The 11-1 Falcons leave their nemesis with egg on its face
Christopher Owens plays a little pass defense. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
The plot for this one was, er, delicious. Would the Falcons lay another egg against their nemesis? Or would they put game away early – render it over easy, so to speak – and exit sunny side up?
The hated Saints arrived in town Wednesday to an airport egging of the team bus. This became national news, and it only added to the curious history of this strangest of rivalries. (Or non-rivalry, as the Falcon-turned-Saint Curtis Lofton averred this week.) From Big Ben Right to The Yolk’s On You — let’s see Cowboys-Redskins top THAT.
No matter the buildup, Falcons-Saints is always a frenzied affair. The way Thursday’s game began, you’d have sworn the Georgia Bulldogs had donned a different red-and-black uniform and showed up two days early. The Falcons ran so fast and hit so hard and gesticulated with such force that they appeared to be wide-eyed collegians, not jaded pros.
The trouble with working with such early fervor in an NFL game is that fervor tends to flame out after a quarter or so, which is precisely what happened here. The Falcons led 17-0 after 21 minutes but were outrageously lucky to escape the first half with a 10-point lead.
Drew Brees, who lives to beat the Falcons, had stopped — at least for the moment — throwing the ball to the other team, as you figured he would. (Say what you will about the Saints, but they do have a world-class quarterback.) But New Orleans called its final timeout of the half with 2:24 remaining, and then Jimmy Graham was called for offensive interference to negate a Darren Spoles touchdown. The half ended before the Saints could array themselves for a field goal, and that was the first of several let-offs for the Falcons.
“That was huge,” Mike Smith said afterward. “We got off the field with no points, and we were reeling a bit.”
The unsteadiness continued. Brees kept driving his team in the third quarter, but the Falcons’ defense kept forcing field goals. Finally Brees did it again: His pass was intercepted by strong safety William Moore, and the Falcons moved, if only slightly, to the field goal that pushed the lead back to seven points.
It’s hard to say where the Falcons’ offense went. It pounded the league’s worst defense for 140 first-quarter yards, but over the final three periods the Saints – who cannot, we must emphasize, play a lick of D — stopped almost everything the Falcons tried. Key stat: Through three quarters, the Falcons were 0-for-7 on third-down conversions. But the offense roused itself late, and Matt Bryant’s 55-yard field goal with 4 1/2 minutes left was the clincher.
This wasn’t the first time the Falcons had authored such a halting prime-time performance. They started fast against Denver but were reduced to holding on at the end, and against Dallas they’d relied on an unassuming defense to keep the game in place long enough for the offense to wake up and win it. Toss those two games into a blender and you wound up with this one: Fast start, sluggish middle, better on D than on O.
Once again, the Falcons failed to deliver the kind of comprehensive thrashing of a brand-name opponent that would have quelled some of that they-aren’t-as-good-as-their-record chatter. And yet: Once again, the Falcons won. They fought off the Saints and moved within a Tampa Bay loss on Sunday of clinching the NFC South with a month to spare. They won their second heated game in a five-day span, and the more they win the more we need to stop asking just how they do it.
Because here’s how they do it: By being a team. Sometimes the offense bails out the defense, and sometimes vice versa. (Who would have dreamed William Moore would catch more passes in this game that Roddy White?) But every week except one the result, as Mike Smith is wont to say, has been to his team’s liking. No matter how you fry or poach or scramble it, 11-1 is 11-1.
And beating the Saints would feel good even if this team were 1-11. This marked only the third victory over New Orleans in 10 tries for the Dimitroff/Smith/Ryan troika. Better still, it reclassified the Saints’ playoff chances – they’re 5-7 – as a forlorn hope. Take that, non-rivals!
So maybe the game itself was only half as dominating as Falcons fans would have hoped. Big deal. They beat the Saints. They intercepted FIVE Brees passes. They broke the record streak for games with a touchdown pass by the quarterback who’d kept throwing late in the Superdome blowout last year to set another record. Only one team left the field with egg on its face, and it wasn’t the 11-1 Falcons.
Further reading: The powerful Falcons, Brees’ INTS and the Saints’ botch.
By Mark Bradley
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212 comments Add your comment
bowfan
November 29th, 2012
11:42 pm
sweet revenge, stopping DrewB’s TD streak
Mike
November 29th, 2012
11:43 pm
It started of a good weekend. Dawgs, yall next Oh First btw
Growler
November 29th, 2012
11:43 pm
Nice win, but that offensive performance agains the not-playing-a-lick-of-d defense is a concern…
NoShamSam
November 29th, 2012
11:43 pm
Playoffs here we come
NoShamSam
November 29th, 2012
11:45 pm
Great column Mark!!!!!
bowfan
November 29th, 2012
11:45 pm
That was some good defense! Man the road to the SB is full of heart attacks and teeth grinding this time.
Jacketfan
November 29th, 2012
11:47 pm
The Dome was rockin’
MTSeats
November 29th, 2012
11:47 pm
Thank God we have 5pick Julio!
Remarkable
November 29th, 2012
11:47 pm
Drew Brees has a new record. Five interceptions. That’ll put egg on your face.
gtmike
November 29th, 2012
11:48 pm
Nice job Noodlearm Drew “Al Dente” Brees. What a nice strong pass while being tackled that Al Dente had.
RamblinWreck
November 29th, 2012
11:48 pm
Eggnog for everyone!
NoShamSam
November 29th, 2012
11:49 pm
Now Tech and Georgia do their things
Truth be Told
November 29th, 2012
11:50 pm
EGGzactly what Altanta needed! Way to go, Falcons! Bring us to the SuperBowl and lets have Brady and Ryan go at it! Pats, here come the Falcons! Wooohooo!
gtmike
November 29th, 2012
11:51 pm
Get the high chair out for Al Dente Brees so he can actually see his pass become an interception.
Falcons Pick off Brees 5 Times, Beat Saints 23-13 - ABC News · Sync Dating and Sync Date - Real Online DatingSync Dating and Sync Date – Real Online Dating
November 29th, 2012
11:52 pm
[...] Reaction: Falcons 23, Saints 13ESPN (blog)Not-so-warm welcome for Saints in AtlantaThe Seattle TimesThe 11-1 Falcons leave their nemesis with egg on its faceAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Yahoo! Sports -NewsOK.com -NFL Newsall 1,387 news [...]
RA
November 29th, 2012
11:53 pm
WTG Falcons. Man, that felt sweeeeet. I ended up turning the audio off on CW69 cause the announcers kept dissin the Falcons. I say we revoke those guys Atlanta passports.
retired
November 29th, 2012
11:55 pm
eggcellent ….. suck eggs Saints no playoff for you!
aint hater
November 29th, 2012
11:55 pm
Where are the trolllllllsssssssss . go Falcons and aints are toast.
Falcons Pick off Brees 5 Times, Beat Saints 23-13 – ABC News | eLive Sport
November 29th, 2012
11:58 pm
[...] Reaction: Falcons 23, Saints 13ESPN (blog)Not-so-warm welcome for Saints in AtlantaThe Seattle TimesThe 11-1 Falcons leave their nemesis with egg on its faceAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Yahoo! Sports -NewsOK.com -NFL Newsall 1,387 news [...]
AtlSwagger
November 29th, 2012
11:58 pm
The sAINTS got EGG on their face!!!!!!!!!!!! It feels SO SO SO GOOD!!! And DREW BREES passing record is at 54. ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END. No playoffs for the AINTS,
PULLING for Payton Manning to beat the Bucs and bring us an NFC south CHAMPIONSHIP!
After that, we must put on our hard hads and clench the top seed in the NFC.
Saints fans; I have one question!!!!!!!!!! WHICH CAME FIRST.. THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG???
(Somebody rise up and give the lone eggman a job.. He or she is going to need one)
chuck
November 29th, 2012
11:59 pm
Where is our resident Saints fan tonight?
Problem Solver
November 29th, 2012
11:59 pm
Win if you can. Lose if you must, but always cheat.
mars=lifetime dawg
November 29th, 2012
11:59 pm
Not too early for the draft board to start analyzing OL & MLB. They may not be important to our coordinators, but they sure as hell are important in the NFL!!!
Brock Lesner
November 30th, 2012
12:00 am
Great win. Anyone catch the Falcon cheerleader’s wardrobe malfunction while doing a flip? Made the night even better!
