Saturday Night NFL Football: Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions went from disappointing to disgusting last week. Detroit has been on the wrong end of plenty of close games this year, going 3-8 in games decided by one score. Some of those decided by their own bad play, some bad luck.
Then, last week, they went to the hapless Arizona Cardinals, losers of nine straight, and played as bad as a team could possibly play. Arizona has no offense, yet Matt Stafford and the special teams of the Lions allowed them to score at will on short fields after turnovers. The end result was the worst defeat of the season for Detroit.
Now, they get to play the role of spoilers and see if they show any pride tonight at home. Atlanta and Detroit have gone in opposite directions since they both lost in the wildcard round last year. Atlanta has won 7 of 8 close games, and in complete opposite fashion to the Lions, is also coming off their best game of the year, a shutout of the New York Giants.
Atlanta now sits one win away from clinching home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. If they get it tonight, they can rest up for a divisional round matchup and not have to worry about any more wins until January.
[photo via USA Today Sports Images]

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92 Responses to “Saturday Night NFL Football: Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions”
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December 22nd, 2012 at 7:54 PM
I want Schwartz to stick around. He gives the Lions an identity besides “terrible.”
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:59 PM
You’re right that he gives them the identity of “terrible and dirty”, but that’s hardly an upgrade
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:07 PM
These ass clowns better not win today.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:14 PM
I don’t watch the Lions enough to suggest an answer, but what does this team need from their head coach? I think most people would put better discipline on and off the field at the top of the list, but i wonder how much of that the coach really controls. As an example I think it was 2007 or 2008, when the bengals had a ridiculous number of arrests/team violations in the offseason, led by a few from Pac-Man. A few years later, Marvin Lewis is still there but I don’t think anyone would suggest he suddenly learned to be a disciplinarian.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:14 PM
Got Falcons at -4.5 on one card, +6.5 on the other. So just win by 20 and knock two birds out with one stone.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:17 PM
I highly recommend you all read this. It’s long but well worth it. And by far the most informative and logical argument I’ve read.
An opinion on gun control
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:20 PM
Less penalties, more offensive balance, more consistent focus/effort, less dirty play
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:21 PM
They also need a competent GM. I’d rather stick with ass clown if it meant Millen 2.0 got fired.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:31 PM
Less penalties, more offensive balance, more consistent focus/effort, less dirty play
They also need a competent GM.
So in short-everything? That was a good article, too Vlad. Didn’t read every word but I enjoyed it. If this slow ass night keeps up I may go back and read what I skimmed past.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:36 PM
Sorry Vlad, I stopped reading after this line:
Banning semi-automatic basically means banning all guns.
Full disclosure, I’m not a gun owner or user, but that just seem incredibly stupid. It may be true that many more guns than people realize are semi-automatic, but banning them would simply require gun manufacturers to dust off their older, less efficient technologies that were prevalent before semis were legal. I don’t see how thats a bad thing, but thats just me.
Back to the topic at hand, I don’t see how all of those issues with the Lions can’t be corrected immediately. I guess that’s probably a question lions fans are asking themselves anyway. Also, losing Best i think really set their offensive balance back a few years.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:38 PM
Keep reading dumb ass.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:41 PM
Banning semi-automatic basically means banning all guns.
My stepdad has a semi auto shotgun. I can shoot my pump just as fast and just as accurately.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:43 PM
The issues can’t be fixed immediately because they are symptomatic of the coaching staff. Also, an injured finesse back is not reason to totally abandon the running game
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:50 PM
Speaking of running game, I don’t think Peterson is breaking that record.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:54 PM
I did keep reading, I just chose what I thought was one of the more idiotic lines in the post. You’re the one who brought guns into a football fight (that line sounded better in my head). Instead of approaching it from the regular angle, lets look at what this would cost. There are close to 100,000 public schools in the country. Say you pay just one armed guard $50,000 a year for those schools. That’s $5 billion a year, just for public schools, and you still have thousands of exposed soft targets. How far do you go?
Can we get back to football now?
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:58 PM
That’s $5 billion a year, just for public schools, and you still have thousands of exposed soft targets.
Well the private schools can use some of that bank they get from the students’ parents to pay for their guards. There’s a private high school not too far from me that costs more to send your kid to than Harvard.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:00 PM
There’s the update my picks for this week wanted. Touchdown Falcons! No hard feelings, Vlad.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:02 PM
I’d prefer just getting rid of retarded Gun Free Zones at schools and allow teachers to carry if they want to and have an ex-military or retired officer be a guard. No way they would get 50 grand. And the parents could pay for it if they chose to want an armed guard of some sort.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:26 PM
my point wasn’t that $5 billion couldn’t be provided to protect schools, but that you still have plenty of unprotected areas that a mentally ill or crazy person can attack. Prior to newtown, the locations of the last few mass shootings were a mall, a mosque, and an army base to name a few. We are the most heavily armed country in the world and we still aren’t close to having the capability of protecting everyone. We should approach this how we approach terrorism, you don’t invest the same resources in defending Omaha, Nebraska as you do New York City from an attack. Close the gun show loophole, integrate state resources so its harder for mentally ill to get guns, and re-consider the assault weapons ban if you can define it to have teeth.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:28 PM
matty ice is as hot as a pistol right now
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:32 PM
you don’t invest the same resources in defending Omaha, Nebraska
Sorry Billy Bob, Bobby Joe, and Bobby Sue.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:33 PM
It was awesome the way he kept throwing screens to his WRs on that last drive
/throw to White on the first drive was nice
//an idiot could have completed the throws on the last drive
///except Sanchez and Lindley
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:33 PM
matty ice is as hot as a pistol right now
Indeed. Has he even missed a pass attempt yet?
