Greg Auman
NFC South Reporter
ATLANTA — The Falcons have misplaced two straight and 5 of their final seven, and whereas they’re solely a sport behind the first-place Saints within the NFC South, there is a bigger query to reply: Who do they actually belief on this workforce?
They’ve flipped from Desmond Ridder to Taylor Heinicke at quarterback, and Heinicke had a expensive turnover however did sufficient in his first begin to rating 28 factors and have the lead with a minute to play in Atlanta’s three-point loss to the Vikings. Even nonetheless, coach Arthur Smith would not decide to Heinicke being the starter for Sunday’s sport at Arizona.
The Falcons have a gifted rookie in working again Bijan Robinson, who has been inconsistent of late, fumbling within the third quarter Sunday and watching from the sidelines within the fourth as Tyler Allgeier acquired the final eight carries and a landing run on the go-ahead drive. A top-10 draft decide appeared on because the Falcons went with — and scored with — a participant who had totaled minus-13 yards within the first half.
They usually have a protection that was a top-10 unit two weeks in the past, however has given up 28 and 31 factors in two losses since, regardless of dealing with quarterbacks of their first video games with their new groups. Rookie Will Levis threw 4 touchdowns within the Titans’ win final week, and newly acquired veteran Joshua Dobbs got here off the bench and accounted for 3 scores simply 4 days after he joined the Vikings through commerce.
You may belief kicker Younghoe Koo, who went 4-for-4 on discipline objectives and hit each additional factors Sunday, however even his sturdy presence on the scoreboard pointed to offensive woes that worsen the nearer to the aim line the Falcons get.
All these areas — save Koo, in fact — got here collectively within the second half to contribute to a different disappointing loss.
“Definitely a missed alternative,” Smith stated postgame. “Give them credit score, however sure, you’ll be able to’t sugar-coat it or make excuses. We had our possibilities, and we did not get it completed.”
The Falcons gave up 21 factors within the second half, and the offense performed a supporting position within the collapse. After tight finish Jonnu Smith’s 60-yard landing within the third quarter, the protection pressured a punt, so the Falcons had the ball and a 21-13 lead, in place to place the sport away.
As an alternative, they dedicated turnovers on back-to-back performs, organising quick fields for 11 Vikings factors to cede management of the sport. Robinson’s fumble arrange a 40-yard landing drive, and Heinicke’s interception set Minnesota up on the 24 for a discipline aim and the lead within the first minute of the fourth quarter.
Atlanta’s protection, taking part in with no chief up entrance within the injured Grady Jarrett, persistently acquired the Vikings into dangerous spots, and simply as persistently allow them to wriggle out of these jams. Within the last 5 minutes of the primary half, up 11-3 and in management, the Falcons allowed Dobbs to transform on third-and-8, third-and-11 and third-and-10 on the identical drive, going to halftime with only a one-point lead. Staked to a lead once more with 2:08 to play, the Falcons once more could not shut out the deal, as Dobbs transformed one other third down, then a fourth-and-7, after which the game-winning landing on a third-and-4 on the 6-yard line.
Dave Helman, Mark Schlereth and Chris Myers on Vikings’ comeback
“We have to deal with our enterprise,” stated defensive lineman Calais Campbell, who had his third profession security, one off the NFL all-time document. “It sucks, as a result of within the NFL, it’s important to win video games. You do not get re-dos; you aren’t getting do-overs. It’s important to win ballgames. This one undoubtedly stings, however we knew what [Dobbs] was able to doing. We talked about him doubtlessly coming into the sport and how much participant he was. … All of us have to have a look at ourselves within the mirror and determine what we have to do to be accountable to 1 one other and win the ballgame.”
The headlines in shut losses go to the ultimate errors, however the Falcons additionally misplaced by lacking numerous alternatives within the first half. That 11-3 lead may have been 23-3, however 3 times, their offense stalled and settled for Koo discipline objectives. A 3rd-down conversion to the 30 was negated by an offensive move interference penalty, resulting in a punt, and a display screen to Allgeier from the 25 resulted in an 8-yard loss, organising a discipline aim.
A Dobbs fumble was returned to the 1-yard line, and between a penalty and questionable playcalling, they could not get that yard, preserving the stumbling Vikings inside a rating the entire time till Dobbs began to search out himself.
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A 12 months in the past, it solely took an 8-9 document for the Bucs to win the NFC South, and this 12 months’s division appears equally unremarkable, with the Saints main with a 5-4 document and the temporary uptick of back-to-back wins. This week brings a seemingly simple sport in opposition to a one-win Cardinals workforce, but when they don’t seem to be cautious and Kyler Murray surprises, the Falcons would possibly lose a 3rd straight sport to a quarterback making his 2023 debut with that workforce.
“This week goes to check our character,” Heinicke stated after his first Falcons begin. “Clearly, the bye week proper across the nook, we have misplaced, what two or three in a row, so we actually have to return collectively and attempt to get this win, get again to .500. Then we have now [seven] video games to attempt to take the division. It is proper there for us. We simply have to wash issues up. We now have to go on the market and do it.”
Greg Auman is FOX Sports activities’ NFC South reporter, overlaying the Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints. He’s in his tenth season overlaying the Bucs and the NFL full-time, having hung out on the Tampa Bay Occasions and The Athletic. You may observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.
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