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
Let's Be Real
November 11th, 2012
5:08 pm
Ben
November 11th, 2012
4:53 pm
The question is whether or not they can take care of business when it really matters.
The answer is pretty clear now (no).
son's who?
November 11th, 2012
5:09 pm
Don’t blame Turner for the goal line failure. Turner didn’t call his own number, he just tried to power through a swarm of defenders by tiptoeing to the line, leaning sideways and falling before anyone really touched him. Who has watched this result the past few years and expected a different result?
Let's Be Real
November 11th, 2012
5:10 pm
Same ol’ slop from the Falcons, can’t win against an arch rival, can’t win games that matter. The season is over, 8-0 was meaningless–we’re seeing the real team come out now.
Bench Turner NOW
November 11th, 2012
5:10 pm
@CGD, you are a moron.
take it from me.
November 11th, 2012
5:10 pm
Hey mr Smith,I’m over here in the cheap seats,and the level of play still looks the same! no running back!
CGD..
November 11th, 2012
5:10 pm
hey, delusionaldawgnation-1
BATHS SALTS ARE ILLEGAL GENIUS….LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MTSeats
November 11th, 2012
5:10 pm
Please, raise your hand, if you think MTurner is SB bound.
dawgnation1
November 11th, 2012
5:11 pm
@pedigree of loosahs
What’s your record?? Oh wait thats right. Still a bigger number on the left side than the right. Are you in Atlanta? If you are could you please go back? Just let the tide sweep you away?
son's who?
November 11th, 2012
5:11 pm
@Let’s Be Real.
Will you give me the winning Powerball numbers for the next drawing? I’d like to retire early.
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
5:11 pm
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……………………..
__________________
Why? I’d rather WIN now and get hot again and go on a win streak.
The way the Falcons played.......
November 11th, 2012
5:11 pm
The way the Falcons played – they didn’t deserve to win…….the better team won today!
CGD..
November 11th, 2012
5:12 pm
Hey Bench the ______, your an Anal Minded ____________.Hahahahaha
stendek
November 11th, 2012
5:12 pm
First real test. Big fat “F”. As in abysmal failure!
dawgnation1
November 11th, 2012
5:12 pm
Are you from there or a poser saints fan, like most of you. Only pull for your team when they’re decent and peyton manning throws a terrible interception
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
5:13 pm
Tpeg88
November 11th, 2012
4:12 pm
Right on Kerryb, right on. I’m glad for the loss, we’ll lose some dumbA ‘fans’. We just have to deal with the Media bias…
_________________
Maybe the biggest loser on here. He’s actually “glad for the loss.” Incredible.
Robert
November 11th, 2012
5:13 pm
3 things to change. In order
1. Turner needs to give way to Quizz and Snelling, Turner is maybe decent at cutback runs, a liability catching the ball, Snelling would have punched the ball in at the 2, at least he runs hard
2. Ray Edwards is a waste, stop playing him,
3. Franks offers nothing on punt returns, replace him with Douglas
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
5:14 pm
Falcons beat theirself down on the Caints Goal line twice by running no power Turner which don’t never work and will never work…………the man is a has-been and needs to get the boot………………………….all Atlanta needs is a power back smash you in the mouth running back and they will take the trip to the Super Bowl.
son's who?
November 11th, 2012
5:14 pm
It’s good to see all of the trolls back on the blog. I have missed their witty insight.
CGD..
November 11th, 2012
5:14 pm
This bird cant win in the trenches…
These playoff teams will bulldoze the cons….
Seen that B4? Hmmmmmmmm
take it from me.
November 11th, 2012
5:14 pm
When you lose 12 out of the last 14 to your rival,they pretty mush own you,and an 8-0 record don’t change that,when will it ever end!
hiramsaint
November 11th, 2012
5:15 pm
hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehhehehe
Sorry
November 11th, 2012
5:15 pm
Saints still own your sorry failcants.
EGGHEAD
November 11th, 2012
5:16 pm
LMAO…over rated, who’s your daddy…the Saints that’s who.
hiramsaint
November 11th, 2012
5:16 pm
what a butt whoopin smitty and ryan took from the worst D and an asst coach….PRICELESS
MTSeats
November 11th, 2012
5:17 pm
Wonder, if 5pick Julio ain’t cut out for the NFL.
