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
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
2:05 pm
Dent (dog) not performing
MFranklin
November 11th, 2012
2:05 pm
Life ain’t getting easier. TB and NO think they can compete… we gotta play real
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 11th, 2012
2:05 pm
Eddie Lee Ivory running well for his age.
Jay Dubu
November 11th, 2012
2:06 pm
Following the game over the internet. No radio or video, just gameday on ESPN.com.
What is happening to the Falcons’ running game? Are the Saints playing defense well on the run, or is it something else?
Ole man turner
November 11th, 2012
2:06 pm
Can’t pick up one lousy yard on ground when you need it. And against a horrible D. Passinf Offense looks good. Lack of short yardage running game will bite this team. If not today in a crucial situation
phil
November 11th, 2012
2:06 pm
I’m embarassed to be a Falcons fan….
Booooooooo!
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:06 pm
The Saints are playing well against the run. Less well against the aerial.
tmc
November 11th, 2012
2:06 pm
Turner can’t run against the league’s worst rush defense?
Get him out of the lineup… i can’t take 15-20 no gain or loose 1 yd rushes… to get to one 30 yd rush.
He’s killing this offense!
phil
November 11th, 2012
2:06 pm
Dent is pathetic….
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
2:06 pm
If we played the Dent (dog) for a loss drinking game we’d still be sober for the late games.
80sFalcon
November 11th, 2012
2:07 pm
need a big stand here
phil
November 11th, 2012
2:08 pm
Saints stop themselves…..
Booooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:08 pm
There’s a stop. Although I thought Devery Henderson should have caught the deep ball. And certainly Jimmy Graham dropped the third-down throw.
Walker the Infant Falcon
November 11th, 2012
2:08 pm
oooh Goose the GREAT Jimmy Graham just dropped one….
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
2:08 pm
3 and Out is a 3 point play every time.
oldfart
November 11th, 2012
2:08 pm
Brees missed one again. Graham missed one. Who needs defense?
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
2:08 pm
Thats what we needed……….now we need to score another touchdown again and put a spread on those stinkin good for nothing Caints…………………………………………..
Tommy Nobis
November 11th, 2012
2:09 pm
Watch-out ijonathan
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:09 pm
Odd formation. One wide receiver on first and 10.
Tommy Nobis
November 11th, 2012
2:09 pm
Turner studders and dos-e-does
80sFalcon
November 11th, 2012
2:09 pm
Why are we wasting our time with Turner. ring in Snelling. He’s faster and runs harder
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
2:09 pm
you can tell I hate those Caints …..hehehehehe
Jimmy Crack
November 11th, 2012
2:10 pm
Turner was channeling his inner track star.
MFranklin
November 11th, 2012
2:10 pm
Burp, fart, squiggle, sigh
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:10 pm
Now it’s third and eight. This is kind of a key play, coming so late in a half
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 11th, 2012
2:10 pm
Ryan just a little short
Sav FAN
November 11th, 2012
2:10 pm
Turner is not the burner anymo
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:10 pm
And Ryan trips over somebody. Whoa.
80sFalcon
November 11th, 2012
2:10 pm
That’s a forgettable series!
oldfart
November 11th, 2012
2:11 pm
Well that was embarassin’
The Real Falcon
November 11th, 2012
2:11 pm
Whiff by Konz
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
2:11 pm
well, they screwed that series, the Falcons want to let em tie it up or take the lead again ?
playmeortrademe
November 11th, 2012
2:11 pm
wasted possession started with Turner handoff. What does DK see that the everyone else does not?
kerryb
November 11th, 2012
2:11 pm
Jay Dubu
November 11th, 2012
2:06 pm
Following the game over the internet. No radio or video, just gameday on ESPN.com.
What is happening to the Falcons’ running game? Are the Saints playing defense well on the run, or is it something else?
______________________________________________________________
Michael Turner is what’s happening.
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
2:11 pm
Am I the only one tired of hearing “Kenny, Moose and Goose”?
J.J.M.
November 11th, 2012
2:11 pm
Yea let’s give the ball right back to brees
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:12 pm
Snelling was in motion before the punt. Weird.
Tndawg
November 11th, 2012
2:12 pm
Mark any word on the Jones injury?
Sav FAN
November 11th, 2012
2:12 pm
There has to be a running back available that can get to the line of scrimmage a tad quicker
The Real Falcon
November 11th, 2012
2:12 pm
Too many penalties today
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
2:13 pm
Dreds or beards?
The Real Falcon
November 11th, 2012
2:13 pm
Turner can’t run without blocking
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:13 pm
Worst-case scenario: The Saints score a touchdown at the end of the half and score another on the first drive of the second half and the Falcons trail 28-17 before they touch the ball again.
Not saying that’ll happen. But it wouldn’t be good for the visiting side if it did.
ijonathan
November 11th, 2012
2:13 pm
Saints have 4 running backs more explosive than our feature back…
Sav FAN
November 11th, 2012
2:13 pm
Stay with the passing game-Turner can try and block for his salary
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
2:14 pm
I hope Smitty gets on em good in the locker room at halftime………………Atlanta has the lead but they can play a whole lot better than this !
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:14 pm
For the third time: Julio, leg injury, questionable.
Walker the Infant Falcon
November 11th, 2012
2:14 pm
No Buckeye…you aren’t. But we are leading and I must suffer through it.
kerryb
November 11th, 2012
2:14 pm
Birds need to work on a new running back in the off season. Turner’s toast. He runs like he has a refrigerator on his back.
Jimmy Crack
November 11th, 2012
2:14 pm
The OCs will make adjustments at halftime, something we have not experienced in recent years.