Section 212
November 30th, 2012
12:01 am
Roddy’s tweets should be interesting tonight. Stay out of Magic City
mars=lifetime dawg
November 30th, 2012
12:02 am
Problem Solver, that appeared to be the motto of the ref’s tonight. Those weren’t bad calls, they were biased calls!
tired of mediocrity
November 30th, 2012
12:02 am
Hey who dats have fun watching playoffs at home this year and it gets better after the giants kick your butts next weekend.Great to be a falcons fan and by the way it ain’t your division no more.
BooBoo
November 30th, 2012
12:02 am
I missed the game. What happened to White? No catches?
Great Falconi
November 30th, 2012
12:03 am
Most eggcellent.
Tuggle58
November 30th, 2012
12:03 am
Defense won this game. Picking Brees off 5 times and holding them to 13 pts. is OUTFREAKINSTANDING!!!!!!!!!
Whadda Ya Know?
November 30th, 2012
12:04 am
Well looks like little brother beat big brother tonight. There always comes a time when little brother grows up and whoops DAT azz–just like tonight. Game wasn’t pretty, but the defense stepped up and shut down the Breeses. Didn’t I tell you guys as Brees goes so does the Taints!!!
ROD
November 30th, 2012
12:04 am
Great 1st half, and great defense in the second. I think we would have more picks if Samuel wasn’t hurt. They let them stay around too long, and too many drive stopped on the goal line. I will take the win, but we have to get better. You have to put a team away. I’m glad they won, but I hope Samuel shoulder will heal. GO FALCONS a well deserve rest. NOW IT’S TIME FOR THE BULLDOGS TO BRING THE NOISE AND HURT TO BAMA!!!!
LOL at The Aints
November 30th, 2012
12:05 am
Poor Seen, he’s probably feeling really down right about now,, LOL
Dallas Falcon
November 30th, 2012
12:05 am
Mark,
Somebody has to ask Mike Smith why he called the timeout in the third quarter when the falcons had the ball on the three yard line with the momentum. Next play was a negative run, then a false start, then an almost interception. That timeout was a momentum killer and probably caused the Falcons a touchdown. What happened?
Techbuzz
November 30th, 2012
12:06 am
I LOVED seeing Brees on the sidelines after every INT he threw. Granted, Ryan did the same thing a few weeks ago, but unlike Bress and ‘Ain’ts, the Falcons are 11-1 BOYEEEE!!!
I wanted this game for THIS very reason, to pretty much win the division against the defending division Champs and to prevent the Saints from being the first team to repeat as NFC South Champs. Since 2002, no NFC South team has repeat as division champs.
LOL at The Aints
November 30th, 2012
12:06 am
I’ll wait till i get JSS’s Take on the Game,, ok wait, Nevermind LOL
meme
November 30th, 2012
12:06 am
I say the EGGMAN deserves a promotion he’s a hometown hero! I say make it a tradition!! God save the EGGMAN GOO GOO AJOOB!!
LOL at The Aints
November 30th, 2012
12:07 am
Drew Sleeze still setting records in the Dome,, LOL
Herschel Talker
November 30th, 2012
12:08 am
MB:
BACK TO NEW ORLEANS WITH BAGS ON THEIR HEADS. WHO DAT?
HT
Cpt Kirk in Arkansas
November 30th, 2012
12:08 am
Fortunately wifet, who’s an aints fan, went to bed at halftime..so she didnt witness the final 3 interceptions..I got jazzed just befor the half when they ran ouit of time on the 5 yd line, and she was PO’d bout that, so the 2nd half wouldve saddened aher, every moment as I began to sneer at every A’ints mistake
I just love when we stick it to the aints, esp in view of all the aints trollers on this blog…I was diggin it on Sun when the niners were doing the same.. seems as if Brees has to take so much on himself to overcome their terrible defense but dats dat..
Tough one Aints!!!!! welcome to the future..how bad will things get when we actually replace Turner with eoiither a bigger bruiser or a breakaway back and when we get another pass rusher to help Abe..just think about how bad things will be when that happens
Turner surprised me, like he had a fire up his butt on the opening drive..I blinked in disbelief thinkin ,,,this must be 2008 or “09 this isnt now.. But not going down and thinking about ball security. on that last drive, well he nearly made the bonehead play of the game..despuite the aints self destructing..
I just love it whenever the Aints get thier arses kicked…luv it no matter who does it but whenever the Brids do it its so much sweeter!!!
need to replace Turner or..Mark My Words and we need Assante back or another corner like him to combat Brees, Cam, the top throwers in the NFC
Mora less Petrino
November 30th, 2012
12:08 am
Bad five days for the Bounty Boys: The unbeatable in November Saints take two losses, (In November!), playoff hopes are toast, and Brees’ TD streak is over.
Sweet!
St. Richt
November 30th, 2012
12:09 am
Go Dirty Birds! The offense needs to pick it up – especially the WR’s. People are quick to throw Matt Ryan under the bus, but tonight his receivers let him down big time.(especially in the first half) I’ve been an outspoken critic of “Burner Turner” all year but tonight he came to play. I liked the effort across the board- could’ve and should’ve beat the Aints by more. Who dat? WE DAT! Game ball goes to Mike Nolan for his defense. Gotta love Jacquizz yapping at Jenkins after that last first down- Jenkins of all people deserves the trash talk. Bye bye Aints.
Really?
November 30th, 2012
12:09 am
The D showed up to play big time. Who would think the Falcons would have under 300 yds of offense and only convert 1 3rd down and still win by 2 scores? Ending bree’s record and putting another nail in the taint’s rapidly disapearing playoff hopes only added to the sweeetness.
Also eggs!!!!!!!!!
extremus
November 30th, 2012
12:10 am
The defense really came through again and were crucial to securing this victory. 5 interceptions on Drew Brees was awesome (and ending his consecutive games with a touchdown streak after last year’s “run up the score” debacle was SWEET). And not only did that big INT by Moore in the 3rd quarter swing the momentum back to the Falcons when the outcome was becoming seriously in doubt; it silenced the announcers’ gushing over Brees and the Saints’ offense (something we’ve had to endure from analysts for far too long now).
That said, I really liked both Ryan’s and Gonzalez’s responses to questions after the game. They gave credit to the defense, acknowledged that there are still things they need to improve upon, and basically avoided any bulletin board material. This is a rivalry that will certainly continue for as long as these two teams are around, and right now I don’t think it could get much more passionate. Great and much needed win and a step further toward home field throughout the playoffs.
GO FALCONS!!!!
DILLIGAF
November 30th, 2012
12:10 am
The Falcons play is sporadic at best. I would love to see them put together 4 solid quarters of football on both sides of the ball just like you will see on Saturday as my Dawgs put together a game that will go down in the books as one of the most skilled display of footballmanship in NCAA history as they Roll the Tide and move on to dismantle the leprechauns the of the pretenders.
Go Dawgs!
GATA!
UGA85′
aint hater
November 30th, 2012
12:12 am
Where are the aints trolls????? i would love to hear from them…… Anyone????? Your season is over and your out.
LOL at The Aints
November 30th, 2012
12:14 am
National Media,, Move along,, nothing to see here, Falcons beat another team with a losing record! LMFAO
gtmike
November 30th, 2012
12:15 am
Drew “Al Dente” Brees throws to both teams. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
LOL at The Aints
November 30th, 2012
12:16 am
Foxsports.com,, “Falcons hold off the Aints”,, yep
I Threw the Egg
November 30th, 2012
12:18 am
Ended a record and help Brees to set one 5 int’s…… So Sweet…. Red and Black Weekend…..
meme
November 30th, 2012
12:21 am
hey 4bb4 I gotta massive W for ya ta shine up! get busy girlfriend!! n plenty mo for hiriamtaint!
bowfan
November 30th, 2012
12:21 am
If 49r’s defense didn’t score two pick sixes again Brees, NO would have won 21-17. SF and the wonderkid’s offense didn’t score as many points against the Saints as the Falcons did.
I’d say the Falcons are looking pretty good right now.
Whether or not ESPN / FOX / NBC experts will admit it yet, you 2012 Falcons have EARNED respect!
aint hater
November 30th, 2012
12:23 am
hiriamtaint where are you??????????? where are you seeeeeennnnnn?????? no shows when they suc……..
