After last week's gut-wrenching overtime defeat against the AFC-leading Indianapolis Colts in Berlin, the Atlanta Falcons now hold a 3-6 record and find themselves in the midst of a four-game losing streak. Despite showing early promise with a winning record through Week 6 and a statement primetime victory against the perennial contender Buffalo Bills, inconsistencies on offense and special teams have prevented the Falcons from reaching their full potential. In addition to offensive lapses, the team has been blown out, first against the Panthers and then against the Miami Dolphins, two teams that the Falcons entered as favorites against.
The Falcons’ offense has been streaky throughout the season. The running back room has been the most consistent position group for the team, led by third-year superstar Bijan Robinson. Robinson is averaging 5.0 yards per carry and ranks 2nd in the NFL in receiving yards by running backs. His versatility and ability to line up both in the backfield and as a receiver have allowed the Falcons to be creative and set up Robinson with favorable matchups. Robinson’s versatility has also allowed for change-of-pace back Tyler Allgeier to get plenty of carries as well. Allgeier has tallied up 270 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
The main problem for the Falcon’s offense thus far has been red zone inefficiency. Despite being in the top half of the league in total yards per game, the Falcons rank 28th in points per game. The team also lacks depth and production at the wide receiver position, making it challenging for second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to be a reliable game manager week to week. In total, star wideout Drake London has 53 catches, while all other wide receivers on the roster have only 31 receptions combined.
In addition to failures on the offensive side of the ball, special teams mistakes have cost the Falcons multiple games. In Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, kicker Younghoe Koo missed a 44-yard field goal attempt to send the game into overtime. The Falcons then cut Koo in mid-September, signing journeyman kicker Parker Romo to replace Koo. In the Falcons’ Week 8 matchup against quarterback Drake Maye and the New England Patriots, Romo missed an extra point late in the fourth quarter, leading the Falcons to lose 24-23. On Nov. 4, the Falcons waived Romo and are now onto their third kicker of the season after signing veteran Zane Gonzalez.
Despite struggles from the rest of the team, Atlanta’s tenacious, disruptive defense has kept the team in games, as their well-roundedness and veteran presence have made it challenging for opposing offenses to find weak spots. The pass defense has been exceptional, as the Falcons have given up the fewest passing yards in the league. The Falcons also rank in the top 5 in takeaways, with eight interceptions and five fumbles recovered.
In order to turn things around, the first thing the Falcons should look to improve is their first-down efficiency. In their wins, the Falcons average 7.1 yards per play on first down compared to 4.7 yards in losses. Having more success on first down allows for the offense to find a groove, open up the playbook and take more risks and deep shots downfield. This comfort and freedom are what Penix Jr. and the young, explosive offense need to play at the level they are capable of.
Next week, the Falcons will face off against the Carolina Panthers for the second time this season. After their shutout loss in the first matchup, the Falcons will look to get revenge and secure a victory in front of their home crowd. If the Falcons want to keep any sort of playoff hopes alive, they must come out on top with a win.
