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
Tom
November 11th, 2012
4:18 pm
Bears 49ers will get the byes. Then we will lose to GB or NO in the first round. Can’t beat teams with elite qbs and sadly we don’t have one
Old Ball Player
November 11th, 2012
4:18 pm
Brees said they were “feeding off each other”…that cliche always makes me think of the Donner party.
Fred Macmurray
November 11th, 2012
4:18 pm
Drew Brees is a jerk. And why didnt we go for 2 when we scored that TD. Couldnt figure that one out.
John Martin
November 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
There is no running game.
MTSeats
November 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
This team is average in most every area. Mike Smith was more concerned about jubilation than the turnover. That’s why he was a CO. He can suck the life out of a team.
Super Champs (twice removed)
November 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
Hohum…yawn…Saints beat Falcons… AGAIN…yawn…hohum…
Charleston Jacket
November 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
Don’t think the falcons are done and yes they are a good team but not a championship team. Champions don’t get inside the five yard line with a first down and the game on the line and not score. That was bad. Our defense has got some work to do. Defensive backs dropping easy interceptions and ends up costing us a touchdown.
Work to do all the way around on both sides of the ball. Not giving up – falcon fan for life – just keeping it real.
THWG
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
Agree……………….it is past time to get rid of Turner and yes he did lose that game for the Birds………………..time to get an all purpose pound the football running back !
Sav FAN
November 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
Player Carries Yds Avg TDs
J. Rodgers 3 29 9.7 0
M. Turner 13 15 1.2 0
who would you want with the game on line?
Tom
November 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
Michael Turner really should audition for a zombie on The Walking Dead. Cause that’s what hes looked like the past 2 years.
kerryb
November 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
You guys that claim to be Falcons fans are pathetic.
$@me0ldbirds
November 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
Same thing every year…… They cannot win a big game. Looked like Falcons playoff loss is coming..
hiramsaint
November 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Go Jackets
November 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
Looked really lost in 2nd half on O and D. Inability to stop run and run the ball will get this team bounced in 2nd round of playoffs.
William
November 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
Anyone but the Saints! Wow… we just made their season a bit more tolerable. Hopefully a little payback in two weeks and a chance to hold the Lombardi in February… back on their field!
atlfalconsfan0125
November 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
Relax folks. Its our first loss! We werent going undefeated,
steve
November 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
Though they scored 27 points this game had a “Mularkey” feel to it. All I can see are the wasted runs with Turner going down on first touch.
telling it like it T I is
November 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
its hard to believe they were 8-0 with that defensive. oh yeah they havent played any decent teams
hiramsaint
November 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
y’all hating on your team is priceless
The Big Fat Blogger
November 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
Why are we still trying with Turner??? He is and always has been overrated…. There was a reason why he was always a backup prior to getting in Atlanta…..
Stinger 2
November 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
Tom Dawg: Is Turner bad enough to to lose a game all by himself.
Did Turner not have any help? Did he play defense and give up all the Saints yardage and points?
extremus
November 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
Well, at least the target is off the Falcons’ backs and all this talk of an undefeated season is behind us. Yes, I hate losing (and especially to New Orleans), but even when undefeated these Falcons never seemed to gain any real respect from the national media. I’m sure when next week’s “Power Rankings” come out all the major outlets will happily have placed them down below the likes of Chicago, Houston, etc., but in the long run I think (and hope) it will be beneficial for them. They’ll keep flying below the radar as they’ve always done, and perhaps this will finally be their year to be the “surprise” of the playoffs en route to a Superbowl victory.
As far as concerns go, it’s painfully obvious that Turner is DONE; stick a fork in him and get somebody who will gain positive yards on a carry. And also, for what seems like forever now, the Falcons need a decent pass rush; you can’t give QBs like Brees, Rogers, etc. that kind of time in the pocket and expect to win.
As always (and much as Braves fans are well familiar with), there’s the hope against hope of a championship this year…but already glaring things that sorely need improvement for the Falcons to truly reach that “next level”. The window isn’t getting any bigger, either.
whodat70816
November 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
Now Roddy White and Falcon fans can
SIT DOWN!
just sayin'
November 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
if, if, if?….11-3…just accept the fact the better team, this day, won the game..maybe rodney can spew some ‘hate’ on next weeks opponents’ city…
80sFalcon
November 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
DawgNole- I’ve been watching these birds for 44 years. There have been plenty of games where they were up more than 10 and let it slip away. they would just sit down. These birds didn’t. just trying to end on a positive note.
Ha, ha ha, ha ha ha
November 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
Who dat, we dat….you ain’t got dat pedigree, LOOSAHS….lmao….
playmeortrademe
November 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
I still wonder what goes on in an NFL coaches mind sometimes. As soon as I saw Douglas down at the one, knowing had poorly the run with Turner has been today, I immediately thought about just running QB sneaks until you score. Worst case it takes 3 chances and you run the clock. Highest percentage chance of scoring, IMO.
Yo Vince
November 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
2 WORDS FOR FALCON NATION …… BENCH TURNER
I WATCH HIM ON 1ST DOWN AND I JUST WANT TO PUKE. QUIZ IS NEXT MAN UP. SNELLING IS A MUCH BETTER OPTION. BURNER, YOU’VE BEEN GREAT FOR THE BIRDS, BUT… IT’S FREAKIN OVER, OVER, OVER
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
One thing about it Atlanta is on top of the NFC South and the other three are in the bottom of the box and looking up …………….hahahahahahahahaha
Dre
November 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
Saints fans…. while I respect you, seriously… You won, congrats, but we didn’t head a peep from you when you were 0-5. Every team has things to improve, and don’t come talking ish when the game could have gone either way. He who crows the loudest eats the most crow
See you soon and here’s to never rooting for you guys ever!
