Game 14 Chicago Bears 14 - 21 Atlanta Falcons . Georgia Dome.

I hired a car and tried to make the 730 miles from Chicago to Atlanta as quick as possible. I had been driving the Mullet bus for a number of weeks that has a top speed of 62 mph, and I forgot just how fast regular cars go! I was doing really well to make at least a couple of hours tailgating, until I got stuck in traffic by Nashville, due to an accident on the highway.

I had got in touch with Tom and Diane from the Atlanta tailgating crew; “The Birdwatchers” who have a wonderful tailgating rig called the “Fanbulance”. Tom told me that they were going to eat at 5:30pm, as it was a 8:30pm kick off and that he had a ticket for me, which was a great relief, after all that ticketing debacle from the day before at Notre Dame.

I got to the Georgia Dome and just parked the car as soon as I could. I whizzed around the great fan zone, filled with cool inflatables and Falcon tents and kiosks. The cheerleaders were signing autographs for young wide eyed fans, whilst there was a unique addition to the area. A huge mannequin of an Atlanta player was hoisting up another mannequin by his underwear. The hoisted mannequin had a Matt Forte Bears jersey on; I assume they change the away jersey (and the underwear) each week.

There were plenty of Chicago Bears fans in the fan zone and I only then started to feel confident enough to put on my rather large foam Bears hat. In Buffalo at the start of the season I wore the hat and got ostracized as the Buffalo locals shouted some colourful language my way.

There was little tailgating time and I had a decision to make. Either hang out at the Fanbulance or go and check out the famous Atlanta Tailgating parking lot called “The Gulch’, which apparently is like one huge gangsta’ rap video. I decided to go with the former and although I was late for food Tom and Diane did not let me go hungry.

Their large tailgating team takes up a whole corner of the car park, with their converted ambulance, the Fanbulance being the gem of the vehicles in the lot. I had missed the feast that was inspired by the names of some Bear’s players, such as “Jay Cutlet’s with whine”. Unlike some other tailgaters Tom and Diane are really humble that do not come out tailgating to show off and are incredibly down to earth warm people.

Because of the cold Tom and Diane wanted to go into the stadium early, but they left their rig open playing the game on their flat screen T.V for a couple of their friends, who were going to brave the cold outside, sans ticket. Here I noticed Tom’s game day ritual prop. He has a cage with a stuffed falcon sitting on top. Inside the cage is the away team’s helmet, and today it is not just a Bears helmet, but it is a real helmet that was actually worn in a game by the one and only Brian Urlacher!

The “Birdwatchers” are known throughout the league as being top-notch tailgaters. In fact in 2005 they represented the Falcons in a Campbell’s soup tailgating campaign. Tailgating cards were made with one tailgater for each NFL team. Timmy from Da Bus had represented Chicago.

I remembered that last season when I came to Georgia dome there was little atmosphere despite, the Falcons having an up and coming team. Tom is not a fan of the night games, from a tailgating point of view, and I can see why. There is no post-game tailgating, and it becomes a late night for the younger fans.

Inside the stadium I kept my hat on and I was stopped by everyone as they all wanted a picture with me and my big Bears hat. I understood Bears fans liking the hat, but the home crowd loving it took me by surprise as did the Georgia dome staff, who were equally as impressed...I felt like I was one of the players with all the attention I was getting.

On the concourse while the players were out and warming up, we met with the father of one of the Falcon players. David Baker is a huge 6 feet 9 giant of a man, who is the proud father of starting left tackle, Sam Baker, who plays number 72 and was drafted in the first round in the 08 season. I asked this man if he used to play football because of his size...He did more than just play football, he was once the Commissioner of the Arena football league! I told him I was keep an eye out for his son, and he told me he it would be a good battle for his son who would be up against Bears’ defensive ends, Adewale Ogunleye, Mark Anderson and Alex Brown, though and none of them have been particularly ferocious this season, so Sam might have a good night. Last year we couldn’t lay one sack on Matt Ryan!


It was a mouth watering matchup and I was really excited for this game. Both teams were at 3-1 and I was concerned as to how the Bears defense would defend against the mighty weapons of the Falcons offense. Both teams went back into their dressing rooms, before coming out officially. Here I met the wife of Falcons player #77 , just as Falcon legend, Morten Anderson himself came walking up the stairs right by me!

The Bears then came out to a surround sound of boos despite there being a lot of Chicago fans in the house. Some local fans behind me took some pictures of me and my hat, saying “I always wanted to have my picture taken with an extreme fan!” I had never considered myself an extreme fan, because I don’t wear all that make up /war paint that some other fans wear, but I suppose seeing 40 games last season does make slightly extreme!

