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
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
3:40 pm
Come on Falcons D, Stop them dirty Caints !
MenVsBoys
November 11th, 2012
3:40 pm
Brees actually looking human on some plays. Just giving us a little hope.
Falcons65
November 11th, 2012
3:40 pm
RISE UP!!!!
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:40 pm
Broken up in the end zone. Saints have to settle.
Jimmy
November 11th, 2012
3:40 pm
Good stop.
The Real Falcon
November 11th, 2012
3:41 pm
Now let’s win this game!!!!!
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:41 pm
The door, it is open.
MenVsBoys
November 11th, 2012
3:41 pm
Triple coverage? Still hit him in the hands.
oldbird
November 11th, 2012
3:41 pm
Nice stop. Now lets go get a TD and put this thing away. I hate the saints.
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:41 pm
Is that what they call team defense?
Falcons65
November 11th, 2012
3:41 pm
Samuel breaking that up with his face.
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
3:41 pm
I still think Atlanta is going to Win this game !
The Real Falcon
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
Has to be a TD Matt!
The Real Falcon
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
Has to be a TD Matt!
Jimmy Crack
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
Good job D!!
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
Down four points, 5:54 to go.
Yep, this one’s over.
phil
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
Field goals are for losers….
We’ll see if we understand the concept.
Right now.
MenVsBoys
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
Four down territory time. No more punts to Brees.
Jimmy
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
This drive is critical.
We MUST score a TD on this thing.
Go O!
falconsrus
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
Its own like a chickenbone come on birdz
Root4au
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
Ball game when falcons had 1st and goal on 5 and settled for a FG.
Falcons65
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
This is it, guys. Let’s take this thing.
Section 212
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
“The Mattural” time!
The Real Falcon
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
Be the MVP Matt!
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
Yep, I’m kidding.
Falcons need a touchdown against a historically terrible defense to take the lead.
ijonathan
November 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
No. Turner. Handoffs. On. This. Next. Series.
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
Any bets that Turner is on the field?
playmeortrademe
November 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
Who is always yelling “ball’s gone!” on FG attempts in the NFL. Is it the refs?
Never thought this team would have a chance to win but here we are. Hey Mike Smith, no punts.
ramblinwreck80
November 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
the “D” holds ‘em to 3…HUGE…now get a TD and win this thing 34-31!!!
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
dean
November 11th, 2012
3:31 pm
Just lost feed for an amber alert. Some things are more important than a game.
______________________
Not when they spend 5 mins asking you to be on the lookout for a car 200 miles away and traveling in the opposite direction from your location.
juice sourcer
November 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
What good did the field goal that the Falcons kicked do and why did they not go for 2 after their last touchdown?
Falcons65
November 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
How is Orlando Bedletter hanging in over there?
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
But, this the time he always breaks one.
MTSeats
November 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
@MB, toche
Growler
November 11th, 2012
3:44 pm
Phil, field goals are for losers unless you’re down by 3 (force OT) or less (win). In this case, at least, you are correct.
AtlantaDude
November 11th, 2012
3:44 pm
The Falcons NEED A RUNNING BACK.
Michael Turner’s yards-per-carry average is bad enough, but if you take out his occassional long run, it would be even worse. He gets stuffed for no gain or a small gain on the majority of his runs.
According to the advanced stats site http://www.footballoutsiders.com, Turner ranks 27th out of 34 featured running backs, with just 43% of his carries being effective. He also ranks near the bottom in two metrics that adjust yards per carry based on situation and opponent.
Imagine how good this team would be if we had a legitimate running game.
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:45 pm
Third and 3. Would behoove the Falcons to convert
Pigskin
November 11th, 2012
3:45 pm
4 down territory.
ijonathan
November 11th, 2012
3:45 pm
Dangit Matt, that was an easy one
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Jacquizz catches. First and 10
MenVsBoys
November 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Woo Hoo!
Falcons65
November 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Move those chains.
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Yo Jiz!
ijonathan
November 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Rodgers is a Madden CGI, right?
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
3:36 pm
Face it, if we were up 35-0 we’d be bored.
_____________________
I’d rather be bored.
phil
November 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Release Turner!!
Tom
November 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Put the naysayers to rest here. Championship teams win this game here.
playmeortrademe
November 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Quizz is awesome.
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
What do Falcons Do ?……………they Rise Up in the 4th quarter !
Section 212
November 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Quizzzzzzz