What Will Make Today's Games Worth Watching For Falcons Fans

by Dave Choate on Jan 14, 2012 8:00 AM EST in NFL News

The playoffs are over for the Atlanta Falcons, in case you were hiding in a fridge and missed the nuclear blast of anger that followed the Giants loss. Obviously, that reduces the collective interest of Falcons fans in playoff football by a good 600%.

Yet there's still reason to watch today's slate of games. More than one, even. Here's my brief list of reasons to tune in:

The Saints might lose.
The 49ers might actually advance to within one win of the Super Bowl playing defense. Crazy, I know.
Tim Tebow. Because he's America's most popular athlete, you know.
A playoff team down to its rookie, third-string quarterback could go to the AFC Championship Game.
The Giants-Packers game seems likely to devolve into a game where Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers throw for 600 yards apiece.
A chance to look at the various strengths and weaknesses of NFC contenders and see how the Falcons can counter them down the line with their shiny new coordinators and such.

Okay, that's only six reasons. Not all of them are great. But hey, it's still football. You'll miss it when it's gone.

Check back in this afternoon for our live game threads.

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this reason

The Saints might lose.

tops them all!

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Jan 14, 2012 8:43 AM EST reply actions

Pats-Broncos

I"m actually really interested in this game. Looking forward to it.

by falconnuke on Jan 14, 2012 8:51 AM EST reply actions

I'm still cloudy & callous, but for a moment, you've managed to startle my gaze.

The gold & black colors make my own bile more appealing. The hearsay of a Saints loss is more gratifying to me than a witness of their play. However, it is still #1 on my list, too.

by YokoFalcon on Jan 14, 2012 10:12 AM EST reply actions

football!

I don’t need convincing. I’ll likely watch any football that’s on!

Tebow, for sure, is always fun to watch, well, except when he’s painful to watch. I’m a fan, though

I’m also particularly interested in the Giants-Packers. It certainly could be a shootout, but wouldn’t it be funny if it ended up being a defensive/run-heavy game? That’s been known to happen in Lambeu in the playoffs, regardless of personnel. I think the Giants stand a chance.

by ChardeeMacDennis on Jan 14, 2012 10:13 AM EST reply actions

no matter how much i hate the aints

I see them blowing away sf in the second half. Only upset this weekend maybe ny over gb. Who cares. Go falcons!!!!!!!

by ocfalcon on Jan 14, 2012 10:27 AM EST via mobile reply actions

A Saints loss would be a motivativing thing

Hate is a bad word and I do not use it often. I was taught not to use this word as a child unless it was directed towards the New Orleans Saints. So my natural hatred towards that team is…..well magnified during the post season in which the Saints are further than my beloved Falcons. That said, the only game I really care about is the Saints-49ers. Obviously I would love, love, love them to lose!

by Falcons Fanatic on Jan 14, 2012 10:39 AM EST reply actions

So your hate has been magnified come post season in every year except 1991 and 1998?

So my natural hatred towards that team is…..well magnified during the post season in which the Saints are further than my beloved Falcons.

If I’m correct, those may be the only two years the Falcons have ever gone further than the Saints in postseason.

by RobertM320 on Jan 14, 2012 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

Technically

the Falcons went further than the Saints last year

Any and all new Chuck Norris and Jack Bauer factoids must be approved by Ivan Johnson

by a hooter's baby on Jan 14, 2012 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

Correct

I always hate the saints. Sometimes it lasts longer than other times. The common theme though is that I hate the saints and hope they lose. Always!!

by Falcons Fanatic on Jan 14, 2012 6:22 PM EST up reply actions

Aint's lose!

I want saints to lose more than anything else….

by Falcons023 on Jan 14, 2012 10:56 AM EST reply actions

Can't root for any NFC team left

They all have a history of hatred for me. I really want to see NO beaten up badly and sent home.

by drmondo667 on Jan 14, 2012 11:00 AM EST reply actions

Tebow and an L for the Saints

And I’m pretty sure I’m the only guy in America who’s hoping for a 49ers-Ravens SB, because I love DEFENSE.

Plus I want to see what these things called blitzes and 3rd-down-stops are. I thought 3rd down was when you played soft zone???

Perilously close to a 2007 style depression.

by VaderX5 on Jan 14, 2012 11:05 AM EST reply actions

A Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh superbowl? There may be a few other people with an interest in that. I like Flacco, I just can’t bring myself to root for the Ravens in any game until Lewis retires.

by ChardeeMacDennis on Jan 14, 2012 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

What, you don't like murderers?

Perilously close to a 2007 style depression.

by VaderX5 on Jan 14, 2012 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

Haha

by birdwatch on Jan 14, 2012 4:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Oh, and as for the Saints

My girlfriend is from the Gulf Coast….I can not openly pull against the Saints for my own safety! If I even so much as pretend to be happy if they lose….oh man.

by ChardeeMacDennis on Jan 14, 2012 11:10 AM EST reply actions

I find it interesting such a passionate saints fan

would talk football with a falcons fan

by RANewton on Jan 14, 2012 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

Those 49er teams in the 80s were great on D

In ‘81 they ranked second in yards allowed and points allowed, in ’84 they were 10th in YA and 1st in PA, in ’88 they were 3rd in YA and 8th in PA, in ’89 they were 4th in YA and 3rd in PA, and in ’94 they had a decent defense at 8th in YA and 6th in PA. Bill Walsh, Joe Montana, and Jerry Rice just overshadow George Siefert, Ronnie Lott, and Fed Dean. That’s how you win 5 rings. You had a lot of defensive hall of famers on those 5 teams. Dean and Lott in the 80s and Rickey Jackson and Deion in ’94.

