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
phil
November 11th, 2012
1:15 pm
More inability to score TDs….
Cannot win this game this way!
Fire Mularkey!
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
1:16 pm
!0 – 0 early in the first is a plus for the Falcons…………………lets get another turnover and rattle Drew Sleezeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
1:16 pm
Turner had no blocking on that. Can’t pin it all on him.
As D-Led noted: If you’re going to run a power play, give Turner a fullback to serve as a lead blocker.
oldfart
November 11th, 2012
1:16 pm
Though he was near the Falcons’ bench Samuel stayed in the field of play and taunted the NO bench. If he had stepped a few feet further back it wouldn’t have been a penalty.
J.J.M.
November 11th, 2012
1:16 pm
Our power run blocking is ehhh
AtlNative
November 11th, 2012
1:17 pm
I realize establishing a running game is important, but Turner looks so slow getting to the line. Can’t we at least try some of the other backs in short yardage situations. I dont think it’s an accident our red zone percentages are so bad with Turner our first choice
Steve
November 11th, 2012
1:17 pm
Wanted to give a shoutout to that awesome Georgia Tech defense yesterday! Can’t wait to see what UGA does to them. Go Falcons!
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
1:17 pm
Backup tight end Tommy Gallarda is hurt.
Jimmy Crack
November 11th, 2012
1:17 pm
As long as Turner is a Falcon 3rd and short should forever be known as a passing play or a QB sneak.
Eric C.
November 11th, 2012
1:18 pm
On the 1st down play…should have gone for the end zone, that’s what you do after a turnover.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 11th, 2012
1:18 pm
Looks like the falcons are on a scoring pace like the Jackets and Dwags were yesterday.
Falcon fan 24/7
November 11th, 2012
1:18 pm
Coach Smith just calm down.
DeepDiver
November 11th, 2012
1:18 pm
They were counting on Julio getting some attention since we ran the pitch last week. But yeah, the fake pitch-Turner dive has not worked this season.
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
1:19 pm
The heck with running, turn Matt Ryan loose on those nasty pesky stinkin good for nothing Caints !
phil
November 11th, 2012
1:19 pm
Can you idiots not figure out that neither Turner nor Walter Payton can run through a brick wall?
Tommy Nobis
November 11th, 2012
1:19 pm
I’m moderate
oldfart
November 11th, 2012
1:19 pm
Quizz doesn’t carry enough of a load for 3rd and short and Turner is carrying too much of one. Snelling will forever be 3rd string.
waynester
November 11th, 2012
1:19 pm
We brought in a veteran– Samuel– and paid him veteran $$ to come over and play smart–like a veteran. That is just the kind of mental lapses Smitty is trying to fight against through the 3rd Q of the season…
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
1:20 pm
I’d agree that you’re actually doing the Saints a favor if you run the ball. They can’t cover.
Walker the Infant Falcon
November 11th, 2012
1:20 pm
Mark INgram of the formerly undefeated Alabama Crimson tide with the carry.
phil
November 11th, 2012
1:20 pm
Booooooo!
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
1:20 pm
On the other hand … an opponent can run against the Falcons.
DeepDiver
November 11th, 2012
1:21 pm
I don’t think you can expect your back to shake 3 guys 2 yards behind the LOS with a two step running start.
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
1:22 pm
Need to strip the ball if they want to run………………………………
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
1:23 pm
Fabulous run. Saints score.
AtlNative
November 11th, 2012
1:23 pm
Wow, that was awful job of tackling…..
atlfalconsfan0125
November 11th, 2012
1:23 pm
Lol
J.J.M.
November 11th, 2012
1:23 pm
Smh we still haven’t fixed our run defense
Walker the Infant Falcon
November 11th, 2012
1:23 pm
Horrible tackling…or non tackling…..
Ivan
November 11th, 2012
1:23 pm
Oh hey. We still have no run D
Pigskin
November 11th, 2012
1:24 pm
Uh Oh…..her they come.
This is far from over.
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
1:24 pm
And not much in the way of tackling, I must add.
DeepDiver
November 11th, 2012
1:24 pm
Horrible angle by Samuel giving him the edge, and then Falcon Tackling from there.
MFranklin
November 11th, 2012
1:24 pm
Horrid tackling. Saints score.
Sid
November 11th, 2012
1:24 pm
sorry but that was horrendous
Tommy Nobis
November 11th, 2012
1:24 pm
wrap-up !
phil
November 11th, 2012
1:24 pm
Great……
Pathetic defense. No wonder we’re not given a chance to actually do anything.
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
1:24 pm
looks like the Caints will run the ball on us and we have to pass on them
80sFalcon
November 11th, 2012
1:24 pm
Robinson just quit on that one. Let’s give them the momentum back
Pigskin
November 11th, 2012
1:24 pm
*here
ramblinwreck80
November 11th, 2012
1:24 pm
way to let the Saints back into the game “D”…
Pigskin
November 11th, 2012
1:25 pm
I take that back. If we let them do this today, it IS over.
playmeortrademe
November 11th, 2012
1:25 pm
Thinking about getting a refund for the Samuel and Robinson Tackling Camp.
Old Man Peabody
November 11th, 2012
1:25 pm
Henderson laid someone out on that run play.
oldfart
November 11th, 2012
1:26 pm
Dunta satisfied to let him go on after a playground push. Samuel is still looking for his jock. Good examples of why you shouldn’t gloat.
J.J.M.
November 11th, 2012
1:26 pm
And that’s why you can’t win with field goals!
phil
November 11th, 2012
1:26 pm
We kick field goals, they score TDs with ease….
Booooooooooooooo!!
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
1:26 pm
Chris Ivory’s run is one of the finest I’ve seen in a while. Bounced all the way to the right sideline. Wound up running into the left side of the end zone.
If you counted actual yards traveled, he probably went about 80.
Bird
November 11th, 2012
1:26 pm
We can’t get 1 friggin yard on 3rd and 1….They rip off a 56 yard TD run. Good blocking line!
80sFalcon
November 11th, 2012
1:26 pm
Sad thing was Ivory was gassed and Robinson still could not tackle him