Live from New Orleans: The Falcons will lose – but not today
Just another example of how the Saints afford us Atlantans no respect. (Photo by M. Bradley)
New Orleans – Father Peter P. Finney delivered the homily at the 8 a.m. Mass at St. Clement of Rome in Metairie, La., this morning, and here we note: Father Finney is the grandson of Peter Finney, the gentlemanly sports columnist of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, and Father Finney actually gave no homily at all. It’s a St. Clement tradition to do without one during its annual Oyster Festival, which is ongoing this weekend. (There was carnival paraphernalia all over the parking lot.)
Father Finney noted that today’s Oyster Festival session is set to commence at noon – “when the Saints kick off,” he said. Then he noted: “The Saints’ game will be shown on television.”
Our rather roundabout point being: Even when the Saints stink, they’re still the talk of the town. (Metairie is a suburb off Lake Pontchartrain, of which my hotel affords me a half-scenic view.)
I’m on record — if you have three minutes and 32 seconds, you can hear me say it to Bill Littlefield of NPR’s Only A Game — that the Falcons won’t go undefeated. (My quote: “I don’t think anybody really seriously believes the Falcons are going to go 16-0.”) But there’s CineSport proof of me picking the Falcons to reach the Super Bowl and, via the Internet and the print AJC, I’m also on record as predicting that they’ll sweep the Saints.
That belief probably won’t win me many friends among the Oyster Fest folks, but it is, for better or worse, how I feel. I don’t think a lousy defensive team can beat the Falcons, and the Saints are on course to be the lousiest defensive team ever. I believe the Falcons’ first loss will come two weeks hence, at Tampa three days after Thanksgiving. I do not believe it will happen today.
But I have, as we know, been wrong a time or two. Whatever occurs, I’ll be here to watch and comment, and I implore you to join me. And I thank you, as ever, in advance. (Oh, and if you missed it: Read the fine print on the seat card depicted above.)
By Mark Bradley
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1,785 comments Add your comment
take it from me.
November 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
And this is why they get no national respect!
kerryb
November 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
This is suppose to be the last place defense in the league and we can’t move the ball on them now.
Kissinger
November 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
Falcons are not as bad as they’re playing and Saints are not as good (on defense). But getting dominated at the line of scrimmage is a troubling sign.
NORRIS CHUCK
November 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
3. I have also notice how the Falcons are getting pushed around, tripped up and falling all over the place today. They let the Saints and crowd take them out of the game.
4. STOP GIVING THE BALL TO TURNER!
They just dont have it for this game.
Jimmy
November 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
We got to pull out the superstitions boys.
I’m desperate.
Should we put on our rally caps?
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
Saints will try to work on that clock now
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
Crowd wanted a face mask
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
November 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
Can the Falcons PLEASE do something else on first down besides running Michael Turner for a one yard gain??????
ijonathan
November 11th, 2012
3:02 pm
We revert to the CFL offense when we hand off to Turner. We only have 3 downs to get a first.
tyler
November 11th, 2012
3:02 pm
Pathetic….NOLA’s defense is terrrrrible. Apparently so are we.
Chop It Up
November 11th, 2012
3:02 pm
Ray Edwards sighting…I thought he was injured or traded.
Where's the defense?
November 11th, 2012
3:02 pm
The Falcons look like the 3-5 team and the Saints look like the 8-0 team.
NORRIS CHUCK
November 11th, 2012
3:02 pm
Hey, thats the first time all day ive heard Ray Edwards name!
s Steve
November 11th, 2012
3:02 pm
Dammit to hell! I hate the Saints!
CGD..
November 11th, 2012
3:02 pm
If Drew dont respect ya why should anybody else oh delsional one…..
Jimmy
November 11th, 2012
3:02 pm
Giants look like crap today as well.
MenVsBoys
November 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
Broken record
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
Shameful D Line performace
atlfalconsfan0125
November 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
Defense needs help.
Falcons Fans Whine, Cry Just Like Georgia Fans
November 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
Actually, that was Robert McClain trying to cover Graham. Not successfully.
J.J.M.
November 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
All the time in the world to throw the ball
Reginald
November 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
Kicking that Falcon buttt……..can you spell EXPOSED
Jimmy Crack
November 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
This game will knock us down to about #10 in the Power Rankings, even below the 2 loss teams.
CGD..
November 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
Giants 56
Fal-cons 17
It’s a wrap Pretenders
phil
November 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
Fire Mike Nolan!!!!!!!
Section 212
November 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
We are losing this game on the OL and DL. Brees hAs a clean jersey and our OL cannot secure 1 freegin yard! Saints need to make a mistake because our D is unable to stop them. 35-17 in 5 more plays.
Ed Pilcher
November 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
And this is the reason we get no respect.
kerryb
November 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
Their RB gets 5 yards on first down. Ours gets -2.
playmeortrademe
November 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
The issue is no pressure. Brees had all day.
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
U2’s “Desire – who’s singin?
NORRIS CHUCK
November 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
THE PASS RUSH IS PLAIN AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!1
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
ATLLETDOWN
November 11th, 2012
2:50 pm
The Loser Birds are who we thought they were… When its time to shine they hide, now getting pounded – atleast we can rough up the Cardz next week.
______________________
Don’t hold your breath on roughing up the Cards. Losing breeds losing.
O'Ventbrel
November 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
Can they afford to double Jimmy Graham? Looks like they might have to take that risk
oldbird
November 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
3 rd and long. get off the field
Ed Pilcher
November 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
Can’t anyone cover that #$%@!! TE?????
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
Must be the below sea level air
miked
November 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
The defense sucks and they just can not beat the saint wow poor poor showing today
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
There’s your sack.
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
darn they finally sacked em
MenVsBoys
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
Finally a sack. It took 10 seconds to get it but we got it.
Ben Mac
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
really dreading those two games left against Tampa…..they may rush for 500 yards in those games.
Rational thought
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
It’s an 11 pt game with over a quarter to go. Not over yet. Jeez.
CGD..
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
“We revert to the CFL offense when we hand off to Turner. We only have 3 downs to get a first.”
and thats why the Paper Tigers will be 0-4..Oh the Humanity!
Ben Mac
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
really dreading those two games left against Tampa…..they may rush for 500 yards in those games.
Ed Pilcher
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
Finally sacked Brees.
Sparks
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
Hey Reginald…ever hear that old saying about the sunshining on a dog’s butt?
Ed Pilcher
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
Finally sacked Brees.
Jimmy Crack
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
We must break heem.
Jimmy
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
Finally sacked Brees