3 Things we learned about the Atlanta Falcons in week four

1. The Falcons can win without their starting quarterback contributing

There is an argument to be made in this game that Marcus Mariota was more of a hindrance than a help after Atlanta’s first two drives of the game on Sunday. It was one of the worst quarterbacking games the Falcons have watched in the last decade easily. If Matt Ryan put together a game like this last season the Falcons get blown off the field.

His worst games last season were against the  Cowboys and the Patriots who both blew the Falcons off the field.  This speaks to the improved Atlanta running game and the roster improvement as a whole.

Winning a game last season with their starting quarterback completing only seven passes would have been impossible. However, Atlanta did just that on Sunday working around Mariota calling a great rushing attack, and leaning on their defense to keep the game close until Huntley, Olamide, and Allgeier all made plays late to set up the defense to make the game-winning plays. Arthur Smith is far from perfect but he has this team headed in the right direction.