I Threw the Egg
November 30th, 2012
12:28 am
Turned the 100 million dollar into Brett Favre.. Hahahahahahahah.. int’s ….int’s
jaz
November 30th, 2012
12:29 am
Give the “D” the game ball! After watching the game I expected to see the game stats all in favor of the Saints, but after viewing the ajc posting I was surprised to see how well the Birds did. It is amazing that at 11-1 we can’t get any respect..just look at the rest of the records. The O & D played their hearts out. Great game!
meme
November 30th, 2012
12:29 am
all I got for techduck is a schooling HAHAHAHA DUMBASS!!
I Threw the Egg
November 30th, 2012
12:31 am
100 MILLION DOLLAR MAN CAN’T MANAGE THE CLOCK… HAHAHAHAHAH…
I WANT WINNERS!
November 30th, 2012
12:31 am
Great win….but Houston…..we have a problem…….when the entire secondary including the Nickle back has more individual tackles than any one of your three linebackers……..WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ENTER OAKLAND……….Thank you Dennis Allen………If the rumors are correct, ROLANDO McClain should hit waivers tomorrow……..And we desperately need him! We haven’t stopped a power runner since Jimmy Carter was president! PLEASE GET THIS GUY!!!!!!!!! Stopping the Run is McClain’s bread and butter…..He won a National title at Bama and can win a Superbowl in Atlanta. The Akeem Dent experiment hasn’t worked….6′3″ and 255….he can plug the middle…..We have a long week to get him on board and ready to play……and for those of you worried about his propensity for firearms, I have two defenses for that: 1 He’s an Alabama boy in LA (I think he also saw the Rodney King tape on CNN) and 2 Ray Lewis likes guns too and if he can be half as good as Ray……..It’s SUPERBOWL BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1lovefalcons20
November 30th, 2012
12:32 am
THE AINTS MISERY IS MY PLEASURE!!!WERE CELEBRATING AND DANCING THE PEACHTREE SHUFFLE….AINTS GOT EGGED AND A && WHIPPING ALL IN THE SAME DAY..ALL IS GOOD IN ATLANTA
gtmike
November 30th, 2012
12:33 am
Lofton is going to enjoy the playoffs…at least in Madden.
I WANT WINNERS!
November 30th, 2012
12:34 am
Great win….but Houston…..we have a problem…….when the entire secondary including the Nickle back has more individual tackles than any one of your three linebackers……..WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ENTER OAKLAND……….Thank you Dennis Allen………If the rumors are correct, ROLANDO McClain should hit waivers tomorrow……..And we desperately need him! We haven’t stopped a power runner since Jimmy Carter was president! PLEASE GET THIS GUY!!!!!!!!! Stopping the Run is McClain’s bread and butter…..He won a National title at Bama and can win a Superbowl in Atlanta. The Akeem Dent experiment hasn’t worked….6′3″ and 255….he can plug the middle…..We have a long week to get him on board and ready to play……and for those of you worried about his propensity for firearms, I have two defenses for that: 1 He’s an Alabama boy in LA (I think he also saw the Rodney King tape on CNN) and 2 Ray Lewis likes guns too and if he can be half as good as Ray……..It’s SUPERBOWL BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and you never look a gift horse in the mouth! Even if he played at Bama! SUPER BOWL!
Peter
November 30th, 2012
12:35 am
Defense wins championships……… This may be the start of something BIG !
playmeortrademe
November 30th, 2012
12:36 am
Falcons have the goods, they just have to play (and coach) for all four quarters instead of first and fourth. If they do I don’t think any other team in the NFL could hang with them except New England.
reality
November 30th, 2012
12:36 am
Bama 41
Dwags 17
David Smith
November 30th, 2012
12:37 am
Aint fans only come out when their team wins so it’s no surprise they are in hiding tonight.
spoon
November 30th, 2012
12:37 am
Great Falcons W!!!!! Broke Brees streak! Poor Alex at SF!
Dianne
November 30th, 2012
12:38 am
NFL Network once again are saying it’s not about the Falcons winning but how bad the Saints played…. did it even occur to them THE FALCONS DEFENSE caused the Saints to look so bad?
rlm
November 30th, 2012
12:38 am
As he says the Falcons are a team. Razzle Dazzle they ain’t. Winners they are. Do you want Hollywood players out for theirselves or real men playing together. Each week each man knows that he can be the hero. It is not just one man. The Saints lose by depending on Brees and not each one of them doing their job.
kingdaddy
November 30th, 2012
12:38 am
I think paperbags are coming back in fashion…for the 5-7 Aint’$…
realitydude
November 30th, 2012
12:39 am
This is a Falcons victory site..Go o bama talk w ur weak predictions.
KingDawg!
November 30th, 2012
12:41 am
Agree KingDaddy! Get ya sum 11-1!
kingdaddy
November 30th, 2012
12:41 am
Was that gash on the right side of Bree’s face new or old???
Whiznot
November 30th, 2012
12:42 am
I am the Eggman–Koo Koo Ka Choo, Koo Koo Ka Choo
Crawl back under a rock Brees.
78dawg
November 30th, 2012
12:43 am
I swear I could hear Munson calling this game. I respect Brees but his post-game gave no credit to the Falcons D. He said it was his fault, bad luck, yadda yadda but not a word about the Falcons D playing well. Well get on the egg bus Saints and go back to your sesspool puke and unrine city and suffer a while.
Panic fan
November 30th, 2012
12:43 am
With this win the falcons broke the chicken blood curse that has been 3 of only 4 losses at the dome the level of play gets better in different areas every week Think i read about OUR defense wanted to get more takeaways this week and no td for breezus GREAT TEAM WIN
kingdaddy
November 30th, 2012
12:44 am
There was a run on eggs in Atl. this evening…There will be a “paperbag” shortage in New Orleans tomorrow, lol…
Fan since 66
November 30th, 2012
12:44 am
Great win, even though I couldn’t watch it. Thanks NFL network for not allowing me to watch it over the net since I live in GA! A win is a win…but yet there are the ” yeah, it was a win but…” crowd. They wouldn’t be happy if you gave them a Superbowl ring wrapped up in a hundred dollar bill. I am happy that the Falcons can put together a record like this, winning the way they do. I don’t care how bad they beat the opponents, just that they do. These are my Falcons and I, for one, am darn proud of them!
Go Falcons!
Falcons Pick off Brees 5 Times, Beat Saints 23-13 – ABC News | Rss News Desk | Daily News Magazine
November 30th, 2012
12:45 am
[...] Reaction: Falcons 23, Saints 13ESPN (blog)Not-so-warm welcome for Saints in AtlantaThe Seattle TimesThe 11-1 Falcons leave their nemesis with egg on its faceAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Yahoo! Sports -NewsOK.com -NFL Newsall 1,387 news [...]
63dawgj
November 30th, 2012
12:49 am
Falcons = Rodney Dangerfield
Falcons are 11-1 and still don’t get no respect
drew
November 30th, 2012
12:50 am
Sweet win! We dat!
New Orleans should have thrown a challenge flag on that late fumble recovery/touchdown, then the refs wouldn’t have been able to review the play, giving the Saints the TD. Yeah, they’d be penalized on the kickoff, but they TD would have stood. Right?
archie
November 30th, 2012
12:50 am
11 0f 14 SAINT too shabby! You ATL fans need a win when it counts! in playoffs…LMAO
billybob
November 30th, 2012
12:50 am
Five picks, (most Brees has ever thrown) breaking his stings of games with tds and eliminating the saints from the playoffs. Pretty Good Night even if it was ugly at times.
5BrickBrees
November 30th, 2012
12:51 am
Good thing it’s not a rivalry. Broke Brees record for consecutive games throwing a touchdown. 5 almost 6 interceptions. PRETTY GOOD GAME!
