The Atlanta Falcons lost in Week 9 because of two things: penalties and the Bengals' unstoppable receiving duo. It always felt like they had no chance.
While we knew Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins would produce, this was worse than we could've imagined. The cornerbacks looked lost, leaving the defense with no hope.
Here are a few winners and many losers from another loss for the Dirty Birds.
Winners and losers from another weak defensive performance by the Falcons
Loser: The entire defense
This Falcons defense has lost any identity it had early in the season; they can't stop the run, and they can't stop the pass. Last week, the Buccaneers ran it down their throats and didn't pass it. This week, the Bengals threw it everywhere and didn't run the ball until the game was iced.
- Week 8: -2 pass yards, 324 rush yards
- Week 9: 265 pass yards, 124 rush yards
Not to mention, the Falcons ran more plays on offense than the Bengals. This didn't come down to attrition; they were just beaten, and the unforced errors didn't help.
Winner: Bijan Robinson, RB
There was a lot of talk about Bijan Robinson's lack of production over the past two weeks, but that had more to do with a lack of running room because of some awful run blocking.
We just saw what happens when he gets open holes. He carried the offense early and late, finishing with 147 yards and a touchdown on 25 touches. As an added bonus, he got added work as a receiver, as Tommy Rees finally capitalized on his status as an elite dual-threat RB for the first time in weeks.
Loser: A.J. Terrell and C.J. Henderson, CB
The Falcons have counted on their cornerbacks all season, and they, more often than not, have performed. That was anything but true in Spain.
No matter what Terrell or Henderson did, it was wrong. They were behind on every play, struggled to get to the catch point, and were called for multiple penalties.
The good news: they won't have to play Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for another few years.
Winner: LaCale London, DL
LaCale London continues his dominance in Jeff Ulbrich's defense. He has gotten better each year, culminating into what has been his best season of his career.
He has been an excellent run-stuffer, and was a good pass rusher this week. He finished with five tackles and a sack. It's about time we think about extending him long-term
Loser: Jawaan Taylor, RT
This is exactly what we were afraid of when Jawaan Taylor was signed. The frequency to which he commits penalties has been off the charts since entering the league. Entering this week, it hadn't been too big of an issue, but that changed.
A false-start call—something he could be called for on most plays—and a holding penalty killed the offense. This team is not constructed to be able to overcome penalties.
Winner: Jessie Bates III, S
Jessie Bates took the word 'safety' to another level. While he has been playing a lot more in the box, he is often the last line of defense. He made those last-player-standing tackles all morning.
Sure, the Bengals produced big play after big play, but it is terrifying to think what would've happened if he couldn't tackle. He finished with 14 tackles and took another big step towards that payday he's more than earned.
Loser: Kevin Stefanski/penalties
Avoiding penalties had been the only constant for the Falcons this year. Entering the week, they were fourth in the league in penalties. It's something Kevin Stefanski took great pride in, but now this team is getting sloppy.
That went down the drain across the seas. They committed 12 penalties for 88 costly yards. Kyle Pitts had a couple of big plays negated; red-zone penalties kept them out of the end zone; and the secondary gave the Bengals first downs.
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