1lovefalcons20
November 11th, 2012
5:17 pm
LOVE MY FALCONS AND HATE,HATE THE SAINTS..BUT WHY OH WHY DO YOU GIVE TURNER THE BALL TO RUN STRAIGHT UP THE MIDDLE..ITS PREDICTABLE..MATT RYAN SHOULD HAVE RAN IT THRU….FALCONS PLAYOFF BOUND..AINTS WILL BE AT HOME IN THEIR URINE SMELLING CITY DURING PLAYOFFS WATCHING…FALCON TEAM OF THE FUTURE… AINTS TEAM OF PAST
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
5:17 pm
Turner definately lost the game for them………………need to nick-name him no-run Turner instead of Turner the Burner cause somebody got the fire hose out and washed him away……………………….indeed !
around town
November 11th, 2012
5:17 pm
I have thought all year, and last year too, that giving the ball to M. Turner is a wasted play. It really hurt today, when they seemed to try him at the most crucial times, like 2d and 2 at the goal line, not once, but on 2 separate possessions in the 4th quarter. Result; lost yardage and no TD either time. If the Birds want to become a truly elite team, the running game must be greatly improved, and, IMO, to do that, Turner must be replaced.
dawgnation1
November 11th, 2012
5:17 pm
@CGD
Would rather lose in the trenches in the playoffs than be on the outside looking in (aka… the saints)
CGD..
November 11th, 2012
5:18 pm
Bench [the delusional Stench]..
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
5:18 pm
lol @ hirmyaint………….You was lucky today buster……………veryyyy…………1 point ?……..hahahaha
EGGHEAD
November 11th, 2012
5:19 pm
we will make the playoffs and own you there too
CGD..
November 11th, 2012
5:20 pm
dawg, you said something profound probably for the 1st time in your life…
Have you ever traveled out side of Georgia? Hmmmm
Just asking..
Joe Dirte
November 11th, 2012
5:20 pm
100% of this loss belongs to Michael Turner
Sorry
November 11th, 2012
5:21 pm
Whose your baby daddy. Let’s see, no super bowl win for the failcants. Saints have beaten you 4 straight and 11 out of last 13 , this ain’t a rivalry anymore. We own you guys, nothing new. I love it we stopped that winning streak.
bigperry
November 11th, 2012
5:21 pm
the o-line the defense,the running game must get better,are is this a fake football team that we as fans already know about i see why they don”t get no respect because they don”t play up to it but one thing i do know this is a new system offense and defense that the falcons is learning but today the little things beat them the one yard at the goal the tackleing and the blocking of one yard this make me sick to death you cannot pick up one yard on the goal line that is unreal soft ass o-line
dawgnation1
November 11th, 2012
5:21 pm
The only LOOSAHS are the ones who hate their own city so much they move and don’t go back. I realize that NO sucks hard. I wouldn’t want to go back either. If you love the saints and that city so much, go home. BTW Nick Folk is replacing Vick. Freaking love it.
stendek
November 11th, 2012
5:21 pm
See another phantom injury for Michael Vick. Anyone surprised?
MTSeats
November 11th, 2012
5:22 pm
Repeat, over and over, but Blank a new stadium.
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
5:24 pm
Vick is getting old……….lol………..just like Turner …..wore out and old
take it from me.
November 11th, 2012
5:24 pm
Second down and gold,and can’t get in from 1 with 2 minutes to play,ballgame!
CGD..
November 11th, 2012
5:24 pm
Fal-cons, playoff run= a skipped needle on a 33rpm 1965 Elvis recording..
Yawn…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
5:25 pm
Eagles are just like the Caints…………..aint goin nowhere.
dawgnation1
November 11th, 2012
5:25 pm
@MTseats
Why whine about the stadium? Its going to happen. Arthur Blank is going to get his new stadium, you’re not going to pay for it. He going to get a new one either way. Whether its here or in LA
stendek
November 11th, 2012
5:27 pm
Too bad it was Roddy White 10 yards behind the Saint coverage at the end not Julio Jones! What a choker when the game is on the line. Text that loser!
CGD..
November 11th, 2012
5:29 pm
Giants 48
Fal-cons 17
dawgnation1
November 11th, 2012
5:29 pm
@CGD
Falcons playoff run = existent…… unlike the saints’
nfcchampsliveinga
November 11th, 2012
5:29 pm
Look at it this way, Run D was gashed, poor tackling, penalties, goal line offense was suspect, run offense suspect. With all that said, this team still had an opportunity to win. New Orleans today, in my opinion just bought themselves another week to stay alive for the postseason, that’s all. Just chill Falcon fans, the Saints have to come to the G-Dome later this month.
OldTimer
November 11th, 2012
5:29 pm
A hurricane couldn’t clean that turd hole up.
SaintsfaninNovaScotia
November 11th, 2012
5:30 pm
Hey Nostradamus…your prediction was predicated on a lie….Saints just own the Falcons…