Eagles Win, 32-6

The Big Picture

It is safe to say that the Atlanta Falcons are exactly who we thought they were. I’m sure many Falcons fans were looking around for Julio Jones to make a play only to realize that Julio is no longer a saving grace. Not only did the Falcons look bad, but they also could not find the end zone at all on offense, and their defense was shredded by rookie receiver Devonta Smith. Regardless of how talented a player is, a rookie receiver coming into the city and having a breakout game in his debut is not a good look on the Atlanta Falcons.

Matt Ryan Is Not The Problem?

Okay. It is Week 1 with an entirely new offense and a bunch of new offensive weapons, but it is difficult to not blame Matt Ryan for the poor offensive performance. I mean, he is an NFL veteran, who has been the starting quarterback in Atlanta since 2010 and has had the benefit of the organization building around him. Unfortunately, Matt Ryan was not able to get any offense going and his 35 attempted passes did little to help that either. We could easily put the blame on the offensive coordinator as well, but then that wouldn’t be fair either due to Matt Ryan always being a high attempt quarterback throughout his career.

Putting up only 164 yards of offense through the air is not good. In fact, it isn't good considering you have Calvin Ridley, an all-pro receiver at your disposal. Ridley was not a major factor despite catching 7 passes. Ridley was not able to find the endzone and part of the issue was the lack of time Matt Ryan had when in the pocket. 

Bright Spots? 

The only bright spot for the Falcons on Sunday was from veteran and all-purpose receiver Cordarelle Patterson. Much like former Packer all-purpose player Ty Montgomery, Patterson can pretty much do it all. Aside from his return ability, he is a serviceable running back. On Sunday, Patterson carried the ball 7 times for 54 yards with nearly 8 yards per carry. Safe to say that Patterson seems to be the best fit at running back at this point. Veteran Back Mike Davis carried the ball 15 times for 49 yards and no scores. The running game was not a major factor, but when you have nearly the same amount of passing yards as rushing yards, it speaks to a larger issue of play calling and situational football.

Major Fixes Needed

The Falcons need an answer on defense and they need it quick. In a coordinator’s first season, they may have a major task of reinventing an entire team, however, the Falcons defense looked like they did not belong on the field on Sunday. Rookie receiver Devonta Smith shredded the

Falcons defense to the tune of 6 catches for 71 yards and a score. In the plays that Smith did get the ball, he was obviously faster, quicker, and more dominant than any player the Falcons had on defense. 

The Falcons have good players on defense, but what they do not have is a game-changer in the secondary. AJ Terrell was expected to be the guy and secure his side of the field, but he is not able to make up for the lack of ability and experience through the entire secondary. The defensive line was not able to create any issues for Jalen Hurts and this resulted in a big performance for the former Alabama Quarterback throwing 35 times for 264 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. 

Next Week Outlook 

Next week the Falcons travel to Tampa Bay to face off against Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champ Buccaneers. This is undoubtedly a major divisional contest, but the only advantage the Falcons may have over Tampa Bay is the giant chip they currently have on their shoulder. If the Falcons are able to feed into the emotions of the first divisional game of the season, they may be able to spark something and possibly beat the Buccaneers, but with the current issues, it does not look likely.

Writer

-By: LeMarkus Bailey

Who Dey? 

The Atlanta Falcons are without Julio Jones for the first time in nearly a decade. The new-look Falcons are a team looking to maintain an identity without Julio and in order to succeed, they must incorporate everyone despite not having many experienced offensive weapons. With Matt Ryan still at the helm, it is not unlikely that the team will still remain competitive, but finding the game changers on offense will be a season-long task. Is Calvin Ridley, Kyle Pitts, and Russell Gage the answer offensively? 

The Falcons are in desperate need of some consistency. Last season did not go well as the team changed head coaches during the season and are looking to create an identity. Currently, the defense is likely the strong point of the entire team as they have the most consistent players. 

Grady Jarrett is a guy. There is no doubt that he is the engine that makes the defense go and against a talented Eagles offensive line, his contribution will be more than necessary. Eagles LT Jordan Mailata just signed a 4-year contract extension and he is well worth it. As a matter of fact, the majority of the Eagles line are veteran players that are all consistent. Keep your eye on the upfront battle because that will dictate how this game goes. 

