Quote from Natasha827 on October 24, 2025, 3:46 am

Image by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images With enhanced expectations come thinner margins for mistake. With difficult early season stretches come fans and players anxious for a rapid begin. With a loss to start the period in those scenarios, you obtain fire and thunder, as you Atlanta Falcons did not look ready for this game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. You can pin that on preseason, a gameplan heavy on pistol snaps for a quarterback most comfy under facility, poor insurance coverage on a few essential plays, bad obstructing throughout the day, or just very early period slowness from a franchise with a new team and a new quarterback coming off a major Achilles injury. Wherever you blame, the result is similar: The Falcons shedding 18-10 in your home to the Steelers on a day where Pittsburgh didn't even flirt with entering the end zone. A lot of this can be pinned on the crime, which was anemic beyond a wonderful touchdown drive and an opening basket drive. Kirk Cousins looked a little bit warm and slow-moving, making several risky throws and suffering 2 interceptions due to them. The offending line merely could not maintain Pittsburgh away, which resulted in a number of running plays being exploded and numerous passing away plays finishing in sacks and also strip sacks, though the latter were thankfully removed by charges. The receiving corps, with all its valuable additions, took a rear seat to an endless series of quick passes to Bijan Robinson. Atlanta's gameplan to try to give Cousins more time to work unsuccessful miserably, which is largely at the feet of brand-new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. There simply wasn't much to like on that particular side of the ball, which must be setting off genuine alarm system bells even in the very early going. The defense had its substantial lapses-- George Pickens eliminated every person covering him, however specifically A.J. Terrell-- however they additionally held Justin Fields under four lawns per bring and well under 200 lawns for the air and forced a countless procession of area objectives. Also against a crime expected to be quite grim, that was great sufficient to win the day had the offense been also a tick far better than it was. Against much better offenses, those lapses and a peaceful pass rush might well become significant obligations, however that side of the sphere deserves more credit scores than blame in this one. The end outcome is still an unbelievably frustrating loss, and not simply due to the fact that Arthur Smith will certainly go home delighted tonight after beating his previous team. We understood the protection would certainly be a little an operate in progression with all the pieces being included, and they will certainly have their harsh stretches this season. The hope was that despite some rust to rip off for Kirk Cousins post-injury and a brand-new mentoring team, the crime would be able to do enough to sustain those harsh patches. Instead, the crime was the obligation and the protection held up, a pattern line that would certainly ruin them against their upcoming opponents given their offending aptitude. There's just very little to be encouraged concerning until we see them rebound, which we'll wish will certainly happen in a nationally televised game against the Eagles next Monday evening. If you're searching for a positive note, it's that the talent on the offending side of the ball is as well solid for this group to look like this throughout the period. The concern really is how long it will certainly consider the Falcons to locate their ground in the 2024 season, since a deep opening in the NFC South will certainly be tough to overcome also with that department appearing like a tire fire in the making. A one week aberration is a problem and a disappointment, yet it fades in contrast to what happens if this awkwardness extends over weeks or even months, as that will certainly virtually surely set you back Atlanta a shot at the opinion they yearn for so severely. We're always in threat of overreacting to Week 1, basically, however the Falcons have now assembled numerous inept periods straight that it's difficult not to be concerned after the initial video game went so extremely improperly for them. Like the Falcons themselves, all we can really do is tremble this off and try to find a far better Week 2, since home on this is mosting likely to lead us down some dark, well-traveled roadways we would certainly like to remain off of. On the full recap, which must take place. The GoodBijan Robinson's standing as the offensive focal point was sealed on the very first drive, where he touched the sphere more frequently than any person else and had numerous good plays. He had five carries for 16 lawns-- and shed yardage on one of those lugs, on a play where he had no shot-- and captured a screen pass for seven yards that would certainly have been a rating otherwise for a fantastic individual effort by a Steelers protector. He finished the day with over 100 lawns from skirmish, carrying on 18 times for 68 yards and reeling in five functions for 43 yards, leading the team in both rushing attempts and functions. In a week where the opposing protection is a little weak, those yardage totals need to be enhanced, yet regardless it's clear Robinson is