Sean Weatherspoon Headlines Biggest Storylines for Atlanta Falcons @ Miami Dolphins
Aug 29, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (56) reacts to a play in the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Georgia Dome. The Jaguars won 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Falcons are heading down south this weekend to face the Miami Dolphins. The Falcons are heading down with the injury bug, and the Dolphins are welcoming them without southern hospitality. There are many headlines coming into this game, and I will take you through a few of the biggest ones.
The Dolphins are a team in a wide open AFC East with a New England team that could be the worst of this decade. It has a Jets team that was supposed to be horrible, but the defense is good and Geno Smith is either really bad or decent, nobody is sure about that. It also has a Buffalo team that has the Offensive Rookie of the Year so far through the season in EJ Manuel and a solid running game but have a lackluster defense.
The Dolphins could take the division, but it is going to be tough. A win against Atlanta would be a huge boost in the divisional standings for the Dolphins. Last season, a game against the Dolphins is something teams around the league looked forward to for a relaxed week and easy win. This week, the Falcons are dreading heading down to Miami.
Roddy White is obviously hurt. He only played a little over half of the snaps last week against the Rams. He pulled in three receptions for 21 yards against the Rams, and he only had two receptions for 19 yards in week one against the Saints.
They should be thinking about the playoffs, and if Roddy White doesn’t sit in the next few weeks, it could be a lingering injury that nags the star receiver all year.
The linebacker position started thin, and it became even thinner with the injury to Sean Weatherspoon. The Falcons signed Jamar Chaney and Omar Gaither to try and replace Weatherspoon.
This could be the biggest storyline of the game and the next few games. The linebacking core has not been great over the past few seasons, and now they are missing their best linebacker. Chaney nor Gaither are going to prove effective. Brian Hartline could have a field day against Atlanta coming across the middle.