LOL
November 11th, 2012
4:22 pm
Dirty turds LOSE!!!!!!!!!
keith
November 11th, 2012
4:22 pm
Stevie Wonder can see that this running game is “ATROCIOUS.” Actually, it’s beyond “ATROCIOUS”.
We need Donald Trump(NFL Apprentice) to come in here and FIRE some of these O-LINEMEN AND BURNLESS TURNER!
RJ
November 11th, 2012
4:22 pm
Turner is bar none the slowest NFL back to the hole. The line sucks but it takes him way too long to even get out of his stance. There were times I thought he had fallen asleep back there. Should not be a game the rest of the year.
goFalcons
November 11th, 2012
4:22 pm
I have no doubt if Quizz would of got the ball he would of found a way to scoot in for the TD. The line did a bad job on 4th down. They broke clean almost as fast as the Falcons snap the ball. It is so hard to watch Turner run the ball. He runs right in the Defense and not find a opening. Not all of it is his fault. Need to open up some holes for him but he is not the man for the job when it comes to a super bowl talent team like the falcons.
Pedigree of LOOSAHS
November 11th, 2012
4:22 pm
Lmao….no SB ring, nothing…Saints > FAILCANTS….fact…LOOSAHS…LOOSAHS…LOOSAHS…get the point?
Frank
November 11th, 2012
4:22 pm
Brees on TV now saying they KNEW they would win and Falcons would fold. Sad thing….he was right. It was a gift. The beginning looked like the Falcons would dominate, eventually win by 40 points, then the excess celebration penalty, Smith yelling at players, players calming down, and the rest of the first half then stank.
and there wasn’t much after to get another celebration penalty over.
whodat70816
November 11th, 2012
4:23 pm
And that’s why the Falcons were never taken seriously…
Can’t even win against the worse defense in NFL history!
stephe
November 11th, 2012
4:23 pm
falcons in serious trouble. 4 more divisional games left. 2 losses vs tampa bay, 1 loss vs saints, 1 loss vs carolina. falcons will be lucky to finish 10-6 and squeak into the playoffs. Last year the Braves ha the biggest choke in professional sports, now it is the falcons turn to wear the crown.
kerryb
November 11th, 2012
4:23 pm
People get real. Did you not notice that Julio hurt his ankle in the first quarter? He did not have the speed he usually does after that which took him off his game. They did not worry about Julio that much after that but he did make a play or two. Also, our best defensive player didn’t play today and he would have been cover Graham out of the backfield. Some of you are acting like the seasons over and we’ve only lost one game. Go be fans of another team so you can whine and cry about them. We don’t need you.
AllFalc
November 11th, 2012
4:23 pm
Relax—ATL is the best team in the NFC and will the conference easily. Green Bay, Chicago or SF can’t match up with the ATL–ryan will light them up in the playoffs in the dome!!
Michael
November 11th, 2012
4:23 pm
I would rather lose now than later. Roddy almost had that last catch, but Ryan overthrew.
Pedigree of LOOSAHS
November 11th, 2012
4:23 pm
No SB ring, no playoff win with melted ice..your season is OVER….get ready for the slide….Saints rule….you were owned….
RJ
November 11th, 2012
4:23 pm
Correction he should not be IN a game the rest of the year.
steve
November 11th, 2012
4:23 pm
MTurner 13 rushes for 15 yards
JRodgers 3 rushes for 29 yards
Why are we stuck with this BS?
Mookie
November 11th, 2012
4:24 pm
The one team the Falcons needed to beat more than any other and once again the Falcons let their fans down, especially after getting humiliated last year in the Super Dome. The Falcons wonder why the sports media aren’t showing them any respect because this team has no heart, and they are overrated, hell I bet Tampa Bay beat the Falcons too. All of the teams from Atlanta have no heart. I hate this team. I’m done wasting my time with this sorry franchise. Go Aints and take the Falcants with you.
keith
November 11th, 2012
4:24 pm
Falcons should be 9-0. Horrible way to lose when you “Beat Yourself” Running game absolutely “Inept”!!!
Pedigree of LOOSAHS
November 11th, 2012
4:24 pm
Hey, michael….coulda, woulda, shoulda….bring on the excuses, LOOSAHS….who dat, we dat….saints own you…great to be a Saints fan in ATL….ha ha ha
Kennesaw David
November 11th, 2012
4:24 pm
Oh look, the trashy Saints trolls are out for the first time this season. Amazing.
IlliniDawg
November 11th, 2012
4:24 pm
Wish Dimitroff could engineer a mid-season trade for a real running back – you know, one who can actually gain more than 2 yds per carry. But those moves don’t happen in football – only in baseball. But I’d give up a Harry Douglas for a Pierre Thomas any day.
11-2 suckas!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 11th, 2012
4:25 pm
Anybody know the difference between a “dirty bird” and a dirty tub?
One has a ring and the other doesn’t!!!!!! ha ha ha No Sean Payton, no problem, ya’ll clowns still can’t beat the Saints! Get ready for another 1 and done in the playoffs