Lesa
November 30th, 2012
12:52 am
So happy we won, but I was really afraid we’d throw this one away when our offense decided to take the 2nd half of the game off. The defense definitely won this one for us. So glad the Falcons were the team to break #9s “consecutive games with a TD pass” record. That’s what he gets for running his mouth so loudly before the game, bragging “we own this division and they know it.” Go home and take some Nyquil, Drew, and maybe you won’t have nightmares about all the interceptions you threw tonight, LOL.
welikebaseball2
November 30th, 2012
12:54 am
I am officially done with the “experts.” ALL I hear on NFL Network & ESPN is how the Falcons should’ve won by more…how the Falcons looked unimpressive. We can’t win for losing with these guys. First of all, had we lost they would have had a lots to say. But we won (by 10)…and they still have nothing but criticism. Second of all, there is NO team in the league without issues & things that need to be fixed. It’s getting to the point of outright, unprofessional, disrespect. I can’t watch this crap.
welikebaseball2
November 30th, 2012
12:56 am
Wait, are there actually Ain’ts trolls on the board…after we beat them by double digits & likely end their hopes of making the playoffs? LOL!!!
Brew Deess
November 30th, 2012
12:56 am
Eggciting!
Creaky
November 30th, 2012
12:59 am
The talking Dunderheads on the NFL network are already talking about how bad the Saints played. It’s like the Falcons defense wasn’t even on the field.It must have been phantoms intercepting those passes. I say if you could pull one of those Saints players to the side they would tell you that they just went through aNutcracker and it wasn’t very Suite.
archie
November 30th, 2012
1:05 am
Funny–wellike! u watchin Manchester United? Yahoo..Yall beat us by double digits? Great….you actin like a dog! 11 0f 14 brother.
Voice of Reason
November 30th, 2012
1:06 am
JOKE??? I suspect you are still reeling from Monday night …
ZACK
November 30th, 2012
1:19 am
WAY TO SCRAMBLE DAT AZZ DIRTY BIRDS! GOTTA WIN IT ALL GUYS! AND SALUTE TO TURNER FOR WAKING HIS AZZ UP. WE GOTTA HAVE IT!!!
gary32
November 30th, 2012
1:21 am
This season is mirroring the 1980 season….Falcons won some exciting games and had a prolific offense and the Bulldogs with Herschel won the National Championship against Notre Dame no less….this would be something except the Falcons need to finish the drill….what a glorious football season this is turning out to be….GO FALCONS…GO DAWGS!!!!!!
welikebaseball2
November 30th, 2012
1:28 am
So, let me get this straight…if we win the next 6, you’ll say “11 of 20 brother.” LOL…I get it…when the present looks bleak, talk about the past. Yep, that’s the stuff losers are made of!
rev jess
November 30th, 2012
1:28 am
hey milk-toast…get off our wagaon we bought for the Braves and Falcon si 1966, pay for you ride by shutting up and eating your popcorn
Great Falconi
November 30th, 2012
1:30 am
Willie McGinest sounded like a total *** on NFL Network tonight. I remember the Pats scabbing by in a couple of their title seasons. There’s no shame in winning games like that. Better to be winning them than losing them. Besides, you’d think a defensive player would enjoy watching a defense pick off a Hall of Famer five times in one game. Instead, it’s “oh, the Saints are a bad team.” Funny how everybody was picking the Saints to beat us in New Orleans AND in Atlanta tonight. If they own us, how did we win?
I prefer more diversity of opinion. I don’t need to hear about how great the Falcons are, but I also don’t need to hear about how they aren’t any good. Maybe Atlanta is the Blanche Dubois of the NFL, but give me an unimpressive W (in some aspects) over an impressive L any day of the week.
rev jess
November 30th, 2012
1:31 am
Enter your comments here
rick day
November 30th, 2012
1:33 am
Interesting, the Dome was largely bereft of Saint’s fans. Typically our loudest rivals in the Dome, most of them, being blue collar types, had to be a work in the morning. They had to stay home. Uh huh.
It must really suck being a Saint’s fan…
Thank you Falcons D. Thank you Asanti!!!!
November 30th, 2012
1:34 am
After Smitty addressed the team in the locker room. Did anyone notice what Moore (who played his butt off tonight along with the entire Defense) said at the end? He said family on 3. That’s the difference – these guys play for each other. Did anyone notice when Asanti was hurt how they all came up to him and patted him on the back – basically saying “We’ll pick you up – we’ve got your back”. These guys lay it out there. They play for each other. They pick each other up. That is why football is the ultimate TEAM sport. Thanks to Asanti for giving all he had – the man has basically been playing with only one good shoulder for many games now! Thanks to this TEAM that plays together with one goal – keep winning football games.
falco1
November 30th, 2012
1:35 am
the falcons are on fire—mark this down—aTL will beat SF and win the NFC and play NE in the super bowl!!!
Dr. Warren
November 30th, 2012
1:54 am
3 attempts at one yard on the goal line away from 12-0. Had Turner punched it through at New Orleans, there’d be serious talk of going undefeated right now.
MONKATL
November 30th, 2012
2:03 am
FALCONS WIN BEAT NO “EGGS ” SAINTS< I WIN AT POKER on THE NET , NOW
BULLDOGS — TIME TO BARK, DA DA DA , SIC EM!!! BITE DEEP, FOR A SHOT AT THE IRISH.
KEN`
November 30th, 2012
2:19 am
FALCONS Know how to RISE UP!!
Joe Falcon
November 30th, 2012
2:37 am
I’m now very worried about our QB’s play. Matt Ryan isn’t being Matt Ryan.
I’ll bet you anything he’s playing hurt.
tony
November 30th, 2012
4:31 am
the new orleans flood victims saints aint ish
clayton
November 30th, 2012
4:45 am
You people are as immature as the idiots that through the eggs !
Stevereeno
November 30th, 2012
5:15 am
We’re not going to kick our way through the playoffs!
Stinger 2
November 30th, 2012
5:30 am
Why do so many Atlanta fans of the Falcons and Braves complain about how the national media diss and show no respect for our home teams? Who cares what outsiders think? Just read and listen to our local media if you don`t like what the national media says.
The Ceiling Fan
November 30th, 2012
5:44 am
You split the season series with New Orleans, who started the season 0-5 with no head coach…and how does this make the Falcons world beaters?
Big Daddy
November 30th, 2012
6:07 am
Great Defense Falcons!!! Way to keep us in the game and Offense, you were a little shaky but you came through when you had to. This was, as Mark said, a team win. Everyone contributed and despite all of the naysayers and sour grapes New Orleans fans, we are 11-1. GO FALCONS!!!!!
the aints
November 30th, 2012
6:32 am
Who had the most yards passing for the Falcons? Ryan or Breese? BBBBWWWAAAHHHAAAAAAA!
Ackshun
November 30th, 2012
6:48 am
A couple of things here. First to answer the question of why the Saints have such a easy time winning (or at least used to) look no further than the interference call on Jimmy Graham that wipe out the Sproles touchdown. Check the replay, that big dufus is looking for Sean Weatherspoon to set the pick so that Sproles is open for he TD. This is coached. This is how they play. Kudos to the officiating crew for picking it up.
SECOND – Tough break Saints fans because the season will end for you the same way it started New Orleans will not win another game this year BANK ON IT.
Ackshun
November 30th, 2012
6:52 am
PS – Don’t give a rat’s butt about the #1 Seed. If you clinch this weekend you bench the wounded and play the first team no more than 2 quarters. Wouldn’t mind at all seeing Dominque Davis get some reps against some seasoned vets. I would also rest the O-line except Konzie and Baker who apparently need all the reps they can get.
harleyman
November 30th, 2012
6:56 am
Ain’t fan trolls will return. Only question is, as who? Bears, Giants, or Niner fans? Taking bets now.
harleyman
November 30th, 2012
6:57 am
Sorry, Meant Saint fan trolls
Iluvnutella
November 30th, 2012
7:05 am
“This is our division, we know it and they know it”-roflmao….lol.lol. Thats almost as funny as that brown map of the Fl panhnadle on the side of his face.
Rabbit
November 30th, 2012
7:11 am
Eggstra satisfying.
SouthGaFalconfan
November 30th, 2012
7:12 am
Great game. Thank God for Mike Nolan. This is the best hire TD have done as falcon GM!!!
I am happy Falcons stopped Brees touchdown record. This is a pay back for running up score last year, breaking Dan Maniro’s yards record last year.
Ain’t are a classless team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe we can hear about other NFL’s team’s on NFL and ESPN. They make me sick hearing about the great Brees and Saints.
bob W
November 30th, 2012
7:18 am
Where was Jacquizz in the 2nd and 3rd quarters? Falcons have a habit of stopping what is working and seemingly playing “not to lose”with after they get a lead instead of putting the game away. How about the job the cornerback did who replaced Samuel? Didn’t he have 4 or 5 passes defenced? Sorry I forgot his name.
