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3 Atlanta Falcons who must step against the New England Patriots

By Nick Halden

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 14: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 14, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 14: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 14, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 07: Russell Gage #14 of the Atlanta Falcons catches the ball against the New Orleans Saints during a game at the Caesars Superdome on November 07, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 07: Russell Gage #14 of the Atlanta Falcons catches the ball against the New Orleans Saints during a game at the Caesars Superdome on November 07, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

2. Kyle Pitts is not going to be there for Matt Ryan can Russell Gage step up as he did against the New Orleans Saints?

It sounds as if Cordarrelle Patterson is likely out for Thursday’s home tilt against the Patriots. With this in mind, New England is going to do their best to take away Kyle Pitts. He is the only established weapon on the Atlanta offense and will likely have a lot of eyes his way on Thursday. I would be surprised to see a single snap that Pitts isn’t double-covered or the corner doesn’t have over-the-top help.

New England knows what every Falcons fan knows at this point, outside of Pitts and Patterson Atlanta doesn’t have one consistent contributor offensively.

Who can step up and take advantage of the single coverage they will be getting? At times that person has been Tajae Sharpe but he has faded into the background in recent weeks. Against New Orleans that person was Russell Gage, he had his best game of the season and was Ryan’s security blanket.

Atlanta badly needs that version of Gage in this game. If Gage or another surprise contributor doesn’t step up, Atlanta isn’t going to win this game. Gage needs to prove he can be a weapon without having Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley to lean on. With Patterson likely out this is the game Matt Ryan and the offense will need him the most.

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