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:34 PM
Hillbilly sucks.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:35 PM
//an idiot could have completed the throws on the last drive
Maybe him not missing a pass isn’t a great feat then, but my extent of “watching” this game is ESPN’s gametracker. So I’m just going by numbers.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:38 PM
Vlad that is great link, I would get into it but I am viciously hungover. People who are stopped from killing kill less people seems an obvious stat. We’ll do this later.
Game reminds me of endurung shitty Scott Mitchell while watching Barry break records.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:43 PM
Fair enough, but when you see “Matt Ryan complete pass to Julio Jones to right for 12 yards”, it’s because he threw a quick screen and Jones ran with it.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:47 PM
Drinking the Leinie Snowdrift Vanilla Porter tonight – not too shabby. Not quite the Anderson Valley Winter Solstice, but not too far behind.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:49 PM
I was trying to keep it topical cuz of all the gun talk. As has been pointed out, its easy to be 12/13 when you’re throwing screens and the Lions corners refuse to adjust and play press coverage.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:49 PM
Shit what a great catch.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:50 PM
That was some catch
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:51 PM
Leinie Snowdrift Vanilla Porter
Not going to lie, that doesn’t sound like an enticing beer. Anything taste wise to compare it to?
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:52 PM
50% of me is wishing I had picked this game on every one of my cards. The other 50% of me knows that with my luck if I had done that the score would be reversed.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:53 PM
what’s up douchebags? Lions blow.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:54 PM
This game would be very different without those two killer turnovers. Lions were driving both times.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:55 PM
This game would be very different without those two killer turnovers.
For sure.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:55 PM
I can’t imagine learning how to get your feet down like Jones did on that catch. Almost looked like he started dragging his back foot a split second before he caught the ball at full speed.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:58 PM
i’d be watching this game but my brother and his lady are home for christmas and they are watching some terrible Jennifer Lopez movie on tv.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:58 PM
Why didn’t the Lions take one shot at the end zone with 7 seconds left? Because they’re the fucking shitty Lions and Schwartz is a pussy ass clown.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:59 PM
i’d be watching this game but my brother and his lady are home for christmas and they are watching some terrible Jennifer Lopez movie on tv.
Time to tell company to go back to where they came from to enjoy Xmas.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:02 PM
Why didn’t the Lions take one shot at the end zone with 7 seconds left? Because they’re the fucking shitty Lions and Schwartz is a pussy ass clown.
Especially with Atlanta receiving to start the 2nd half.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:03 PM
have to feel terrible for calvin johnson, he’s the centerpiece of a shit organization in a shittier city, hope he can find greener pastures besides the cesspool he’s in now.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:03 PM
Mill Street Lemon Tea beer is a great summer brew but I understand that it sounds like flavoured piss.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:05 PM
Barry Sanders often shows up at Megatron’s house and they cry for hours.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:05 PM
Dry your eyes. He lives in Birmingham and just signed a 150 million or whatever contract.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:07 PM
Stafford + Johnson reminds me a lot of Jake Delhomme + Steve Smith, except way better. The defense knows what’s coming but they can’t stop it.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:07 PM
damn, megatron wants that record tonight.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:08 PM
have to feel terrible for calvin johnson, he’s the centerpiece of a shit organization in a shittier city, hope he can find greener pastures besides the cesspool he’s in now.
I do feel bad he got talked into those nonsensical audi commericals that involve him gettting dressed Ali G style.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:18 PM
OT: UF losses another big saturday night basketball game
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:21 PM
and Schwartz is a pussy ass clown.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:23 PM
Michael Turner with his customary 1.9 ypc tonight.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:29 PM
Pretty sure Calvin has incentive money for TD’s while in the redzone. That has to be the reason why they refuse to throw to him in the RZ.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:39 PM
As if contracts mean anything to coaches in professional or collegiate sports.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:44 PM
It’s funny ESPN still calls this Monday Night Football
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:44 PM
The next pass is going for Megatron in the EZ here. Gimme the rock he says!
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:45 PM
Ok, the next pass is going to Megatron in the EZ!
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:46 PM
It’s funny ESPN still calls this Monday Night Football
I thought the same shit. Wasn’t Wednesday’s season opener still Thursday Night Football? Guess they can’t change the name of the program, it just sounds dumb.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:47 PM
My boy is going nuts. He’s in our fantasy league playoffs and he’s screaming that Turner has done nothing. Along with Gonzalez. They’ve combined for 2 pts tonite
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:47 PM
Ok, the next pass is going to Megatron in the EZ!