Bill
November 30th, 2012
7:20 am
Maybe now we can rest Asante Samuel and let him heal for the playoffs.
DC Dirty Bird (Rupe)
November 30th, 2012
7:27 am
Eggcellence starts in the Dome! Rise up Falcons and get your execution improved over the final quarter of the season. Win the second season (playoffs).
Toss It Up
November 30th, 2012
7:27 am
Perhaps the Saints should have brought their paper bags with them in order to keep the egg off of their faces. Way to go Falcons!
dawgma
November 30th, 2012
7:34 am
Matty Ice…get over it baby. You won in spite of a scared looking performance.
Always great to beat our oldest and most hated rivals – The Aint’s. Specially when Brees is filmed before the game shouting “We own this division. We know it and they know it.”
What we now know is the Brees 54 game streak is over and so are the Saints chances to make the playoffs – ALL in one sweet Thursday night tail kicking.
aon
November 30th, 2012
7:43 am
So…..this article articulates the game and communicates that the Falcons won, but nowhere does it mention the final score. What’s up with that?
sam
November 30th, 2012
7:46 am
Price of ticket: $139
Concessions and beers: $50
Five Drew Brees interceptions, breaking his consecutive TD pass streak, and watching all those trash talking Saint fans slink off into the night after the game:: PRICELESS!!!!!!!!
Kramer
November 30th, 2012
7:49 am
Face facts people, there is NO dominating team in the NFC. Name me one. For that matter name one in the AFC. The Falcons are finding ways to win games and yet, people still b*tch and moan, critics still say they don’t dominate, and now people want to question Ryan’s ability. You would think this team is struggling to make the playoffs and our coaching stinks when you listen and read. I could careless about the playoffs from past. I want the #1 seed and homefield and will worry after the first bye week when we take the field in the playoffs. Haters and critics, take time to go get a fresh cup of STFU.
kerryb
November 30th, 2012
7:55 am
Man Mark, you’re suppose to be a journalist. Use spell check please. You must have tossed a few back at the dome before you typed this.
Saints R.E.A.M.
November 30th, 2012
7:56 am
Putrid football by Drew Brees. If you would have told me that the Saints D would give that kind of a performance than I would have been telling you that the Saints would have won by 20pts. Drew threw so many inaccurate passes last night…he just didn’t have his A game. His other offensive pals didn’t help too much either with dropped TD passes…etc. Oh, the clock mismanagement…..it was not a great Saint performance.
The Birds did what they needed to do to win. Hats off. I really thought you guys were gonna blow our doors off after the 1st qtr. I’ll tell you what. You better find a way to protect Matty Ice better….because he can’t throw against teams that can put pressure with their front 4 (SF, NYG). Good luck fellas…..I gotta go figure out a way to get the Saints into the playoffs…..need some Voodoo surely.
HERE COMES THE JUDGE
November 30th, 2012
8:00 am
Thanks to all those season ticket holders surrounding my (21st) season ticket seats, there were plenty of Saints’ fans to have some good ole trash-talking coversations…then all of a sudden, I looked around and they were gone…doggone it, I really wanted to say good night and have a safe ride home!! They were all good folks except for the azz person in the seat in front of me who would not sit down…even a lot of his fellow fans kept telling him to park it…best of all, he decided to stay to the end…well, he heard a lot and I must say none of the four letter words included LOVE!! I am still thinking about the post-game smerk on Brees’ face after the ATL game in New Orleans…smerk no more, my son…your TD streak ended…you set a personal record for pics (5) and overall, the brids made your whole team look like little leagers!!! Now, who really gets the last laugh…huh? huh?
TBALL
November 30th, 2012
8:01 am
The reason this was a big win, is because they were getting in the Falcons head. I think The ants fans was starting to get in the Falcons fans head too. That’s over now!!!! And on a side note, eggs really!!! National news over a couple of eggs!!!!!
Harvey D. Pooka
November 30th, 2012
8:04 am
Good points: (1) they won – congratulations (2) defeated, and shut up the Aints… (3) defense saved the day over ineffective offense; okay, offense made one good drive, and made good first down with 2 minutes left that was important. Bad points: overall, (1) did not dominate and put closing points in place early; (2) did nothing special to show potential opponents they are facing formidable foe.
AU Liberal in ATL
November 30th, 2012
8:05 am
I have egg on my face too. I expected the Falcons to lose to Tampa and New Orleans again. They’ve surprised me all season long. But, I’ve been disappointed year after year after year, so I’m conditioned to expect the worst. Maybe they’ve turned the corner. I guess we’ll find out in January.
Roger
November 30th, 2012
8:05 am
Drew Brees is a delusional twerp. “Bountygate never happened!,” he exclaims. Um, Drewie, the guy who ran it, Greg Williams, and a couple of the players, yeah, they’ve already confessed. So man up, own it and shut up.
SawThat1nce
November 30th, 2012
8:07 am
It looked like “little brother”, high-fived “big brother” right across the mouth, last night.
BIRD WATCHER
November 30th, 2012
8:08 am
For years we could hear the sound of offensive coordinators…attack the secondary…worst in the league…which I might add was true!! Guess someone didn’t tell Peyton Manning or Drew Brees that there’s a new sheriff in town (Mike Nolan) with a big possee, namely the whole secondary!! So to the remainder of the strong-arm QB’s…well, you know!!
dave
November 30th, 2012
8:10 am
one down one to go….. go dawgs…….
Katie
November 30th, 2012
8:11 am
I heard Drew Brees tried to get the airport workers back by throwing eggs as the team left Atlanta. Too bad all of his throws were intercepted.
the aints
November 30th, 2012
8:15 am
BBBBBBBWWWWAAAAAAHHHAAAAAA!
TBALL
November 30th, 2012
8:16 am
I know a lot of fans Are concerned that the Falcons are not blowing teams away. I would love to see that to. But I think its something to be said about The way they are winning. This team is fighting for every win. I think it will help in the playoffs.
SawThat1nce
November 30th, 2012
8:18 am
go falcons
SawThat1nce
November 30th, 2012
8:18 am
go falcons
SawThat1nce
November 30th, 2012
8:18 am
go falcons
Defense wins Titles
November 30th, 2012
8:23 am
Georgians should be eggstatic! Falcons whoop up on Saints to avenge ourselves. Go to 11 – 1 and within a hair of clinching Division Championship. Braves sign B J Upton for CF for 5 years. B J promises to raise his average and cut down on strike outs. Our hitting coaches to paid to see that happens. Hawks go to 10 – 4. Danny Ferry new GM. Hawks will be Champions soon. Ga. Southern rated 5 in FCS. Eagles start playoffs this Sat. O Yeah! The Dreaded, The Most Hated College Football Team in the USA, Liberal ESPN, and their entire broadcast commentators despise and Persecute Our Dawgs. A Christian coach, Thank you Coach Richt, will lead Our Georgia Bulldawgs into the Dome to face the unbeatable, perfect, Satan led crimson waves. Pick against US Grannie Holtz, spit your senile verbalisms. Georgians unite. Please unite against Bama, ESPN, Dawg Haters around the world. Go Dawgs Sic’em! We are The Blessed Bulldawgs.
Defense wins Titles
November 30th, 2012
8:23 am
Georgians should be eggstatic! Falcons whoop up on Saints to avenge ourselves. Go to 11 – 1 and within a hair of clinching Division Championship. Braves sign B J Upton for CF for 5 years. B J promises to raise his average and cut down on strike outs. Our hitting coaches to paid to see that happens. Hawks go to 10 – 4. Danny Ferry new GM. Hawks will be Champions soon. Ga. Southern rated 5 in FCS. Eagles start playoffs this Sat. O Yeah! The Dreaded, The Most Hated College Football Team in the USA, Liberal ESPN, and their entire broadcast commentators despise and Persecute Our Dawgs. A Christian coach, Thank you Coach Richt, will lead Our Georgia Bulldawgs into the Dome to face the unbeatable, perfect, Satan led crimson waves. Pick against US Grannie Holtz, spit your senile verbalisms. Georgians unite. Please unite against Bama, ESPN, Dawg Haters around the world. Go Dawgs Sic’em! We are The Blessed Bulldawgs.
