Atlanta Falcons: Three players who must improve in week two

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 11: Wide receiver Jarvis Landry #5 of the New Orleans Saints catches a pass in front of cornerback Casey Hayward #29 of the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

The Atlanta Falcons will need CB Casey Hayward to step up in week two

One of the most surprising things for the Atlanta Falcons in week one is how their secondary collapsed late in the game. They looked so good for three-plus quarters only to give up big play after big play in the fourth quarter.

A.J. Terrell has received most of the criticism, but Casey Hayward deserves more than Terrell. Hayward was quite bad against the Saints.

Sure, Terrell gave up the two touchdowns but it wasn’t like he had terrible coverage, it was just a better throw and catch on both of the touchdowns, but when it comes to Casey Hayward, he got torched.

None bigger than the first play of the Saints’ game-winning drive where he gave up a 40-yard pass to Jarvis Landry, if he doesn’t given that completion up, then the Falcons probably would have won the game.

It was a bad mental mistake as he was more worried about a potential completion in front of him rather than Jarvis Landry who ran right behind him, that cannot happen. The whole point of that defense was to keep everything in front and Hayward knows that which is why we can expect him to step it up going forward.

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