The Falcoholic
The Atlanta Falcons went to Germany with everything to play for and their season basically hanging in the balance, and they found a way to fritter it away instead. A team that has made embarrassment an art form found a new way to get it done in Berlin, and at 3-6, they’re screwed.
The Falcons were bad early but rallied, actually took a four point lead at one point, and then frittered that way thanks to offensive ineptitude. After letting the Colts take the lead, they managed to get it back again, then allowed the Colts to go downfield and get the field goal to send the game to overtime. At that point things went really awry, and ultimately Atlanta fell apart on offense again, gave the ball back to the Colts, and Jonathan Taylor plowed in for a touchdown to win. Ballgame, another close one lost late thanks to mistakes.
This is who the Falcons are. They have real talent, but the pieces fit together like mashed potatoes, and everything from Michael Penix’s inaccuracy to Zac Robinson’s play calling to the woeful special teams play combined to make this one a loss. There’s the temptation to believe that things clicking into place can be right around the corner, but after nine games and six losses we know that’s not going to happen. All we can hope for is progress, especially from Penix and the young defense, and an offseason that brings sweeping changes anywhere where the Falcons are stagnant and falling down. It’s so, so discouraging to be here again, but we can’t do a thing about it.
Here’s a drive-by-drive recap of the game you just watched.
The Colts got the ball first and were stopped shy of the 25. Jonathan Taylor was tripped up by Jalon Walker after a couple of yards. Then Daniel Jones hit Alec Pierce for a first down. Under pressure, Jones hit Taylor for a first down and 15 yards, but Taylor was hit so hard he fumbled, only to see the Colts recover it. Tyler Warren then got a first down on a play action pass. Taylor then ran for four yards, and then pushed his way forward a couple of yards short of a first down, with JD Bertrand getting the stop. On third down, a high ball to Mo Alie-Cox wasn’t reeled in after Jessie Bates delivered a jarring hit, and then on fourth down, excellent coverage by Dee Alford and a low ball combined to lead to a fourth down incompletion. Turnover on downs.
Bijan Robinson got to the edge and rumbled for close to 15 yards and a first down. Then Michael Penix Jr. looked for Kyle Pitts downfield and got him, only for Pitts to drop it. Bijan then took it two yards. On third down, a free rusher hit Penix hard and the ball popped loose, with the Colts recovering.
On the next play, Ashton Dulin got the end-around for 22 yards. Then...
