The Atlanta Falcons have now misplaced three video games in a row and are now not above .500. Even when the protection performs just like the Legion of Growth, the Falcons nonetheless discovered a solution to lose to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Michael Penix chatter is flooding social media, and the Falcons playoff hopes have dropped to just about 50/50. Right here’s the Week 13 Snap Reactions.
Two steps ahead, one step again for Zac Robinson
Zac Robinson has been recommended for his progress this season, and we noticed extra of it in the present day. He dedicated to the run and feeding Bijan–Atlanta was capable of transfer the ball with relative ease. However after a 2-2 begin on third down, the Falcons went 1-12 on the down for the remainder of the sport. Robinson’s play calling on these downs has been suspect, just like the repeated use of jet sweeps.
Kirk Cousins didn’t do the coordinator many favors in the present day, however that’s a two-way avenue. It’s good to see the Falcons personal the time of possession, and Robinson did dial up loads of good performs that failed as a consequence of execution, however the playcalling must be extra constant. These are the sorts of rising pains groups expertise with first-time playcallers.
Sack fest and defensive dominance
The Falcons go rush gave the Chargers issues all afternoon, an announcement that also doesn’t really feel actual. The Falcons sacked Justin Herbert 5 occasions and hit the quarterback eight occasions. The protection gave up three subject targets and a two-point conversion following Cousins pick-six.
No matter Jimmy Lake and the protection did over the bye week and vacation labored. Deficiencies in protection had been nonetheless current. Linebacker protection play remains to be problematic, however these deficiencies get coated up while you rush the passer and cease the run. If the protection can proceed this efficiency within the remaining five-game stretch, there’s nonetheless loads of hope for the group.
Kirk Cousins’s Thanksgiving hangover spoils the day
For the third sport in a row, Cousins was a big barrier towards reaching a win. This sport felt completely different–the quarterback regarded determined. Determined to disprove rumors that the Falcons aren’t glad together with his season and determined to show he’s the man for subsequent yr. Cousins had 4 interceptions, and when the all-22 movie comes out, we’re going to see different passes that might’ve suffered the identical destiny.
The query on everybody’s thoughts is, when will the Falcons flip to Michael Penix? It’s unlikely that we’ll see Kirk benched, and sure, a few of that’s due to politics, however that’s an unlucky a part of the sport that this regime steadily partakes in.
Self-reflection resolves some self-infliction points, however not all
The Falcons used their break time effectively, the protection regarded a lot improved, and the group solely had two penalties price 10 yards. In some way, this sport nonetheless got here right down to self-inflicted wounds. Some had been player-related, like Younghoe Koo’s missed subject objective or Kirk Cousins’s turnover fest, and different occasions, it got here right down to play-calling and training, no matter how this group can’t shake its id as a group that will get in its personal manner.
The Falcons have been in lots of come-from-behind conditions this yr, primarily as a result of group’s potential to dig its personal gap. A discount in penalties is a optimistic step, however his group goes to must do greater than self-reflect to repair this cultural difficulty.
The Falcons are 6-6, and although they lastly obtained the efficiency they wanted from their protection, Kirk Cousins lets the group down. Subsequent week, the Falcons have a crucial NFC sport towards Cousins’ former employer, the Minnesota Vikings. This shedding streak has to finish quickly, or the Falcons playoff possibilities and Cousins’ future in Atlanta will likely be in jeopardy.
