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
Section 212
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
Yes!
falconsrus
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
snic
dean
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
Maybe the worm will turn now
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
AFT
kerryb
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
I don’t have to watch this anymore. They are going through our defense like they are not on the field. Our offense keeps going 3 and out not helping them much.
phil
November 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
Fire Mike Nolan!
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
Answer This
November 11th, 2012
2:55 pm
Wow what a bunch of band wagon punks on this blog! Game not over band wagon fans! Check the 8-0 and notice the 3-5 on the other side! These chumps we playing still wint be @ 500! Gosh! Be a frigging fan!
_____________________
I think we know about the 8-0 on our side and the 3-5 on the other side. That’s what makes today’s butt-kicking so inexcusable. We’re playing one of the worst defenses in NFL history–and still getting drilled.
ijonathan
November 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
Nicholas whiffed on the first attempt.
Ken fuller
November 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
The one missing link which will prevent the Birds from achieving a Super Bowl is the lack of a running game. How can one team like NO have so many good ones when Atlanta is stuck with an over weight , worn out relic like MT?
If Falcons want to win ....
November 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
Bring in VAD LEE!!
KenDawg
November 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
Not only playing badly but some really dumb penalties. Smitty is gonna have some choice words for the team after this game, no matter what the outcome is.
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
Terrible penalty on Antone Smith on a fair catch. Falcons start at the 9
Jimmy Crack
November 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
TIME FOR A COMEBACK!!!!
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
Mark you taking back that win prediction yet ?
ramblinwreck80
November 11th, 2012
3:08 pm
too much of the leaving their feet and flying out of control by the “D”…almost caused a missed sack…
NORRIS CHUCK
November 11th, 2012
3:08 pm
GUESS I WILL SWITCH OVER AND WATCH THE HAWKS GET DESTROYED BY THE CLIPPERS NOW!
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:08 pm
I don’t take back predictions.
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:08 pm
First World Problem:
I only have 1:20 of battery left on my Macbook while watching my 46″ Sony
Rick Patel
November 11th, 2012
3:08 pm
That’s why N.O. paid Brees the big bucks; to skin those flaccid Falcons.
kerryb
November 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
3rd and 1 and they won’t convert.
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
3rd and 1 here comes Turner………………lol
Jimmy
November 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
go no huddle
Section 212
November 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
3rd n 1 is our worse situation
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
There you go. A conversion via the run.
The sneak.
kerryb
November 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
I can’t believe it.
ijonathan
November 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
Wow. Didn’t know that was still in the playbook.
The Real Falcon
November 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
Finally a first down
MenVsBoys
November 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
More faith in Ryan running than Turner?
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
3:10 pm
I don’t either I think Atlanta still will win this game…………..am I nuts ?
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:10 pm
Julio is pure decoy
Section 212
November 11th, 2012
3:10 pm
Has Harry Douglas caught a ball?
Common Sense
November 11th, 2012
3:10 pm
New nickname for Michael Turner. Michael “Foreplay” Turner. He is slow to the hole.
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:10 pm
Gonzalez having a huge day
J.J.M.
November 11th, 2012
3:11 pm
The pocket is still there ryan
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:11 pm
Receiver flinched. False start on third and one
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:11 pm
Most penalties all year?
MenVsBoys
November 11th, 2012
3:11 pm
Thankk God for the penalty. Turner was going to get torched.
Section 212
November 11th, 2012
3:11 pm
I hate 3rd n 1
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:12 pm
Ryan and Julio — yep, he’s back — work around it.
NORRIS CHUCK
November 11th, 2012
3:12 pm
On the one play they finally decide to sling the ball outside they get a false start!!!!
ijonathan
November 11th, 2012
3:12 pm
Hey, at least that takes a Turner run out of consideration
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
3:12 pm
bout time Jones got back out there……………hes making the bucks ..play ball !
MenVsBoys
November 11th, 2012
3:12 pm
Nice pass Ryan!
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:13 pm
I’ll take 4 down with 15 to play
Section 212
November 11th, 2012
3:13 pm
Big day for Tony G
nodefense
November 11th, 2012
3:13 pm
No pressure!
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
3:13 pm
A Falcon Touchdown on this drive and they back in this thing !
Someone else
November 11th, 2012
3:13 pm
Why would you not get that play off? You are down by 11.
ijonathan
November 11th, 2012
3:14 pm
If the Falcons come back and win
Drew Davis gets game ball for that false start on the third down Turner run…
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:14 pm
Time to check on HGTV and the Cooking Channel – NOT