Falcons’ Bye Week a Good Time to Mull over Upset Loss
Atlanta Falcons dropped what, in the parlance of our times, is known as a ‘trap game’ to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
The Atlanta Falcons failed, unfortunately, to become one of the few teams who, following a Super Bowl loss, started the following season 4-0. The Birds dropped what, in the parlance of our times, is known as a ‘trap game’ to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Let’s just hope it doesn’t slow down any Falcons momentum. And there is no reason it should either; after four weeks of play and entering their bye, the Falcons are 3-1 (still better than the Patriots) and lead the NFC South division.
They could be, all things considered, better positioned towards a playoff berth, but then again, there are still three fourths of the 2017 season left to go.
And speaking of the bye week, the timing couldn’t be better in the sense that it will allow a couple of key players to recover from injuries.
Thus, wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, who leads the team with 19 catches for 295 yards, is expected to miss the Miami Dolphins game and be ready on time for the Week 7 Super Bowl rematch with the Pats, while wide receiver Julio Jones, who, according to head coach Dan Quinn, “is a faster healer than the average cat,” shouldn’t miss any action.
Coach Quinn probably meant he has nine lives, or something along those lines, but we get the idea. Regarding Jones, Coach Quinn went on to say:
"“It’s just how he’s built. He’s a special player, competitor, and athlete. What may take someone four [weeks] may take him two. What may take another person one, he may be ready way quicker.”"
Additionally, Quinn said that linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. is making progress from the hamstring strain he sustained in Week 2, but will not return quite yet.
Atlanta does not intend to add a receiver to address Sanu’s injury, but could look to reinforce their defense given that, in addition to Beasley, defensive linemen Courtney Upshaw and Jack Crawford are also out – possibly for the season, in the case of Crawford.
The defense is, by the way, the end of the ball in which the Falcons are, at least comparatively, struggling. While the offense ranks in the top 10 in the league in scoring, rushing, passing, and points per game, the defense ranks 12th in rushing, 13th in total defense, 18th in passing and points per game, and 19th in scoring defense.
Another issue that Quinn & Co. might want to look out during the team’s week off is that off turnover margin, which, at minus-4, ranks 28th in the NFL.
The Dirty Birds have turned the ball over on offense on six occasions – five picks (three of which have been Matt Ryan’s tipped passes) and one fumble – and have, on defense, forced just two turnovers.
Next: Atlanta Falcons drop to 3-1 with home loss to Buffalo
“It’s the way we come off the ball, the way you finish plays, and then, of course, for me, the ball,” Quinn said. “That really came from the last two games, for us to be at the best of ourselves, that part has to change.”