This game would be tied if they listened to you.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:48 PM
1st and goal.
We should throw to Calvin.
Fuck that!
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Falcons still covering, need another score for a cushion.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:49 PM
My boy is going nuts. He’s in our fantasy league playoffs and he’s screaming that Turner has done nothing. Along with Gonzalez. They’ve combined for 2 pts tonite
As someone who has watched every Atlanta game this year, it’s frightening how awful the running game is this year. Biggest reason I still don’t believe in the Falcons come January.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Only logical explanation.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Took a small play on DET +3.5. The line screams there’s something up. I had ATL -5 to -5.5 and the line opened at -3 and then went to 4 before settling on -3.5. I there’s some ATS stat that a team is horrible the week after playing the defending SB champ. I took a gamble on DET, what the hell? Got lucky with ULL -7 and EVANSVILLE +11 this afternoon.
/rather be lucky than good.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:52 PM
I just went with ATL ML and then a separate bet on the over. 1-1 so far today (hit over in the ULL/ECU game, lost Boise).
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:52 PM
Caribou, I picked Falcons on 2 of 6 cards. -4.5 on one and +6.5 on the other.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:55 PM
Roethlishotdog or Meth, you guys like anything tomorrow in particular? I like NYG -3 tomorrow. Line has gone from a BAL fav to a GMen fav. It was NYG -1 the other day. bummed it went higher. Still running with NYG though. Public is hitting it hard
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:57 PM
Where is Matt Ryan in the MVP race? Fifth? Sixth?
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:58 PM
Haven’t put anything in yet, but at the top of my sheet right now I have CHI -6.5, OAK +9 and DEN -12. Also will likely do a ML parlay of CHI/HOU. For O/U I like Over 41.5 for CIN/PIT*.
*will be at the game
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:58 PM
Why would you come back with a Julio Jones handoff? he just got done catch 2 balls, you’d think he be a little winded. loss 7 yards there. too much over-thinking on ATL part
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:58 PM
Dallas -1
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:59 PM
I think PIT wins that game, wouldn’t be surprised it’s by 10 or more. PIT playing for its playoff life.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:00 PM
I got DAL -3 off of Bovada, which is what my local guy uses as the final line. I’d like to have that -1.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:00 PM
You guys do 3 team teases? I normally avoid them, but I’m kind of staring at GB -3, NO +12 and NE -5 after the 10 point shift and thinking about it.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Highly doubt it’s a blowout – our secondary is too banged up to cover anyone. Only way it gets out of hand either way is if the turnover margin gets out of whack.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:02 PM
That should pretty much do it for the ATL cover. Don’t know if DET has the mettle to go down score 7 within 3-4 minutes, stop ATL and get another score.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:02 PM
Atlanta now with 16 carries for 22 yards (not counting Matt Ryan’s scrambles) against the #18 rush defense in the NFL.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:02 PM
It was -130, but still
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:03 PM
I usually put in 2 3 team cards of the regular spreads and then a couple big cards of more favorable spreads. Only did 1 3 team this time a few 5 teams this time.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:04 PM
That’s not a bad teaser, though I avoid them myself. What’s the payout on a tease, I forget. Back to the PIT blowout that I said, I will not take the game only because PIT finds a way to screw me whether I bet for or against them. Took them in a parlay last week, had SEA -5 (easy win) and PIT -2. Ben throws that pick in OT and I flushed my stacks down the toilet (as Meth would describe it)
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:05 PM
Only did 1 3 team this time a few 5 teams this time.
/Needs more proofreading
//Fucking tired
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:05 PM
Yep, that should do it.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:06 PM
Generally I always make one 5 team teaser (6 points swing – pays 4.5:1) a week. Past years I would clean house – normally would go something like 10-7 over the course of the season.
This year I’ve only hit it once, with just some absolutely brutal beats in the last game to clinch (the SF/STL tie, the PHI last second TD at TB, etc.).
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:06 PM
C’mon ATL – punch this in and clinch my over.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:09 PM
Roeth, if I knew how many cards this year I’ve had 1 single game fuck me on, I’d probably burst every blood vessel in my eye. I’ve won a few small cards and covered what I put in and got 15-30 bucks profit. But all my big cards find a way to end up in the trash.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:11 PM
I’m going to bed, GL to you guys tomorrow with any bets you place.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:13 PM
I left my cards at the house, too. I can’t remember if Atlanta’s on the 3 or 5 team card.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:24 PM
Katy wins another state title. Sweet.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:26 PM
You have got to be fucking kidding me – ATL has 1st and goal, and DET has 3 plays from the 1.5 and I get a total of 3 points when I need 6 to hit the over. Fucking story of the season on my NFL betting.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:27 PM
And now I’ll get a safety so I lose the bet by 1.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:28 PM
What would Fitz’s numbers look like if he had Stafford throwing to him?
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:28 PM
What the fuck was that Logan?