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
trademark
November 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
BUT….if the Falcons prefer “flying under the national radar”, they just got their wish. The National Media is going to pile on like a bunch of starving jackals at a Denny’s on this one. All the talk this week of how NO is coming back and dangerous will suddenly be replaced with Atlanta losing to a far inferior team….blah, blah, blah.
Shoot me now.
3d
November 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
Samuel should be fined for acting like a bro on the street corner. Didn’t we have enough of that crap with Meangelo Hall.
That look at me moment costs 15 yards and a possible TD.
When will these guys learn that you have to back it up and win before acting like a hot dog.
O'Ventbrel
November 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
Tough loss, but oh well. The Giants got crushed by the Bangles today so we should maintain some perspective.
Emphasis on should, because here come the haters. Cynics, pessimists, and trolls, oh my.
Section 212
November 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
Our OL lost this game for us. Dock all of their pay by 50%
Pigskin
November 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
Saints vs. Bears for the NFC crown.
Saints 27
Bears 13
phil
November 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
I have no life….
Fire Mike Smith, Nolan, and release Gonzalez!!!
Nola
November 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
What a way to end the game Gonzalez with a drop. Better look out the saints are playing good ball
cybo
November 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
no running game aginst the worst defense in the league.
WOW
Someone else
November 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
Smith and Richt…both can win, just not the big one.
dean
November 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
ATL D gave up 10 points in 2nd half. I would have thought that would have been enough for an ATL win. Oh we’ll. see y’all next week.
Bradley Curse
November 11th, 2012
4:09 pm
“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”
this statement + this game doesn’t make the Falcons D look good either
Man....
November 11th, 2012
4:09 pm
Great effort, came up short. This team can stay in any game. Can’t win em all, though. Let’s smack the cards next week, and get revenge in 18 days on these aints.
hiramsaint
November 11th, 2012
4:09 pm
what happened to the second coming of the dolphins and patriots?
Charleston Jacket
November 11th, 2012
4:09 pm
Don’t mind losing but never to the saints. had several chances to win this one today and stumble in the redzone twice. Questionable calls in that area. First and goal twice and cannot score, not indicative of championship team. Looks like we are still a few years away from winning it all.
What a bunch of whiners
November 11th, 2012
4:09 pm
Okay, everybody that thought the Birds would go 16-0, raise your hand! You are all morons.
Those that think the Birds are done are bigger morons. They lost. Big deal. They will win the division,
get a first round bye and go deep into the playoffs. This is a good team. Could be much better than good when it’s all said and done.
Go Falcons!!!
falconsrus
November 11th, 2012
4:09 pm
lol phil guilty as charged
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
4:09 pm
Falcons will get the Caints back when they come play em in the Dome !
miked
November 11th, 2012
4:09 pm
They just can not beat the Saints and Matt Ryan played a great game but when you want to move to Elite status YOU MUST SCORE A TOWNDOWN FROM THE one yard line.
80sFalcon
November 11th, 2012
4:09 pm
Two glaring issues I saw. 1) Defense is not nearly as good as advertised. 2) Turner clearly has lost a step if not two. When you have a 250 lbs running back who can’t gain positive yardage after initial contact, you got a problem.
Section 212
November 11th, 2012
4:09 pm
Falcons will move to 10 on power rankings
Reginald
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
Drew Brees just gave u falcons fans the finger…..he said “best team according to records….wink…wink”
Jofo
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
The main thang is to know for sure that the AINTS are by far the worst scum of the NFL! You would not want your sister to date or marry one for sure! They are a bad sort of lot and it scares me whenever our boys have to even go play in that God forsaken town! :0
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
3:53 pm
I told you all Falcons going to win this thing
_____________________
Yes, you did.
whodat70816
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
WHO DAT BABY!
Mike Smith and Matty Melt can’t even beat Joe Vitt and a pathetic defense!
18 days…we come to the circus tent for a repeat performance!
tmc
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
I know we weren’t going to go 16-0, but this loss is bad.
It keeps the Saints alive and doesn’t do anything to help the Falcons psyche.
This was a bad loss.
I just pray the coaches see the problem: MICHAEL freakin TURNER!
Get him out of this lineup!!!
hiramsaint
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
frst real test and result is —FAIL miserably
Tpeg88
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
I hate losing to the Saints. I really do. But I think the team needed a wake up call. WE saw the chains move without turner in the backfield, and we won’t win a playoff game without a running game. Much needed loss, let’s fuel the fire.
Falcons65
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
I still don’t get why Roddy didn’t even get his hands up on that pass. He ran his mouth all week and whiffed when he coulda won the game.
Montana Transplant
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
If you can’t score from the 1, you don’t deserve to win. Same problem as 2011. If anything, it is only worse.
cybo
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
REALITY CHECK
MAYBE MADDEN WAS RIGHT
NO PASS RUSH. NO RUNNING GAME
kerryb
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
Some of you guys are idiots. We’re 8-1. Did anyone see that when the season started? The run was going to end sooner or later we were not going 16-0. We lost one game in 9 and you guys are acting like the seasons over. Go away fair weathered ones.
Who Dat Dude
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
I know it’s killing the pigeon fans that we spanked that butt again!!!!! Who Dat!!! Who Dat!!!
phil
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
The Saints will win in atlanta too….
You blind homers just don’t live in reality.
Bobby
November 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
Oh MB: WHO DAT!!!! GEAUX SAINTS GEAUX
stephe
November 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
as we all knew, this team is too soft to win big games. with a porous defense and no run game the falcons will once again loose their first playoff game, should they even make it.
KenDawg
November 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
Turner had 13 carries for 15 yards – BUT – one of those carries was for nine – meaning that the other 12 carries netted 6 yards. Pathetic.
MTSeats
November 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
Lifetime contract for MTurner ! Why does rhe AJC not challenge the Falcons? $$$$$$$$$$$$
Someone else
November 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
Will the Saints ever buy the Falcons a ring? Why buy the cow when you are getting the milk for free! 11 of 13 now!
JSS
November 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
Don’t let that sore loser call you out phil…
Sav FAN
November 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
And BTW-Samuel cost us points on the second drive due to EXCESSIVE celebrating 4 to be exact
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
8 -1 with 7 left to play looks darn good to me…………rather lose now and get hot again and go on a win streak……………………..
dean
November 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
On the bright side, seeing Saban on the brink of tears was AWESOME!
Carl
November 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
Can’t score from 1 – TOTALLY deserve to lose…also – completely missed the end since some stupid koon tripped on a plug and jacked up comcast service after the amber alert…nice job sh*tcast – lowest consumer rating for a reason…
Tom
November 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
Tampa will beat us too
hiramsaint
November 11th, 2012
4:11 pm
Enter your comments here
44counter
November 11th, 2012
4:12 pm
Let’s face it, Turner is DONE…….stayed one year too long.
Three times first and goal and only 6 pts, NOT GOOD.
But I still predict 13-3 and that’s not to shabby.
Gray
November 11th, 2012
4:12 pm
It is time to get a running back with speed, when Turner lines up 7yds behind line takes him to long to get going.
stizz
November 11th, 2012
4:12 pm
This loss is completely on Michael Turner. I refuse to believe its all on the blocking when I witnessed Quizz making cutbacks and finding holes for gains.
phil
November 11th, 2012
4:12 pm
Whiff……
That’s what we do best.
Run our mouths, back up nothing. Hardly surprising.
It is our destiny to lose!
Falcons: Play 60!
November 11th, 2012
4:12 pm
if Turner can’t get more than 2 yards per carry, his usefulness for this team is at an end. It’s pathetic that they kept giving him the ball over and over again