Its kind of how people think of defense when they think of the 70s Steelers. But you had Bradshaw, Harris, Swann, Stallworth, and Webster, an offense with 5 hall of famers.

by Mark Mandingo on Jan 14, 2012 11:43 AM EST reply actions

Yea but this is 2011 and the offense rules the league

reason to watch
Saints are awesome

by mississippisaintsfan on Jan 14, 2012 12:14 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

thanks for the update

by Mark Mandingo on Jan 14, 2012 12:28 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

was there any point to that comment other than to try and offend people?

by RANewton on Jan 14, 2012 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

He was talking about Defense

How did that offend anyone

by mississippisaintsfan on Jan 14, 2012 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

We're a bit sensitive round here these days.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 14, 2012 3:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I read your board all the time

I comment here and try not to talk bad about the Falcons unless it’s game week
I guess with all the talk about new coaches and stuff I just didn’t realize ya’ll still be upset

by mississippisaintsfan on Jan 14, 2012 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

Touchy? More like cannibalistic.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 14, 2012 3:41 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Logic, simple reasoning skills, human decency, sense of perspective

Traits rarely seen among Saints fans.

by falconnuke on Jan 14, 2012 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

Congrats there little buddy.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 14, 2012 3:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Those are all really good reasons to watch.

I would vastly prefer Saints, Packers, Patriots, and Ravens all lose today. Yes there is hatred involved in that, but I’m an underdogger. It’s handy when the hatred and pulling for the underdog goes together.

by LuvGems on Jan 14, 2012 12:34 PM EST reply actions

I'm predicting a falcons tie today

by dirtybirds233 on Jan 14, 2012 1:37 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Tebow

Can’t wait for the Tebow chatter to stop. My head is going to explode from TEBOWMANIA!

Coaching wins championships!

by Edgecrusher211 on Jan 14, 2012 2:11 PM EST reply actions

I don't mind the fact people like him

its quite a fun media story, it how NFL.com are doing features like what tebow’s children will look like with different famous woman. That isn’t about the nfl, that is trashy gossip magazine stuff and I’m pissed its corupting my football news

by RANewton on Jan 14, 2012 2:27 PM EST up reply actions

Tonight I hope for

A 49’ers win, just wan’t the saints to lose
Tebow win, no matter what it’s fascinating football, like make or break, wanna see some magic ;) (it might be a plus that I’m from Denmark so I don’t have to hear about tebow, he all news coverage)

Tomorrow I think Ravens win, but hope for Texans, and last just have a giants win so we keep the trend with the team we lose to go to SB, atleast the chance is bigger

by DanishFalcons on Jan 14, 2012 2:45 PM EST reply actions

Cause Ima football fan

Even though i would like to see the saints lose. Also im callin it now Texans over the Ravens.

by pierre02 on Jan 14, 2012 2:52 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Hehehehelololololol!!!!!

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 14, 2012 3:00 PM EST reply actions

interesting.....

I’m suddenly hungry for some Lucky Charms.

by wparker82 on Jan 14, 2012 3:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

THIS got 1 comment?

Y’all some dry SOBs.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 14, 2012 5:01 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Sorry...

Just don’t see SF shuttin Drew down today…NO is too hot right now. Do see a NY win over GB tho….either way I want NO and GB ta go down. Bring on Billick and Spags!!!

by DirtyBirdzUp on Jan 14, 2012 4:11 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

I'm rooting for...

The Saints!! I know I know.. But I’m like an hour from San Francisco and the amount of band wagoners that have came out is horrendous.. Can’t stand the Niners dating back to the old NFC West days and how much I got harassed by Niner fans.. So I wanna piss in their Cheerios.. I’m sure if I lives in Atlanta area it would be different..

by Kossart on Jan 14, 2012 4:14 PM EST reply actions

Open Thread for the early game

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2012/1/14/2706303/saints-49ers-playoff-open-thread

Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.
Vince Lombardi

by armchair quarterback on Jan 14, 2012 4:37 PM EST reply actions

Aints

Bailed by the refs again, thats not pi

by Hutch11 on Jan 14, 2012 4:41 PM EST reply actions

wasn't that ridiculous??

At least Graham got hurt

by cheshire falcon on Jan 14, 2012 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

WOW!!!

That pass interference call was hilarious. You can’t watch that and deny the Katrina Rule.

by cheshire falcon on Jan 14, 2012 4:43 PM EST reply actions

didn't you know?

it’s so horribly offensive to imply that the Saints have gotten more iffy-at-best, inexplainable most often, calls in their favor ever since a hurricane….

ugh, I can’t stand a certain type of person. always trying to force everyone to be PC

by falconnuke on Jan 14, 2012 4:48 PM EST up reply actions