Coming into the season the goals of the new Kevin Stefanski-led regime was to bring about a different style of Atlanta Falcons football. One this team had struggled to attain in the past under previous staffs, through hard-hitting practices in training camp, and a callous mentality in games.
Stefanski aimed to create a physical, disciplined Falcons football team, where turnovers and penalties would not sink them on game days. When he was hired, he spoke fondly of the opportunity to bring about this new mentality and what it would mean for this team.
"We will be about that work," Stefanski said. "We will put in the work and it's going to be hard work. We'll put in the work to being a smart football team, to playing a smart brand of football. We will earn that toughness. I believe that physicality and playing this style of football is earned and we will earn that."
During multiple points over the course of the season Stefanski and company have produced great games. The Green Bay and New Orleans games are specific ones to remember. The Falcons showed off trench dominance in the run game that was supported by an elite passing attack which had Penix looking like one of the better QBs in the league. Even beating the 49ers in Week 7 after an all-around positive performance. Atlanta truly felt like they could be turning it around. But Stefanski has yet to show one important thing. Consistency.
Over the course of the season Kevin Stefanski and crew battled major scrutiny. Whether suspect play-calling against the Chicago Bears which had Bijan Robinson carrying the ball nine time to terrible execution and decision-making against the Bucs that produced 24 passing attempts in a monsoon leading to four Michael Penix Jr. interceptions. All that alongside the collapse late in the primetime matchup with the Ravens that lended 15 points unanswered to lose the game in overtime has really harmed this Falcons coaching staff. But it gets worse, as it did this past weekend.
The Falcons have been playing sloppy football, especially in the Week 9 loss
As if you didn't think the problems could get any worse, just wait. In Week 9, the Falcons played the Bengals in Madrid. Atlanta lost 34-17, as they could not get out of their own way long enough to slow down a high-powered Bengals' offense.
Most offensive drives were devastated by penalties. Yes, penalties. The Falcons logged a season- high 12 flags which snatched away 88 yards. They continuously shot themselves in the foot with holding calls, bringing back big scrambles, and first down catches.
On top of the penalties that stalled many promising drives, they struggled with bad clock management, subbing players in and out with less than 10 seconds on the play-clock and even sustaining a delay-of-game earlier in that game.
The Falcons suffered from pitiful play-calling that had them running screens on 3rd and 12, in the fourth quarter down two touchdowns. This culminated in a big ATL loss, that happened because they beat themselves.
Atlanta's biggest problem currently lies in coaching consistency. Whether it's a bad play call, odd clock management, dismal execution, or penalties. The Falcons can't seem to get out of their own way, and that is contributing heavily to these losses.
The 3-6 Falcons have lost four of their last five with the league's toughest four-game stretch on the horizon. Kevin Stefanski and Tommy Rees have to take a hard look in the mirror and take control of this team before more difficult questions get asked.
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