X-Factor

Let’s face it, the Falcons secondary is much more talented than the Eagles receiving room. However, the youth of the secondary is susceptible to mishaps. AJ Terrell and Fabian Moreau are two good corners that have shown why they are consistent starters. Rookie Reciever Devonta Smith is listed as WR1 and with good reason. The First Round Receiver is scary good and if he can get going against the Falcons secondary, it could be a long game. Against the dynamic, but unproven Eagles receivers, the Falcons secondary must step up and not allow a big game from the receivers and force the Eagles to keep the ball on the ground.

Keys To The Game

Get pressure on Jalen Hurts. That is the major key to victory for the Falcons. Jalen Hurts is not known for making many mistakes. He is not a super dynamic passer or runner, but he is a very consistent and a good game manager. Forcing Hurts to make mistakes will need to be the game plan because he will not beat himself. The Falcons defense has to make the difference in this game and give Matt Ryan the ball as many times as possible. 

Prediction

In this matchup, the Atlanta Falcons are the better team on paper. But with a group of dynamic young playmakers for the Eagles coming into the fold, the sleeper performances will come out of the receiver room. The defense has to keep the receivers at bay or this will be a long game for the Falcons. Matt Ryan and the offense will have no issues moving the ball against the Eagles secondary, but they cannot afford to give the Eagles offense extra possessions with turnovers.

Atlanta Falcons Win, 33-24

Writer

-By: LeMarkus Bailey

The Rundown

Last Season the Atlanta Falcons had a very difficult season where they finished with a record of 4-12 and also placed last in the NFC South. After firing Dan Quinn, the Falcons were able to win 4 games under Raheem Morris before hiring Arthur Smith at the conclusion of the season. The Falcons surely won’t immediately jump to the top of the division with the Buccaneers still looking strong and the Panthers defense looking dominant, but if the Falcons can solidify their playmakers early on, they can expect to be competitive in the division. 

Roster: The Good

The Good aspect about the Falcons roster seems to be on defense. Currently, the Falcons boast one of the league's best defensive linemen in Grady Jarrett. Grady Jarrett is a dominant interior lineman that has anchored that line for some years now. Unfortunately, Jarrett is the only dominant force on the line, and the exterior lineman or essentially still proving themselves. 

The secondary has some great young playmakers in AJ Terrell and Jaylin Hawkins, but staying healthy and durable in the secondary will be dependent on how well the line can get a pass rush. Without a pass rush, the likelihood of a deflated secondary is high. Coming off of a season where the passing defense was last in the league, getting back to a dominant pass rush is imperative. 

The Bad

The Falcons lack depth and competition at the quarterback position. Honestly, Matt Ryan has been pretty consistent over his career, however, it is the lack of depth that may be a giant sore for the football team. Since 2008, Matt Ryan has only missed 3 games, but with one minor injury, Matt Ryan out of the lineup places the teams immediate playoff hopes in danger. 

Currently, the team has Felipe Franks on the roster along with Josh Rosen and AJ McCarron on Injured Reserve. Keeping Matt Ryan healthy will be the major focus for the Falcons and keeping their offensive line filled in will be a week-to-week task. 

The Ugly

With future Hall of Fame receiver Julio Jones out of the picture in Atlanta, Calvin Ridley, Kyle Pitts, and Russel Gage all have a huge task. Recreating Julio Jones’ production isn’t the focus, but without Julio Jones to take eyes away from Calvin Ridley, Ridley will surely have to work harder for separation. 

Russel Gage is a good receiver that has good hands and good speed, but he is not a receiver that will command many double teams. If he can catch 60 passes for 800 yards and 4 touchdowns again, he will have a good year and prove to be a good, consistent weapon late in the season for the Falcons. 

The First Round Pick Kyle Pitts has big shoes to fill. Without much preseason action, many fans are eager to see Pitts live up to the hype. With such a large frame, Pitts is expected to be a wide, rangy receiving tight end that creates matchup nightmares. If the Falcons Offensive coordinator Dave Ragone can work the offense around Pitts, it will surely help create some separation for primary target Calvin Ridley.

Writer

-By: LeMarkus Bailey