DC Dirty Bird
November 30th, 2012
8:25 am
Matt didn’t play scared…he played smart. When your defense is rolling, you don’t do anything that might hand over momentum to the other team. Konz and McClure were getting whooped so he really couldn’t do what he does best. Only thing i thought we could have done better is utilize Quizz out the backfield.
SawThat1nce
November 30th, 2012
8:26 am
Little brother slaps big brother across the mouth.
GT
November 30th, 2012
8:31 am
his years NFL gives us a real study into hype and reality. I think a lot of older writers keep the past going where there were dominate teams, both in the pros and college, when parity is the modern theme. We keep searching for that cut of meat and it just ain’t there. You can’t sell tickets if it is a coin toss so you pump up what you got like a traveling circus. You design the game to be more exciting and now records don’t mean a thing. And now you get some hack living off the hype he creates trying to tell us something ,only God knows, about who can win coin tosses.
Dumbo
November 30th, 2012
8:36 am
Where’s the Who Dat Ho’s?????? Where ya’ll be?????
Whadda Ya Know?
November 30th, 2012
8:39 am
God forbid we ever play a COMPLETE game with the offense and defense tearing it up. At some point the Falcons need to take it up a notch and play everyone with the intensity they played the Taints with. Mike Smith, get some killer instinct in you man–this isn’t 1960s football anymore. You’re very LUCKY you got Nolan, cause he saved your sorry azz again last night. I almost blew a gasket with the lack of playcalling the second half. I know Arthur and the front office are in love with Smitty, but he may be the reason we can’t win the big one. I’m sorry fellas, but his conservative nature drives me f’n nuts. We literally looked lost in the second half and couldn’t produce a successful offensive series.
Saints aints nuthin
November 30th, 2012
8:39 am
The Saints calling the Falcons fans classless. Yeah, right. The Aints should be made to change their name to the NO Bounty Hunters. That’s calling a spade a spade…And oh, by the way, quit whining about your punishment. You were caught red-handed so cowboy up and take it lake a man!
St. Richt
November 30th, 2012
8:47 am
Joe Falcon- did you miss all the drops by receivers in the first half? Matt Ryan is just fine if we can give him some time in the pocket.
Once Recent Reader
November 30th, 2012
8:57 am
Enter your comments here
jacket
November 30th, 2012
9:00 am
Here’s a tech fan saying (reluctantly) “Go Dawgs!”
Fukowi
November 30th, 2012
9:03 am
The Falcons are a good smart opportunistic football team with a very savvy QB. All you can ask any year is that they put themselves in a position where they have an opportunity to become champions. They are doing that and then some. If the Giants, Patriots or Cowboys were 11-1 by beating the same teams the media and game day analyst chowder heads would be calling them a team of destiny. We don’t care about that – just go make your own destiny Atlanta – beat every SOB they put in front of you.
Joey
November 30th, 2012
9:03 am
Glad the Falcons got that monkey off their backs, but Mike Smith’s “Marty Ball” offense is gonna get left in the dirt in the playoffs yet again, as long as he sits on small leads.
It makes you wonder why they have spent so much money on a QB, TE, and WRs, if he’s just gonna have them hand-off and block.
Just like his (apparent) hero, Schottenheimer’s last big season with the Chargers, White will probably lead his Falcons to 15-1, and flame-out in the first round, again.
Playing “not to lose” doesn’t get you far after the regular season in the NFL.
Tech Fan
November 30th, 2012
9:06 am
Go Falcons!
Yada Yada Yada
November 30th, 2012
9:13 am
Not to rain eggs on the parade, but still have to wonder about Matt Ryan – a total enigma in some ways, and how he seemingly morphs into a guy who is constantly looking to dump off passes underneath almost as a first instinct when pressure turns up. He had some passes dropped tonight, but his mobility skills and instincts to keep a play alive kind of suck. Once in a while he scrambles out of a collapsed pocket or even rolls out, but not enough. This is why you see him constantly dumping off. I have been at games where I have see guys wide open and he doesn’t even see them – which will happen at times when you are surrounded by behemoths and stay in the pocket, but have seen enough missed where he has thrown the ball into traffic and there is a wide open receiver down the left or right side 20 yards down field. He is a good and smart QB, I just think that he doesn’t do enough (and enough is what is required when you get to the playoffs). Keep the friggin play alive and you will find this bevy of talented receivers more often and in critical 3rd downs. Yes, their 3rd down conversion rate is near the top ,, but when they face Giants and/or 49er/ and/or Chicago D in playoffs ,, will we see Matty Ice keep a play alive or push the panic button too soon. I’m telling you that is what I see as his main weakness,,, he bails out too soon where better QB’s keep it alive and receivers come back off covered routes. Look to Dec 16th game as a true test. Falcons put up 6 points thru 1st 3 quarters against Dallas. Made me sick to see how many 3rd down plays were made short of 1st down marker ,,, unacceptable play and play calling.
Gene
November 30th, 2012
9:19 am
Enter your comments here
Oh Lookie!!
November 30th, 2012
9:19 am
Ryan did look scared and has always look scared in big games. Too much first instinct dump off ball underneath versus keeping the play alive thru buying more time in the pocket. If it collapses run the hell out of their on a rollout and throw the ball on the friggin run. Did you see how many 3rd downs were throws underneath with the hope and prayer that the first down would happen with YAC ,, against a pretty bad Defense. Unacceptable and will kill them come playoffs. Look to Dec 16th when Giants come to town.
Dirtybird of Prey
November 30th, 2012
9:22 am
@ Problem Solver – Win if you can. Lose if you must, but always cheat.
lol…are you a wrestling fan of the fabulous freebirds? p.s. michael hayes said that in a promo yaers ago. Great win for the birds.
Gene
November 30th, 2012
9:24 am
Certainly one of the greatest Falcon wins. Who was the announcer masquerading as Tim McCarver? I had to treat him like the real McCarver and turn off the volume.
P Rose
November 30th, 2012
9:26 am
After a dozen games, Brees scrambled like crazy, but ultimately left the game boiling mad. I was fried after hearing him say this was their division, but I guess the Saints aren’t all they’re cracked up to be after all. William Moore finally came out of his shell, and Michael Turner carried the yolk for the offense. But it was the defense who really brought home the bacon. The Saints playoff hopes are toast. Maybe they’ll will think twice before they come poaching for an easy win in Atlanta next time. It might not have been pretty, but the Falcons are 11-1, proving that to make an omelette, you’ve got to break a few… well, it’s not easy to make an omelette.
Matt
November 30th, 2012
9:29 am
Terrible writing. What the heck was the final score? Gibberish.
Mike Lum
November 30th, 2012
9:37 am
How ’bout DAT Aint Fans?
Jimmy Crack
November 30th, 2012
9:42 am
Relax folks, we could beat the vaunted Giants in two weeks (I’m sure the Giants will have a bad game, har har) and quite possibly be 15-1 and STILL not get any respect.
Von
November 30th, 2012
9:44 am
Congradulations Falcants fans, you finally beat our beloved Saints, fair and square I might add. I was there and saw it all so I keep it real. Brees was uncharacteristically yet still astonishingly terrible. Forget how bad he was, kudos to the Falcons defense. However, keep in mind we’re still missing our true leader in Sean Payton, and the games between these two teams usually has come down to QB play and coaching. Smith and Ryan won this go round. But have you really beaten the Saints with all the pieces in place? I know what you all are saying…a win is a win…but like I said at the beginning or our season, we won’t make the playoffs without Sean Payton on the sidelines and from last nights game I was proven right. So I was prepared for this scenario from week 1.
So enjoy this one Falcant fans……but let’s not forget, last night wasn’t a playoff game. 11-1 or even 15-1 won’t feel good if you’re one and done yet again in the playoffs. Lets wait and see shall we? I’ll be back online after that first playoff game so we can chat about what went wrong….Again!
Pocket Poultry
November 30th, 2012
9:50 am
Oh lookie is right. Ryan laid another egg – looked scared (again) in the pocket. Many poor throws and only 1 3rd down conversion against the worst defense in NFL history – statistically speaking…A team that allows 480 yards of offense per game, held ATL to 268 total yards – in OUR HOUSE.
