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
oldfart
November 11th, 2012
2:14 pm
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Ole man turner
November 11th, 2012
2:15 pm
You can blame line and that may be legit but they are doing ok on pass plays.
Eric C.
November 11th, 2012
2:15 pm
Yeah, it’s definitely the run blocking
Sav FAN
November 11th, 2012
2:15 pm
Rogers should play the entire 2nd half-at least a spark is there
kevkat
November 11th, 2012
2:15 pm
We’re making some uncharacteristic mistakes today M.B. Are we feeling pressure?
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:15 pm
Wild play. Almost a sack. Almost a completion.
The Real Falcon
November 11th, 2012
2:16 pm
Whay would anyone be talking about the offseason at the middle of this one? How about concentrating on this game?
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
2:16 pm
Thanks God it’s not Dierdorf. He’s the absolute worst.
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:16 pm
There’s a Graham conversion. No knock on Stephen Nicholas, but he’s not apt to cover Jimmy Graham.
The Real Falcon
November 11th, 2012
2:17 pm
Blitz helped
Jay Dubu
November 11th, 2012
2:17 pm
Looks like the Falcons’ D is playing just as poorly as the Saints reputation on D was coming into this game.
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
2:17 pm
Have we even touched Brees? Why not?
playmeortrademe
November 11th, 2012
2:17 pm
I just do not understand the desire to try and establish the run with Turner. Here’s why
1) You have a pro-bowl TE, pro bowl WR and when healthy, a deep threat in Jones.
2) Matt Ryan is great at reading defenses
3) Quizz is a great pass catching option for screens and dump outs when the D is blitzing.
Two possessions wasted because the Falcons are trying to feed Turner. IMO, he looks like he’s been fed enough.
playmeortrademe
November 11th, 2012
2:18 pm
Meanwhile, Saints have found the weakness. LB on Graham. 21-17 before half.
Jimmy Crack
November 11th, 2012
2:18 pm
ZERO PASS RUSH
O'Ventbrel
November 11th, 2012
2:18 pm
3 pass rushers against Drew Brees is not going to get it done
Adogg36
November 11th, 2012
2:18 pm
Its tight out dare.
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:18 pm
Brees is a great player. I know he has off-days, but I haven’t seen many.
J.J.M.
November 11th, 2012
2:19 pm
The day falcons get pass ruh
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
2:19 pm
If seems as if Keith “always a step late” Brooking is back with us.
Where's the defense?
November 11th, 2012
2:19 pm
Defense looks completely lost…
Jay Dubu
November 11th, 2012
2:19 pm
Did the Falcons’ have film on the SAints offense? They’re going right down the field with no resistance.
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:19 pm
Wow.
Saints lead.
But the Falcons have 34 seconds and a timeout.
GAPecan
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
This is why the Falcons never get past the first round of the play offs. This powderpuff schedule they have, they have not faced any real competition this year and yet they are so thrilled they are undefeated. No one in the NFL gives them respect, because they have not earned it….
Jimmy Crack
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
Call the chief of police.
Ray Edwards stole money and he’s not returning it.
Where's the defense?
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
Looks like 8-1 after today.
Ivan
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
Defense? Hello? Anybody there?
Pigskin
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
No adjustments for our D.
8-1
80sFalcon
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
way to hold’em D. This is going to be on the shoulders of the the O
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
No worries, Matty Ice has 34 seconds.
J.J.M.
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
that was predictable. Giving brees the ball back with all that time left
The Real Falcon
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
Thanks for the jinx MB
phil
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
Our D is far, far from good enough…..
This is sad.
playmeortrademe
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
There is no way they should put a LB man-to-man on Graham. Not gonna work, indeed….
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
Saints: Three touchdowns, one turnover, one punt.
Falcons: Two touchdowns, one field goal, two punts.
Tommy Nobis
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
I really don’t like this Brew Drees guy
Michael M.
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
Falcons can play better than this…………….get on em Smitty!
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
2:21 pm
The “powderpuff schedule” reminds me of the dogs
J.J.M.
November 11th, 2012
2:21 pm
And somebody tell our DEs the bullrush is not working
oldfart
November 11th, 2012
2:21 pm
What do two safeties standing in the end zone prevent?
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:21 pm
The trouble with bracketing Graham — which is what teams do with Gonzalez — is that Colston and Henderson are good, too.
Where's the defense?
November 11th, 2012
2:21 pm
Defense must have hit Bourbon Street last night. They are definitely lost out there.
Jay Dubu
November 11th, 2012
2:21 pm
This is a scrimage where the defense is not allowed to hit Brees. The Falcons had better make some serious adjustments at the half, or this could get ugly.
DAWGFAN13
November 11th, 2012
2:21 pm
Not a good mix for the falcons! The best receiver for the Saints is wide open and there is no pass rush from the D Line at all! Why not try some of these exotic blitzes Nolan was suppose to bring to this team. They need to atleast blitz and extra man, Breese is having an easy time with this defense!
Walker the Infant Falcon
November 11th, 2012
2:22 pm
This is a must win for Saints. Did we expect them to roll over? We MUST stop them on the 1st drive of 2nd half.
phil
November 11th, 2012
2:22 pm
GAPecan
November 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
This is why the Falcons never get past the first round of the play offs. This powderpuff schedule they have, they have not faced any real competition this year and yet they are so thrilled they are undefeated. No one in the NFL gives them respect, because they have not earned it….
**********
exactly…..plus the porous D and zer pass rush.
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2012
2:22 pm
I predict the Falcons will throw on first down.
Unless they try a draw.
O'Ventbrel
November 11th, 2012
2:22 pm
Gotta give credit to Jimmy Graham, he’s a stud. Very reminiscent of Tony G.
oldbird
November 11th, 2012
2:22 pm
I thought Nolan was supposed to be an upgrade at DC. Are the falcons letting Willie Martinez be a guest coach today? They look clueless and uninspired in every aspect on the defensive side of the ball.
Buckeye
November 11th, 2012
2:22 pm
Brads, thanks for the insight and sharing the nuances of the game!