Now that was an entertaining Monday Night Football game, huh? Let's get going.
The Bad for Atlanta
Not only did the New Orleans Saints beat the Falcons 17-14 on Monday night. Not only did Drew Brees carve up the Falcons on an impressive 13-play, fourt-quarter drive for the game-winning score. Not only did the Saints end the Falcons' eight-game winning streak. Not only did the Saints create drama for the final weekend with the win and have a shot to move the Falcons from the No. 1 seed to a wildcard team if things fall right.
The Saints' win could have delivered a shot to the Falcons' unending confidence at home - they were 19-1 with Matt Ryan as the starter at the Dome 48 hours ago. And the loss leaves huge question marks about an offense that gained all of 215 yards.
AP: Falcons squander chance to show who's best in NFC
The Good for Atlanta
If the defense that showed up Monday night in Falcons uniforms arrives througout the playoffs, this Atlanta team can play with anyone.
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The blitz packages were creative and outstanding. The defensive line recorded two picks - read that one again - including Chauncey Davis' 26-yard interception return for a score.
Plus, the only thing standing between the Falcons and home-field advantage through the playoffs is a home game against the 2-13 Carolina Panthers.
Missed opportunities
There are a few basic rules of gambling, and one of them involves the pain of missed opportunities.
You can make bad picks., and you can suffer with surprising upsets - that's part of picking games and playing the odds.
But missing a golden opportunity is much worse than missing a pick. And good readers, the 5-at-10 missed a golden one yesterday.
Sure, hindsight is 20-20 and blah, blah, blah, but the under on the Georgia Tech-Air Force game may have been the bowl season's best pick. The total was 56 - that's the number odd's makers set as the total points scored and gamblers can bet over or under that 56 - and the teams combined for 21 points. I know what you're thinking, "It's easy to tell me this now fat head; where were you yesterday?"
Consider this the 5-at-10's mea culpa, and here's why it should have been a flashing green beacon of earning potential. The advantage that Georgia Tech and Air Force have against opponents is their triple-option offenses are difficult to prepare for in a week, especially when some teams only see that brand of option football once or twice a season.
But these teams each run it - meaning they see it frequently in practice and the scout teams have no trouble picking up the fundamentals - and these teams had way more than a week to prepare. That's a huge edge to the defenses, and that should have screamed low-scoring game.
Sorry, please see the lady at the window if you would like a refund on your investment in the 5-at-10.
AP: Opportunistic Air Force wins Independence Bowl
Tuesday Night Football
Did you see what the governor of Pennsylvania said about moving Sunday night's Eagles-Vikings game to tonight because of the weekend blizzard.
Well, click Here and then come back and discuss.
He makes some humorous points and some silly points and I hope everyone gets a good laugh. It's easy to understand the players wanting to play and keep a routine, and his honor's view on out nation's lack of toughness aside, the 5-at-10 appreciates at least a little bit the NFL actually thinking of the fans for a change.
Normally, the fans are the last group considered in this age of PSLs and luxury boxes and ticket packages.
Baseball money matters, part 1,302
Only in baseball - where the average... AVERAGE salary is better than $3 million - could a .196-hitting first baseman get a $10-million deal and arguably the game's most efficient closer is still without a job.
That's right, former Braves reliever Rafael Soriano - who posted mind-numbing stats with Tampa Bay last season - has yet to sign a deal.
Yet, former Rays teammate Carlos Pena - he of the .196 average and the 158 strikeouts in 484 at-bats - inked a one-year deal with the Cubs last month.
Maybe the good governor of Pennsylvania was right - we are soft as a nation.