Turf Show Times
The Los Angeles Rams can win all of their games and still get a high draft pick in 2026. How do the Atlanta Falcons look after one week? Cody Alexander of MatchQuarters, an Xs and Os substack and podcast, called the loss “devastating” to the Buccaneers in Week 1.
“It’s going to come down to Atlanta’s pressures, they only got one sack. Billy Bowman and Divine Deablo got half-a-sack each. You only have two tackles for loss. Does that sound like the Falcons? No pressure up the front. The whole deal with this year was that they were really betting on these rookie guys to show up (James Pearce and Jalon Walker), as we know rookie defensive ends are kind of like receivers: They’re either really good right away and it’s undeniable talent or you gotta put a little seasoning on ‘em a little bit, let ‘em marinate, it takes a couple of years to get used to it. So that’s something to think about.
Also, Bijan Robinson led you in receiving yards with 100. To me, that’s concerning. It’s also a devastating home loss. I hate to use the word ‘devastating’ in a Week 1 matchup, but it is.
When they are getting pressure, it’s working, but they’ve got to get more. Only about half of Baker Mayfield’s throws had a pressure on him.“
For Rams fans keeping a clear eye on what the Falcons are doing this season, they traded their 2026 first round pick to move up for Pearce and he only played in 39% of the snaps in Week 1, getting one QB hit. Walker, their first pick, played in 44% of the snaps and had three tackles with no pressures.
Atlanta next goes to Minnesota to take on a Vikings team that is coming off of an emotional win over the Chicago Bears on Monday night, setting the Falcons up for failure unless the Michael Penix offense plays a lot better.
Drake London, who is expected to play through a shoulder injury, had eight catches for 55 yards on 15 targets in Week 1. That’s an awful 3.7 yards per target for Atlanta’s number one receiver. Kyle Pitts had 7 catches for 59 yards on eight targets. And Robinson did have 100 receiving yards, including 50 on one touchdown play, but only 24 yards on 12 rushing attempts. The Falcons had the fifth-worst yards per carry average of Week 1, as backup Tyler Allgeier had 24 yards on 10 carries.
In his first season opening as an NFL starter, Penix only went 27-of-42, but was only sacked once and didn’t throw any interceptions. He also rushed for a touchdown.
In addition, the Falcons signed kicker Parker Romo as competition for Younghoe Koo, who missed a potential game-tying 44-yard field goal in Week 1.
So for those of you on “Falcons pick watch” this season, Atlanta has a difficult game on deck and is staring at an 0-2 start unless they...
