to election day, the Repub candidate won it. I can worry no more, and all of you planning on voting for Mr. BO can just forget it now. It has been settled already. That is better than any polls, that’s for sure, and much more reliable without bias or manipulation. Whew!, that had me really worried for awhile there.
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
Mark
“THE MANY SUFFER FOR THE FEW “, LOL…
me
November 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
He didn’t get near the first down.
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
This is dirty.
Falcon James
November 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
How can they be reviewing the play? Are they going to put time back on the clock now?
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
I’m surprised at this video second look. But it’s still 4th down
Augusta
November 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
that review delay was incomprehensible and needless…
DeepDiver
November 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
Why is no one talking about Mike Smith’s decision to punt from the 36 on 4th and short. Either field goal or go for it. Unreal. Don’t care about where it was caught — talking about the process, not the result.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
So far our defense is giving up 40-50 yards per possession. It’s enough to keep the Cowboys out of the end zone, but unless we can pin them deep as we did on this drive, they won’t be punting very often.
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
Ball at the 11, 1:03 left.
This will be tied at halftime
Chokeins
November 4th, 2012
9:46 pm
No politics, just crappy football.
tmc
November 4th, 2012
9:47 pm
they keep showing the replay of the 3rd down…
and all i see is a Dallas offensive lineman tacking a Falcons defensive lineman in the backfield…
wasn’t called. C’mon stripes!
Falcons: Play 60!
November 4th, 2012
9:47 pm
there’s dominique “faircatch” franks again
Dum-Bass
November 4th, 2012
9:47 pm
BTW, Mr. MB, my last post does have a sports tie-in, and very much so. Found that very interesting!
Jimmy
November 4th, 2012
9:47 pm
Technically, no play was run…so they could review.
But I’ve never seen them do that after such a delay.
DawgNole
November 4th, 2012
9:48 pm
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:42 pm
The reason that comment wasn’t approved was because it referenced another post (by someone else) that I had banned, DawgNole.
_____________________
I appreciate the info. I guess I’m left to wonder why the post I referenced (copied) was in there in the first place if you’d banned it?
When I’m referencing another post, I like to copy the author/date/time/words I’m referencing so there’s no doubt about what was said and who said it.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 4th, 2012
9:48 pm
I, for one, love the filter!
Growler
November 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
What AWFUL time management coaching! They pass up a 54 yard FG then start fooling around from THERE? They got the first down, but that was NOT worth the risk vs. reward — at all!
Mark Bradley
November 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
I banned it after it showed up. The filter doesn’t catch everything, no matter how it seems.
kingdaddy
November 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
29 secs…
atlfalconsfan0125
November 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
We need to tie it up at the very least.
Falcon James
November 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
I am so happy we have White and Jones!!!
Pigskin
November 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
Is this the Dallas Cowboy Broadcasting Network we’re listening to?