I’m enjoying the win – but need Ryan to step up and put teams away especially against a horrible defense like the Aints. Drew Brees did throw 5 picks, but he did not quit and made some unbelievable throws with the game in the balance. He’s elite – he’s always a danger and a world class QB as Bradley suggests.
Ryan has improved greatly over the years but in key spots seems to revert and wilt a bit. That is concerning for an “elite” QB.
Paddy
November 30th, 2012
9:51 am
Dirty bird & problem solver……..I first heard ‘win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat’ from Handsome Johnny Baron & Magnificiant Maurice back in ‘60 or ‘61 during a tv wrestling show after they beat Chief Don Eagle & Lou Sanmartino. It was in all the papers!
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
November 30th, 2012
9:55 am
On NFL.com’s website before the season, 6 of their 8 panelists predicted the Eagles would win the NFC East. HA HA!
Two of them even predicted the Eagles would win the Super Bowl. HA HA!
None of them predicted that MV7 would be washed up for good by now.
HA HA
P Rose
November 30th, 2012
9:57 am
If Matt Ryan had as much time to throw the ball as Drew Brees has, he would be an elite QB. The Falcons weaknesses are their offensive and defensive front lines, not their QB.
Jst_Askn
November 30th, 2012
9:59 am
Bradley I disagree with your comment “Say what you will about the $aints, but they do have a world-class quarterback.” Class my arse. He pouted like a child on the sidelines when the game wasn’t going his way; what a wonderful role model! And his inflammatory comments before the game (”This is our division…”)…Gag me! Class my tail!
Pocket Poultry
November 30th, 2012
10:01 am
How many teams has Tom Brady beaten by 20+ points this year? 5. 3 of those by 30 or more points – he has fewer weapons than Ryan and is a proven, ring-toting, elite QB.
That is where Dimitroff/Smith/Blank see him going. I think he is on his way – it is just hard to see him regress a bit. I hope a playoff win will get him over the hump. Same thing happend to Eli – he is still inconsistent, but has 2 rings, so there is hope for Ryan.
He did get called out a bit by Michael Irvin in the post-game, where Irvin basically said 10 receptions to TG/Julio and Roddy against THAT defense? Really? What happended?
Then Ryan is anointed as the “Mattural”, which I like better than his other nicknames – matty ice, Howdy Doody in a Helmet and Pocket Poultry.
Please know – as a life long Falcons fan, I’m pumped about what we are experiencing – but also have been crushed in playoffs to many times, going back to Danny White and the Cowboys…
RobbE33
November 30th, 2012
10:02 am
Eggs for urine is a fair swap in my mind. The Saints have no right to be posing high and mighty and waving their classier than thou banner all over the place. The Falcons rocked them this time; or was it that the Saints gave us the win? Either way, thank you sir, we think we’ll have another.
Vett
November 30th, 2012
10:02 am
Crazy story, great game!!! I’m so happy I was there to witness: http://www.rcsoatl.com/2012/11/best-falcons-season-ever-continues.html
Big Donnie
November 30th, 2012
10:03 am
Sweet win Falcons. William Moore played one hell of a game!
Riggins
November 30th, 2012
10:05 am
I’m looking for that perfect game-whereby the Falcons play all 4 quarters like they did the first. Maybe that perfect game will be at the Superbowl.
kingdaddy
November 30th, 2012
10:06 am
I guess Brees owes us an apology. This Division belongs to Atlanta…
Aint’$—5-7…
Falcons—11-1…
Guess his math isn’t very good…
Just Sayin
November 30th, 2012
10:09 am
I’m a HUGE Falcon Fan; however, I’m concerned that more of our turnovers don’t translate into points. 5 picks is great, but we only had 6 points as a result of them. Not Good! Just Sayin….
Dirty Dawg
November 30th, 2012
10:15 am
I don’t know the truth of just who ‘egged’ the Saints’ team bus…but assuming ‘one of us’ did, I say, and to paraphrase George C. Scott’s words as Gen. George Patton…’By God, now you know how we feel.’
Oh Lookie!!
November 30th, 2012
10:17 am
@Pocket Poultry. I am a lifelong fan as well and want more than anything to see them get over the hump. I hate that they get no respect for being 11-1, but it has been earned by too many close games against crummy teams and I, like most people, are looking to see what happens come playoff time. I really like Ryan and think he is having to work around certain limitations that other QB’s don’t have ,, which is more athleticism. He is not as instinctively slippery as a Brees and doesn’t have the hosses on the O-Line that he needs in being classic drop back – to me that is one of the biggest parts of the problem. Better mobility QB’s don’t have to have that Wall built around them that Brady enjoys and I really think that will continue to be the difference in their PS success. They chose to build the team around the edge and get by with the line, and that is fine if you have Slippery Pete at QB. I think he needs to seriously work on getting out of the pocket more to buy a few more seconds and have his receivers come back off their routes to him when trouble comes. Go Falcons!!!
The Truth
November 30th, 2012
10:25 am
During the NFL Network post game show, the crew had Matt Ryan on to discuss the game. I thought they showed what a 5th rate operation they are by giving Matt a bunch of gag gifts of old Deion Sanders tapes from Deion’s rap days.
Matt and the Falcon’s had just pulled off a huge win and they do stupid high school stuff like this. Matt was clearly not amused.
Neither were we. F_ _ _ the NFL Network.
However they win, the Falcons win as a team. And people need to start giving more props to this defense. It is that good. Spoon is emerging as a premier middle linebacker.
Go Falcons!!
The Truth
November 30th, 2012
10:28 am
Oh Lookie. Completely agree.
The powerful Falcons, Brees’ INTs and the Saints’ botch | Mark Bradley
November 30th, 2012
10:29 am
[...] This post is an adjunct to the Falcons-Saints game column, which can be found here. [...]
MoMoney
November 30th, 2012
10:33 am
I wouldn,t be over excited if i were a Falcon fan. Throwing eggs shows no class an after all said an done Brees threw 5 int,s an Falcons barely get this victory after 5 int,s an Falcons still gave opp a chance to win the game an the end 5 int,s Birds shoul have dominated this game.Honestly i,m a Saints fan to the Falcons good luck but if your D played like last nite an offense i don,t think got over 300 total yards againts a Saints D who is ranked last balling like last p.m one an done again i,ll enjoy wathcing the game.Good Luck,
St Simons
November 30th, 2012
10:34 am
Ryan is more of an Alex Smith than a Tom Brady. Just bein real.
and Chris Owens is a MAN. I was wrong about him. Sign him
& McClain & Moore. That was some grown man pass defense.
air of mendacity
November 30th, 2012
10:37 am
at some point during the game – I was cussing the lack of pass rush on Brees. No pressure and he was just sitting back there picking up big chunks of yardage. Then I look up and see 5 interceptions -guess the scheme was good but I have my doubts. Abraham finally had a big sack to stop Saints and it probably saved the game at that point. In playoffs, we must be able to generate pressure on QB or we will be toast. Run D not so great in late 2nd and 3rd period.
Vertical passing disappeared too and Matt looked nervous in pocket – because of pressure. Great win though and will get us home field throughout playoffs by winning 2 of last 4. Will most likely win 3 of 4. Would be nice to beat Giants for confidence purposes.
Enkinan
November 30th, 2012
10:48 am
Regardless of record, that was a win these guys really needed. It was one of those “monkey on the back” scenarios that they are going to face again in the playoffs.
This defense looks so legit this year, what a difference a real NFL DC makes.
The offense is a little more puzzling. I just don’t get why these guys aren’t dropping 30+ on everyone they play. They start and finish each half strong and seem to kinda just go out there during the middle. They get in to position to blow people out and it’s like they turn it off until the opposition catches up. If they got that squared away they would legitimately be feared throughout the league.
Chris Snow
November 30th, 2012
10:49 am
@ Dallas Falcon. I was at the game. They called the TO because there was mass confusion going on with either which players were supposed to be in there, or which play was to be called. It was a big freaking jumbled mess. But we beat the Saints and that’s all that mattered.
The Falcons fans did great last night, several false starts and NO had to burn a TO in the 1st half, which played a huge role in why they were not able to score right before the half.
Chris Snow
November 30th, 2012
10:52 am
LOL at the fans “complaining” about the game.
