The Atlanta Falcons were no match for Joe Burrow and now have three straight losses this year. Take solace in knowing that they are still losing as a team, #brotherhood. Here are the Week 9 snap reactions.
Death by Penalty
Matthew Bergeron had two killer penalties in the red zone, Jawan Taylor had one as well, and everyone else on the team joined in on the fun. It’s gonna be hard to win the game when you’re too busy setting a season high in penalties.
There were no sloppy conditions to blame this week; the team was
reckless on its own, and it cost them the game more than anything. If you are going to be a CEO head coach, execution errors like these can’t happen under your watch.
A.J. Terrell Nightmare Game
Chase has had Terrell’s number since college. He got whatever he wanted against the Falcons CB1, and he wasn’t alone. Tee Higgins also scored a touchdown against the corner, and fans need to accept that we are now on the downslope of Terrell’s peak.
He’s still serviceable, but he is no longer a top-10 CB in the league, maybe not even top-15, and the position will need to be addressed again in the offseason.
Cut Nick Folk
Please cut Nick Folk. Please cut Nick Folk. Please cut Nick Folk. That was his miss inside the 40 since 2017. Please cut Nick Folk. Please cut Nick Folk. Please cut Nick Folk.
Penix did not shake back
After his best opening drive of the season, Penix and the offense faded fast. The quarterback struggled to see the field at times; he got away with a few would-be interceptions and tossed a bad one late in the fourth quarter. He also committed a killer delay-of-game penalty, but it’s fair to say his teammates had far more that spoiled some of his best plays.
In a weird twist of fate, it was the best rushing game of his career; he looked healthier than ever. However, that wasn’t enough to get the win because the Falcons were in a shootout. They didn’t lose this game because of Penix, but he didn’t do enough to give them a chance late either. Questions about the quarterback’s future will only grow if he stays stuck in a rut.
The Tommy Rees conundrum
Rees might have a better playbook than Zac Robinson, but he may be a worse play caller. We finally got an opening script worth celebrating, but when he had to adjust to the game in real time, he froze. Dialing up flea flickers for Chris Blair but nothing for Kyle Pitts, abandoning the run at the sight of a lead, and 3 & long screens. Is this really the OC you want developing a rookie if the team moves off Penix?
Jeff Ulbrich isn’t going anywhere
After the first four games of the season, fans were convinced Ulbrich might be gone in 2027; now many are hoping that happens. While the injuries have definitely taken their toll, Ulbrich has been his own worst enemy too often. For reasons I still can’t explain, a healthy Billy Bowman was scratched, and the Bengals immediately took advantage by targeting the slot. Divine Deablo was not a viable option in coverage or against the run, and the plan failed so spectacularly that when the Falcons needed to lean on other DBs, they inserted DeMarcco Hellams.
The defense also gave up 100 yards on the ground to one of the worst rushing teams in history, so the talent excuses only go so far. Oh, and believe it or not, James Pearce Jr. played in today’s game, and Joe Burrow had the longest time to throw in his career (3.26 seconds).
The trade deadline is about to come to a close, and while the Falcons are still in the thick of the NFC South race, is it even worth it? We’ll see how much Ian Cunningham likes draft picks this week.
