The Atlanta Falcons have made fools out of us all
By Deen Worley
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The 3-7 Atlanta Falcons entered the game with all the intentions of running the table with six games remaining and having a strong finish. However, being favored to win just doesn’t work for Atlanta.
The Atlanta Falcons entered Mercedes Benz Stadium as 4.5 point favorite against the 3-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, just as this season has gone, the defense put the offense is too big of a hole in the first half to be able to close the deficit.
The Atlanta Falcons defense did exactly what an Atlanta Falcons defense does. While Jameis did have two turnovers (100 in total in less than five years… how terrible), Winston and Chris Godwin torched this Atlanta Falcons defense.
Jameis Winston went 18 for 28 and tallied over 310 yards.
Godwin averaged 26 yards on seven catches while adding two scores.
The Falcons had absolutely no answer.
It did seem like the Atlanta Falcons were in for a great showing. A few big plays on the opening drive seemed as if the Falcons were going to take control early. However, the falcons only ended up kicking a field goal.
Nothing really materialized after that.
The Atlanta Falcons had front row seats to the Shaq Barrett show as no one on this Falcons line had the ability to slow him.
To put it nicely, the Falcons offensive line sucks. Cut and dry.
You would confuse Matt Ryan for a running quarterback with how often he was forced to try and escape pressure.
Matthews even had a holding call on a would-be touchdown pass – Calvin Ridley was barely out of bounds, however, the holding call would have negated the would-be score. Instead of third and 18, the Falcons were pinned to second and 28.
I’m sure Matt Ryan haters will have a fun time after Ryan threw an interception with a defender dead in his face. Ryan can’t help that his offensive line failed to show up at all.
Not only did Jason Pierre-Paul force a Ryan interception, but Pierre-Paul also forced a Matt Ryan fumble as Ryan was escaping pressure. Ndamukong Suh picked the ball up and scored.
Worst offensive performance all season.
For a little bright spot, Russell Gage and Qadree Ollison looked better than last week. Russell Gage ended the game as the Atlanta falcons second-leading receiver, just behind Calvin Ridley. He ended the day with eight catches for 76 yards. Gage is proving he has the capability to fill-in in a more prominent role.
This game almost made me want Blank to pull the trigger on Kellen Moore a year earlier than I originally hoped.
Next. Ugly Atlanta Falcons reappear against the Bucs. dark
This is not the kind of game you want to have four days before a primetime, Thanksgiving matchup against your biggest rival.