
Losses in six of their previous seven video games have left the Atlanta Falcons needing an enormous rally to keep away from their eighth consecutive shedding season
ATLANTA — Losses in six of their previous seven video games have left the Atlanta Falcons needing an enormous rally to keep away from their eighth consecutive shedding season.
“We nonetheless have 5 left,” stated linebacker Kaden Ellis after Sunday's last-second 27-24 loss on the New York Jets. “We've obtained to go play for satisfaction and rattle off 5 in a row. Crazier issues have occurred.”
The Falcons (4-8) proceed to make it tough to think about an unlikely turnaround. Regardless of their poor file, they've solely been outscored 276-243 however proceed to search out methods to lose shut video games. The shut losses are putting extra warmth on second-year coach Raheem Morris.
Atlanta suffered back-to-back time beyond regulation losses on the finish of a five-game shedding streak earlier than shedding quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to a season-ending knee injury. Kirk Cousins handed for 2 touchdowns in a 24-10 win over New Orleans on Nov. 23. Any hope generated by the win over the Saints pale rapidly with Atlanta's incapacity to beat the last-place Jets.
The Falcons have been harm by two devastating particular groups breakdowns and late drops by a large receivers group that appears skinny with Drake London out with a knee harm.
The Falcons wasted one other sturdy efficiency by operating again Bijan Robinson, one other strong if unspectacular begin by Cousins and certainly one of tight finish Kyle Pitts' most efficient video games of the season.
Morris stated “we don't make emotional selections” when he was requested after the sport if he deliberate to fireside particular groups coach Marquice Williams. A fumbled punt by Jamal Agnew and poor protection on an 83-yard kickoff return by New York's Isaiah Williams led to 10 factors for the Jets that determined the sport.
These have been breakdowns the Falcons — and Morris — can't afford.
Robinson is having an All-Professional caliber season however once more had too little assist. He had 23 carries for 142 yards and a landing and caught 5 passes for 51 yards. He’s the fifth participant in NFL historical past with at the very least 50 receptions and 1,400 yards from scrimmage in every of his first three seasons. The others are Matt Forte, Justin Jefferson, Herschel Walker and LaDainian Tomlinson.
Robinson has 995 speeding yards and 54 catches for a career-high 594 yards by means of 12 video games.
The particular groups breakdowns have been tough to elucidate or defend. Morris confirmed Agnew shouldn’t have tried to discipline a punt contained in the 5 that he fumbled and the Jets recovered on the 2 to arrange a straightforward landing.
“You’ve obtained to let that go,” Morris stated. “You’ve obtained to let it go. You’ve obtained to let it contact the bottom."
The poor protection on the Jets' 83-yard kickoff return arrange a tying discipline purpose.
Morris second-guessed himself for giving the Jets the chance to return the ball as an alternative of getting the kickoff go into the tip zone.
“We selected to kick it out a bunch at the moment, and that was yet one more time I ought to have selected to kick it out once more,” Morris stated.
With Robinson and Tyler Allgeier every speeding for touchdowns, Cousins might need earned his second straight win if not for the particular groups breakdowns and drops. He accomplished 21 of 33 passes for 234 yards with one landing and no interceptions. He was sacked twice however might need a greater probability of discovering an open receiver extra rapidly if London returns because the go-to choice.
Cousins' 291st profession TD cross tied Warren Moon for sixteenth all time.
When the Falcons had a last possession to probably transfer into place for a go-ahead discipline purpose, Pitts, David Sills V and Darnell Mooney had drops on three consecutive performs. Pitts had tight protection however Sills and Mooney had no excuses for not making their catches on completely positioned passes by Cousins. Sills had a scoring catch however the Falcons are lacking London as their go-to receiver.
London missed his second straight recreation. Tight finish Feleipe Franks (calf) left within the first half.
2: Robinson and Tomlinson are the one gamers with at the very least 3,000 yards speeding, 1,500 yards receiving and 30 scrimmage touchdowns of their first three seasons.
The Seattle Seahawks, who improved to 9-3 with a 26-0 shutout of Minnesota, go to Atlanta on Sunday.
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