3 Observations for the Atlanta Falcons and Marcus Mariota in week 6

3. Atlanta is a playoff team with this version of Mariota

One could argue this is an overreaction when Marcus Mariota has stacked five below-average games alongside one great performance. However, this isn’t to argue that Mariota is going to continue to play at the level he did on Sunday rather to point out that if he does this Atlanta team is going to be a hard out for everyone on their schedule.

Atlanta is so well coached and their gameday strategy and adjustments have them set up to compete and beat superior rosters. When Mariota uses his legs to make plays and plays point guard protecting the ball as he did on Sunday the Falcons will be a wildcard contender and from the look of Tampa Bay and New Orleans perhaps find a way back into the division conversation.

Tom Brady’s Bucs are lost on offense and struggling to live up to the defensive expectations many had for their team. Atlanta is looks like a better-coached team even if they don’t have close to the same level of talent.  Being the better-coached team isn’t enough, however, to sneak into the playoff race Mariota must be the player he was on Sunday and the Falcons will find themselves back in playoff contention.