The Falcon team ran out to a massive roar and fireworks from the inflatable tunnel. Several players then walked to the centre of the field for the coin toss. I didn’t notice Matt Ryan going to the centre, and apparently the Falcon’s change their coin tossing crew each game, while it is the Bears’ captains that go in for the coin toss. At this point Tom got out his pocket T.V which made me laugh. Not only are there two huge Jumbotrons on both end zones, but Tom brought his own T.V! Tom told me that it is vital to have the T.V for the earlier games, so he can watch the other live games, though tonight’s motive is because the Jumbotrons hardly show any replays. Tom was right, straight after the kick off the Jumbotrons were mainly used for adverts and slogans as opposed to be used for replays, and even I was leaning over his shoulder to re-watch the action on the 6 inch screen.

The Falcons have two mascots. One is massive and goes by the name of big red, whilst the smaller one, “Freddie” found himself amongst the crowd near us. Initially Freddie and the falcon fans had little to cheer about. The falcons could hardly muster any yards on offense in their first four possessions and I was licking my lips with an away win, until Cutler threw for an interception which sent the home team in hysterics.

The game opened up in a see-saw of swinging momentum, as there was bad defending on both teams and a shocking amount of fumbles and turnovers galore. The mistakes actually made the game fun, as both teams were as bad as each other. I kept an eye out for Sam Baker, and he was doing really well against any Bears pass rush, as Matt Ryan was hardly hurried and he never got sacked once the whole game.

It was a 7-14 home advantage by half time and I spent the whole break lining up for a drink, but at least I managed to get large drink with a sweet Michael Turner souvenir cup. I missed the half time show, but I saw it on the numerous T.Vs dotted around the concourse. There was a large military procession. The crowd made loud whoop noises when the men spun their large rifles and threw them about like batons. Ahh how those Americans like a good old fashioned gun show!

Last season the Bears lost here in dramatic style as Matt Ryan orchestrated a comeback with 11 seconds to go. Tom told me that many of the home fans had already left by that point, thinking the Falcons were going to lose. Many of the fans were in line for their free Falcon dolls when they heard about the comeback.

I was hoping that the Bears would not make the same mistakes. In fact stat wise the Bears had made more yards, and looked calm as if they were winning. It was an odd game to say the least, and when the Bears were looking at 3rdth and 1 on the 1 yard line they looked to Forte, who was not having a good night, or a good season for that matter. He jumped into the pack and fumbled the ball but luckily recovered the ball. On 4th and 1, we went for it and gave the ball to Forte again, who again fumbled it but this time was not as lucky and we lost the ball. If we can’t punch the ball in twice from the one yard line, we might as well give up.

The Bears had ample opportunities to win this game, which is what made me really mad. The Falcons got their offense moving in the second half and Cutler started to play with poise, despite the fact he was getting hurried, sacked and frankly beaten up. With no rushing game we became predictable, whereas the Falcons looked hot from all angles and Michael Turner punched in a rushing TD with three minutes to go.

Cutler orchestrated a mature and wonderful drive from his own 12 yard line in the final stretch. The home team crowd started to make plenty of noise to put off the Bears offensive line, and it worked. It was a complete turnaround from last year’s dull atmosphere at the dome and my poor Bears started to make silly penalties. Facing 3rd down and 25 on the 29 yard line meant time for a gutsy play. Cutler zipped the ball to Bennett for 24 yards. I was still confident we could make the one yard despite Forte’s slip ups previously. Then future hall of famer, Orlando Pace made the criminal mistake of going offside causing us a 4th and 6, which proved too much and the Falcons got the ball back and notched up another win.

Despite seeing my team loose I was still high after watching such a tight game, and being part of such a great atmosphere, though my night did not stop there. Tom and Diane had more wonderful people to introduce me to...Matt Ryan’s family!

Matt Ryan’s, Mum, Dad and brother all sat near as in the lower bowl of the stadium. I would have thought they would be in the club level, but Tom tells me they sit with the fans and are really down to earth folk.

We then headed back to the Fanbulance for a late night snack or two whilst we waited for the traffic to die down. I was originally not that excited about heading down to the Georgia dome because of the lack atmosphere last year, but I can honestly say that even thought the Bears lost, it was well worth the 1500 mile round trip drive and Tom and Diane gave me such rich wonderful experience, sitting with them was a delight. Diane is from Tennessee and she told me that people from the south are wonderfully friendly hence both sets of fans have been so welcoming tonight.

A few days later I got an email from Tom. He cooks with a Bubba keg grill, the same kind of grill I use on the Mullet. I went on to the Bubba Keg site and noticed that the Fanbulance are one of 14 tailgating teams across the land, that are part of the “Bubba competitive tailgating series”, whereby people vote for each tailgater. The winner gets a free trip to the BCS game (which I should be going to myself at the end of the season)The Fanbulance are getting my vote and I hope to see them there!