The Atlanta Falcons are well aware they're going to have their work cut out for them in Week 9 against a high-powered Cincinnati Bengals offense, They're facing an MVP candidate and one of the best QBs in the NFL in Joe Burrow, who leads the NFL with 20 passing touchdowns in just seven games.
Burrow is coming off of a five-touchdown performance in the Bengals' overtime win over the Tennnessee Titans in Week 8 and has delivered all season. He has a great arm, he has great touch, he can escape the pocket, and he's throwing to two of the better WRs in Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase.
Cincinnati boasts the NFL's best passing offense in terms of passing yards per game and are second in points per game, and that all starts and ends with the man under center. But he's had a better infrastructure this year than in a while, which has made making him uncomfortable a challenge.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Bengals' 76.3 pass blocking grade as a team is second in the NFL only behind the 49ers. Burrow is great against the blitz, the pass-blocking has been great, and the offense is so talented that the challenge he'll pose this Atlanta defense is clear. But speaking of this defense, they're about to get James Pearce Jr. back now that his eight-game suspension is up.
At least that's what we thought. Pearce was in line to make his season debut on Sunday morning, but suffered a back flare-up during Friday's practice that made him a late addition to the injury report and now has his Week 9 status in doubt.
The Atlanta Falcons need James Pearce Jr. to play so they can get after Joe Burrow in Week 9
The Dirty Birds should know how badly they need him on Sunday.
While speaking to reporters on Thursday, Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said Burrow is playing the best ball of his career-- but also outlined a plan on how to slow him down. It'll come down to keeping him off balance and adjusting to whatever the Bengals' offense throws at them in-game.
"I think we've got to keep him off balance as best as we can, and I've got to be very cognizant of how we're rushing," Ulbrich said. "If the rush isn't getting home with four, then I have to pivot, I have to help, because the one thing you can't do is just give Joe Burrow time. If our front four are rushing really well, then I'll avoid pressure and I'll let those guys rush, as they have many times this season... It's balance, as it always is, and probably more importantly this week than any week because if you do get in a rut, that could lead to an explosive really quickly."
Sound like anybody? A lot of those plans hinge on James Pearce Jr.'s ability as a game-wrecker, and given his abilities as a pass-rusher should open things up for this entire defensive line, they were counting on him to elevate a pass-rush that has just a 23.9% pressure rate across the last three games--which is 26th in the league.
Pearce logged 10.5 sacks last year as a rookie, during which he became the first Falcons' pass-rusher to surpass 10+ sacks since Vic Beasley. Frankly, he should've won Defensive Rookie of the Year, but I digress since his return will offer a much-needed spark to this pass-rush that's struggled recently.
Obviously given this is his first week of practice reps since August, they're going to have to get him up to speed, so this is a setback that makes it seem like they'd be better off holding him out. But Ulbrich mentioned that even if he plays, he'll be on a pitch count--but could quickly play past that.
In terms of players that will be tasked with throwing Burrow off balance, Ulbrich is likely well aware the second-year man is Atlanta's best bet. The guy is a straight-up junkyard dog out there, he's relentless when it comes to getting to the QB, and his presence should elevate this entire defensive line.
Even if the 23-year-old does play and start off on a pitch count, he's still going to play a key role on passing downs, and that's when the Falcons are going to need James Pearce Jr. to do most of his damage against Joe Burrow, so they can't afford to be without him now.
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