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The disappointment that is the Atlanta Falcons preseason

By Ross Terrell

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 15: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons is sacked by Avery Williamson #54 of the New York Jets during the first half of the preseason game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 15: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons is sacked by Avery Williamson #54 of the New York Jets during the first half of the preseason game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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No matter how you want to spin it, the Atlanta Falcons preseason has been nothing short of a disappointment.

Forget what Atlanta Falcons fans are saying about the meaningless nature of the games. Sure, we all like to point to the 2008 Lions and the 2017 Browns as the models for that. Those team went undefeated in the preseason but winless in the regular season. A tale of two extremes.

They were also a team quarterbacked by Jon Kitna and DeShone Kizer, respectively, for crying out loud. Not Matt Ryan. Those teams didn’t have Super Bowl aspirations like this year’s Falcons. And those teams didn’t have the brain trust at coaches like Atlanta does now.

The Falcons are now 0-4 this preseason with another game to go. The NFL schedule makers gave them five chances to get off the preseason snide. So far, they’ve balked at all of them. That also makes it 12 straight early season match-ups without as much as one win.

A clean sweep of preseason futility. Going into this year, it was clear Julio wouldn’t play. Matt didn’t see action until their third game, and the offensive line chose to put on a stand up comedy show.

What about that defensive line? A total of four sacks in the three games that aren’t tied to the Hall of Fame one. And Vic Beasley, a grand total of one sack. Going up against offensive linemen hoping to make the team and settling in, Beasley has one sack. Not great.

Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are wise to hold out star players. It’s still too fresh just how quickly injuries can derail a season. But they haven’t even been able to escape that. Damontae Kazee, who figures to be an important part of the defense left a game with an injury. And so did Russell Gage a few plays later. /

In the words of Dan Quinn, you just want to see the team compete. Well, they’ve lost by two scores in their past two games. Blogging Dirty also told you that the preseason would set the tone for the regular one.

But let’s hope the Falcons can reverse that trend. It’s been mostly disappointment with a spattering of bright moments from some young players hoping to make the team. Oh, and future Hall of Famer Matt Ryan has been nothing short of his consistent self.

Next. Unsuspecting starters will not be back with the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. dark

Going into week one against Minnesota, the Falcons better correct course. Cause it’s not bright moments that lead a team to the Super Bowl. It’s consistent winning.

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