3 Atlanta Falcons who let the team down in Sunday’s road win

3. Atlanta’s run defense

It isn’t any secret that the Seattle Seahawks want to run the football and keep the ball out of Geno Smith’s hands as much as possible. This is part of the reason the Seahawks parted ways with Russell Wilson with opposing philosophies on how much the Seahawks should be running the football.

Atlanta knew this going in and still allowed the Seahawks to gash their run defense early in the game getting pushed around and having zero answers for a very straightforward Seahawks rushing attack.

Penny could simply take the ball up the middle for 5-yard gain or more seemingly anytime he touched the football. Against better teams, the Falcons have slowed the run with more consistency. This was a step back for the Atlanta rushing defense early in this game and if Seattle had leaned more on the run late instead of Geno there is an argument to be made that Atlanta is unable to hold on and win this game.