1. We beat the Saints in our Dome, how many years has it been since we’ve done that?
2. We held them to only 13 points, when was the last time they were held to that few of points?
3. Brees streak ENDED in Atlanta! How cool is that??
Phalcon Phan
November 30th, 2012
10:56 am
Maybe the most exciting Falcons regular season game since I’ve been here. Yeah it’s a rivalry like Boston Red Sox and the Yankees. First quarter I thought Falcons were gonna take it. Second quarter I thought the Saints would. Remember their offensive line was controlling the game? Falcons did enough to win it and that’s why we’re 11-1. And by the way why is holding up the running back and trying to strip the ball good football? The refs should have called forward progress. Saints your season is over, all you’ve got to look forward to is Mardi Gras but we’ll be throwing eggs not beads!
Michael
November 30th, 2012
10:57 am
Crappy wins foreshadow first round exit. The past is prologue.
can you imagine
November 30th, 2012
11:02 am
I am the first to want to see a Super Bowl parade down peachtree but I am not going to look at this win with rose colored glasses. The Falcons only scored 2 field goals during the last 2 plus quarters (after scoring at the very beginning of 2nd quarter). Scoring 23 points off of 5 turnovers is nothing to whoop about. If the Saints did not get that questionable penalty on the touchdown pass at the end of the half, this game may have been a different story.
All I know is that Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning are not throwing 5 int’s in a playoff game and I would not suspect the Bears or Niners either.
The best thing that can happen to the falcons is to lose to the Giants in the regular season game and have to play the Tampa game with the need to gain home field. If Falcons have home field wrapped up and rest starters, then we are looking at 2 weeks without the offense playing in a football game before facing a Packers or Giants team fresh off a playoff victory.
Let the fans celebrate but I hope the coaches and the players keep this victory in realistic perspective.
air of mendacity
November 30th, 2012
11:06 am
rather play Packers than Giants – and either one of those rather than Bears – Packers O-line pretty bad and D shaky – Giants just seem to have our number and play more physical than us
Chris Snow
November 30th, 2012
11:20 am
It’s going to come down to who is the healthiest at the end of the season and who is hot. Honestly I think we can beat either the Giants, Packers, or Bears. More concerned about the Niners than any of them.
Mask of False Bravado
November 30th, 2012
11:32 am
Pocket Poultry- Compare Brady’s O-Line with Ryan’s. Brady is a statue and has all day to throw.
ELLLIOTTT
November 30th, 2012
11:34 am
Hey SAINTS Fans:
Check out the post game photo of “Breesus”
http://dirtybirdrock.blogspot.com/
air of mendacity
November 30th, 2012
11:35 am
with you there Snow – Niners look like they are for real
Mask of False Bravado
November 30th, 2012
11:36 am
I think the QB controversy blows up in Harbaugh’s face.
lees
November 30th, 2012
12:00 pm
Same spin coming from Dan Patrick Show and ESPN. To them, Falcons not worth the time. More interested in why New Orleans has problems.
Tap Out
November 30th, 2012
12:00 pm
Very sweet indeed.
cdog
November 30th, 2012
1:04 pm
falcon are super ! who dat who dat who dat them birds beat, who dat? the saints, eggcellent. 11-1 all falcon haters read it and weep
crybaby
November 30th, 2012
2:04 pm
Why did we stop running the ball after the 1st touchdown??????? We immediately go to the passing game and look what happened!! I say run it down their throats until they prove they can stop the run!
The worst run defense in the league and all of a sudden they shut us out for most of 3 quarters!
Way to go birds, you got the W..some how..BUT..N.O. beat themselves for the most part!
Why do we not “chuck” the receivers at the line of scrimmage? Why do we keep giving up huge yardage running up the “gut”?
I don’t know how you birds keep winning these tight games..M.S. FINALLY gets his 1st win against the hated saints..maybe this W breaks all the Voodoo spells and hex’s for this rivalry!?
I know this for certain..We have to play better in all phases of the game to compete in the play-offs!
-_-
November 30th, 2012
2:59 pm
New Orleans Saints
Super Bowl Appearances: 1
Super Bowl Wins: 1
Atlanta Falcons
Super Bowl Appearances: 1
Super Bowl Wins: 0
/end story
ghj
November 30th, 2012
6:23 pm
SAINTS ARE DONE–TOAST–SEE YA WOULDN’T WANT TO BE YA– LAUGFHING STOCK OF THE SOUTH ONCE AGAIN–PITIFUL–GARBAGE–LOSERS–UNDERWATER KATRINA IDIOTS–NO COACH–5-8, ER THATS NEXT WEEL, 5-7 AND OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS !!! LAUGHED OUT OF TOWN AND EGGED !!!
Mikey
November 30th, 2012
6:54 pm
Victory is SO SWEET! Thank you Falcons! YOU ARE RISING UP!
vesaversa
November 30th, 2012
6:56 pm
I have been overcritical of this team but man i like this Falcons team when they play to their potential. Just keep winning
WhoDat4Eva
December 1st, 2012
4:34 am
Tha Falcons are still the worst 11-1 team period!! It’s gonna be 1 and out again in the playoffs. Wanna bet?
NFC SOUTH BACKER
December 2nd, 2012
4:53 am
CONGRATS TO THE BIRDS ON THE VICTORY…..NOTE, TO CELEBRATE TOO EARLY COULD POSE SOME ISSUES. THE SAINTS DO HAVE A SUPER BOWL VICTORY UNDER THEIR BELT. SO FAR OUR SISTER BIRD’S EGGS ARE STILL IN THE NEST… THE SAINTS HAVE GONE THROUGH ADVERSITY THIS SEASON THAT IS UNPRESIDENTED IN THE NFL. ROGER BOY CRIPPLED THIS TEAM WELL BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED, JUST TO MAKE A EXAMPLE FOR ALL OTHER TEAMS, MAJORITY OF WHICH CONDUCTED SIMILAR DEEDS AND INCENTIVES FOR DECADES.. ….SO IF THE BIRDS WERE TO LOSE THEIR COACH, KEY PLAYERS AND TOP DRAFT CHOICES, WHERE WOULD THE BIRDS BE?… WHO’S TO SAY WHO’S TO SAY NOT…WELL IT’S APPARENT WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO THE SAINTS FOR THE BIRDS TO HAVE THEIR DAY…..GOOD LUCK IN THE PLAYOFFS AND WE WISH YOU WELL IN GETTING TO THE SUPERBOWL AND SHOULD YOU WIN IT…MORE POWER TO THE NFC SOUTH.
RED HELMET SWARM
December 2nd, 2012
1:06 pm
ALRIGHT; I’VE CHANGED MY BLOGG HANDLE; THAT CAME A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN AIN’T FAN WAS TRY’N TO TRASH US DOWN, SO I USED A HANDLE TO SAY WHAT HE ACTUALLY WAS DOING.
RED HELMET SWARM
December 2nd, 2012
1:12 pm
WOW! WHEN SO MANY AINT’S CAME ON HERE, TRYING TO RUN US DOWN THE HANDLE I HAD BEFORE WAS OFFENSIVE? MAN, TALKING ABOUT POLITICALLY CORRECTIONS HERE.
RED HELMET SWARM
December 2nd, 2012
1:12 pm
WOW! WHEN SO MANY AINT’S CAME ON HERE, TRYING TO RUN US DOWN THE HANDLE I HAD BEFORE WAS OFFENSIVE? MAN, TALKING ABOUT POLITICALLY CORRECTIONS HERE.
NFC SOUTH BACKER
December 3rd, 2012
6:24 am
WITHOUT QUESTION, THE BIRDS ARE POISED TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SEASON THIS YEAR. YOU’RE NOW LOCKED-IN AS NFC SOUTH CHAMPS… CONGRATS…THAT BEING SAID, HOPEFULLY YOU’LL NOT HAVE ANY SERIOUS INJURY TO KEY PLAYERS THROUGHOUT THE REMAINING REGULAR SEASON. AS SUCH, ENTER THE PLAYOFFS HEALTHY… THAT’S THE SEASON AFTER THE SEASON. WE’LL PULL FOR YOU TO DO WELL THROUGHOUT,,,GOOD LUCK!!!
tony
December 3rd, 2012
11:56 am
well get yall you will see but good luck with the rest of your teams games