The short week may prove to be the best medicine for the Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons were badly beaten on Sunday night, and have another game to play in only a few days’ time. But perhaps the short turn-around is just what the team needs to get back on track?

It’s alarming just how quickly the wheels fell off the Atlanta Falcons bus on Sunday afternoon. A forced punt by the defense, and a failed fourth-down attempt by the offense, and that was basically the game. The Falcons’ failure to convert will draw criticism, but, when you look at the weapons available to the opposition on offense, you can understand why Smith might prefer to play for touchdowns than field goals. The reality of the situation is that the failed 4th down attempt was the last point the Falcons were actually in the game. It was bad.

You know a game didn’t go to plan when both your head coach and your starting quarterback have to reiterate that it only counts as on loss. That level of blue-sky thinking won’t offer much comfort to the fans that just watched the biggest Falcons defeat since 2004. But, thankfully, it’s also the truth. The Falcons came away from Dallas with one loss. A heavy loss, yes, but a loss that counts the same if it’d been by a score.

The unfortunate situation the Falcons are in is that they don’t get a breather to follow up. From one playoff contender to the next, Atlanta will host the New England Patriots on a short week. The same New England Patriots that hung 45 points on a very good Cleveland Browns defense. The hits just keep on coming.

Back to the grind

Perhaps, however, that’s just what this team needs. When you lose by 40 points, there’s rarely a lot of positives to take away from that experience. From a mentality point of view, that can play on your mind. Reliving a huge defeat won’t do anything for a player’s confidence. I would almost certainly dictate how the team as a whole approaches the following game. With the next game taking place 4 days after this one, there is no time to reflect. It’s immediately ono the next one.

The Falcons’ defeat to the Cowboys was abhorrent. No question about it. But being thrown straight back into work, and being forced to forget everything that just happened, and focus on the next game straight away? That might be the biggest positive the Falcons could have. Burn the tape and tear up your notes; we’re going back to work tomorrow.

Having zero time to process what’s just occurred means you’re less likely to overcorrect on issues that cropped up on Sunday. Getting yourself into your work is, in a number of cases, the best tonic for disaster. The benefit these Falcons have is that, rather than trying to fix the issues of Arlington, the players, and the coaches, will continue to try and fix themselves.

A great opportunity

Will that equate to victory on Thursday night? Realistically, probably not. The Patriots are as well-coached as any side in the league, and they, too, will be prepared for the short week. But even recent history suggests these short weeks can throw up odd results. See the Dolphins taking care of the Ravens only last week. The Falcons have the rare opportunity to immediately move past a crushing defeat, something they’ve not really been allowed whenever they are given one. We shall see if that opportunity is taken.