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
3:59 pm
We still got a shot at it………………Rise up !
Falcons65
November 11th, 2012
3:59 pm
Ain’t over.
Tom
November 11th, 2012
3:59 pm
Sorry offensive play calling
oldbird
November 11th, 2012
3:59 pm
Okay. Now we really get to break their hearts. It will be even more fun.
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
3:59 pm
They do have to score a touchdown, though.
Let's go Falcons. Come on.
November 11th, 2012
3:59 pm
Let’s go. Let’s Go. Play Smart.
NORRIS CHUCK
November 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
MICHAEL TURNER…THATS ALL I GOTTA SAY
ijonathan
November 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
Uh, Moose had a brain cramp there. Safety??
Ole man turner
November 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
Quiz is decent out can’t plow for a yard. Snelling?
Sid
November 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
can still win this with their defense!!!
Root4au
November 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
Good regular season will struggle to beat better teams. Same as always.
Another tough 3rd down
November 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
Egads… never making it easy
Growler
November 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
MB, I am guessing with the Falcons still needing a TD, the Saints figured the :40 was more important than risking an incompletion. If it was just a FG needed, maybe different strategy.
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
Not going for two after the touchdown looms large, does it not?
Pigskin
November 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
Who really thought we were going undefeated?
I mean really.
Tom
November 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
Why not a pitch or quick pass to quiz or julio. No they run it up w turner that NEVER works. Sooo stupid. Turner is awful and has been for 3 years now
NORRIS CHUCK
November 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
Why give the ball to a guy that hasnt even gotten 10 yards all game???
Sav FAN
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Twice on the goal line -unbelievable
Let's go guys. Keep it going.
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Move the chains and eat clock
80sFalcon
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
I’m proud the birds fought back. Hated to see so many wasted play calls with Turner
kerryb
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Even if we do lose did anyone really think we were going to win all of them? Next time is in the dome and Julio will not be gimpy and we will have spoon back to cover Graham.
Where's the defense?
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
On the last drive, Matt Ryan through two passes low instead of high. Why? His receivers can go up a get them!
dean
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Ok. Lets see if Ryan is Montana-ish
Matt
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
I think we all knew deep down that the perfect record would stop in N.O. Wish we could beat the damn Saints…
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
A holding call on the Falcons moves them back to the 31. They have 37 seconds remaining.
Falcons65
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Dadgum.
MenVsBoys
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Turner has become a real problem no matter how this game ends.. A power back who can’t get a yard is not a power back.
Tom
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Pig
I didn’t but i surely didn’t expect to lose a game against this crap saints team. not a champion team
G
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Mike Smith is a good coach but he makes some real questionable decisions sometimes and not going for 2 ranks up there.
Growler
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Wow holding on the punt! That’s brutal in that situation.
oldbird
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
another really dumb penalty.
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
The pass to Roddy White gains nine yards in six seconds.
O'Ventbrel
November 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
Chances are slim, but it is definitely not over
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
oh my heart !
oldbird
November 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
Plenty of time left.
Way to go Falcons.
November 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
Let’s go guys!
trademark
November 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
2 times within the 2 yard line in the fourth quarter….3 points.
THAT’S how you lose close games.
Need a miracle now.
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
The incompletion takes seven more seconds.
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
Tom
November 11th, 2012
3:49 pm
Can’t do it against this crap defense, then we aren’t a champion team.
________________________
Co-sign.
MenVsBoys
November 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
How close before Ryan can throw to the end zone?
Growler
November 11th, 2012
4:03 pm
@G, the problem with Smith is he’s inconsistent. Sometimes he’s a gambler, sometimes he’s maddeningly conservatve. He’s gotten away with it this season… until today.
Section 212
November 11th, 2012
4:03 pm
Again 3 n 1
Tom
November 11th, 2012
4:03 pm
Stupid mularkey play calling on that last drive.
G
November 11th, 2012
4:03 pm
It’s what I love about Tony Saragusa he always provides the obvious, ” they have to score a TD” for those of us who can’t do math. What a waste of air time he is.
cybo
November 11th, 2012
4:03 pm
we cant get one yard really.
as you can see bloggers , I am stll stuck on the last series
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
4:03 pm
The incompletion takes eight seconds. White came open late.
Falcons65
November 11th, 2012
4:03 pm
Oh, God.
dean
November 11th, 2012
4:03 pm
Roddy stopped
MenVsBoys
November 11th, 2012
4:03 pm
What the heck Roddy?
Pigskin
November 11th, 2012
4:04 pm
Had him. White pulled up.