This Falcons team has been so up and down all year. They are 0-6 at home and 6-2 away from Mercedes Benz Stadium. Go figure…I can’t even figure that one out. Last Sunday the Falcons travelled to the California Bay area to play the 49ers and got blown out of the stadium. The Falcons deferred and kicked off at the opening of the game and recovered the fumble at the 10, but failed to score. Five other red zone drives ended up with zero points as they could only muster 98 yards in the first half as well.
If the Falcons would have won the game, they would be 7-7 and hold the sixth playoff spot as a wild card berth if the playoffs started now. But the loss dropped the team to 6-8 and a slim chance of making it to the playoffs. The 49ers 8-6, hold on to the sixth playoff spot.
A lot of things would have to change in order for the Falcons to make the playoffs. There are three games left and the Falcons would need to win out and the Washington Football Team and Philadelphia Eagles would have to lose all remaining games. The Falcons play this Sunday at home versus the 2-11 Detroit Lions, at Buffalo Bills 8-6, and back at home to close out regular season against rival New Orleans Saints 7-7. Currently the Falcons hold the tie breaker beating the Saints in week 9 at New Orleans 27-25.
The Falcons are hoping to win this Sunday and earn their first victory at home versus the Lions, but that is not a given. The Falcons have played horrible at home this season and the Lions, yes, 2-11, have won the last two games, are feeling hot. Lions dominated the Cardinals in their first victory about weeks ago.
Pitts is just scratching the surface of what he can do.
Arthur Smith, Atlanta Falcons Head Coach
This year, the Falcons have shown some improvement. In 2020 they won four games, so far with three games left to play they have six wins. This team is doing more with less. On offense, no Julio Jones, which looks like a good move for GM Terry Fontenot, who traded disgruntled Jones to the Tennessee Titans. Jones has been hurt majority of season once again. The Falcons have also been without the other top wideout Calvin Ridley who has been out due to mental health reasons, and who knows if he will ever return. Rookie TE Kyle Pitts only has one TD, but 847 receiving yards and on pace to gain over 1,000 yards for the season. Head Coach Arthur Smith says, “Pitts is just scratching the surface of what he can do.”
On the other side of the ball, the defense has just been horrible. No matter the coordinator, this D seems to under perform every single Sunday. In my 45 years on this earth, the 1998 Super Bowl team has been the best defense, the only D that I can remember that was put together from top to bottom, great.
But this team grinds every game and has heart and doesn’t quit, which hasn’t happened in years past. So I give that to this team as a building block. I don’t think it will happen next year either, but in year three under Smith, I think we all will start to see some drastic improvements with this team. I do have faith in this GM and head coach, they are not soft, but tough minded football minded guys that won’t shy away from building a team that this city can be proud of, but it’s not happening this year.
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