important to this group's plans. One of the most enjoyable single play in this one may have been Kirk Cousins rolling out and locating a wide open Kyle Pitts ultimately zone, which is a testament to Kirk checking out the play well, Pitts for getting open, and new play customer Zac Robinson having a strategy that absurdly obtained the tallest finding choice on the area open in the long run area. That was a short, thrilling peek of what this offense can be if points get rolling, albeit simply a short-lived one. The organizational belief in Ray-Ray McCloud as a qualified receiver made sense after the 2nd quarter. Initially, McCloud captured a brief pass and turned it into a nine yard gain, after that he made an excellent jumping grab in website traffic on a floating Kirk Cousins pass, triggered by the quarterback soaking up a success. He was a popular target once more over the center on a big The after the catch capacity is plainly there, as it always has actually been https://www.kansascitychiefsgear.com/collections/jaylen-watson-jersey, yet the course running work and hands thrilled me in those limited glimpses. Grady Jarrett is still Grady Jarrett. On 3rd down on the Steelers' very first drive of the 3rd quarter, Jarrett obtained loose and went after down Justin Fields relentlessly as he backpedaled to attempt to obtain away, ending in a big, drive-ending sack for the Falcons legend. He after that split a sack with Matthew Judon late in the video game, ending the day with 1.5 sacks and the all-time franchise mark for quarterback hits. If this group is going to be defensively skilled this year, it will certainly be in huge part due to the fact that Jarrett allows it, as he revealed Sunday. It wasn't a standout day for the pass rush, however Judon getting a fifty percent sack and revealing well as a pass rush was motivating provided what the Falcons require him to be. With any luck he's simply developing the blades for bigger and much better in the weeks to find. Nate Landman and firm made one of the plays of the game on a fourth and exceptionally short, when Landman jumped over the heap to squash Justin Fields and guarantee the play was not converted. The Falcons have actually chatted a big game regarding getting Landman breaks, and it is essential that they do so on noticeable run downs and short yardage circumstances, where his reactions and physicality absolutely radiate. While the absolutely standout minutes were few and far in between, the Jessie Bates/Justin Simmons tandem were aggressive and combined for a wonderful pass separation and some vital tackles. Again, in a game where the infraction can keeping this group in the video game, those kinds of plays will certainly matter a lot. Avery Williams looked ready for primetime on his punting returns, which was deeply encouraging given just how essential field setting figures to be for this infraction. Now the Falcons violation just needs to be able to take advantage of that. The UglyWhether he's sweating the hits, not totally healthy and balanced, or just a bit rustic, this was a day of difficulties for Kirk Cousins, and the Falcons attempting to avoid him from having to move rather as much by kicking him better away from the line of skirmish did not help Relatives to be much more efficient. He tossed a bit late right into protection seeking Bijan Robinson and was almost selected off on the game's very first drive, and after that he threw late once again into dual insurance coverage on the following drive and was picked off, putting the Falcons in a poor area. He would certainly toss an additional gruelling interception later in this one , properly securing off any kind of paths to a win for Atlanta, and took as many hits as he finished passes in the second fifty percent, per Daniel Flick. That's grim. I'm not at all fretted concerning Cousins over the long run-- he has the track record to recommend he'll resolve in-- but that very early rust was even worse than expected and elevates actual issues that the first few weeks of the period might be ugly while he discovers his ground. The fact that the Falcons don't appear to have a great prepare for reducing those struggles and that Relatives looks so unstable absolutely is not putting my mind comfortable. It was tough to like the offensive gameplan. Tyler Allgeier looked good slicing through the center of the offensive line, however he barely touched the sphere, with Robinson getting those inside the take on reaches mostly mediocre outcomes despite just how efficient he was on his various other touches. Having Cousins in the pistol throughout the video game when the program repetitively noted it is not his stamina is either a little negligence-- it did not keep the stress off him extremely effectively-- or a representation of the reality that he's not close sufficient to 100% to do otherwise, and either one is worrying. The reality that the Falcons could not find a means to obtain Pitts and London the ball more frequently, instead relying on Ray-Ray McCloud and Robinson, was an all-too-familiar reflection of last year, when we grumbled regularly concerning the limitless running back targets and Jonnu Smith showing up in advance of Pitts and London in the chain of command. Recognizing the Falcons need to iron things out is something, however being advised of the frequently putrid 2023 infraction with what should be a clear upgrade at quarterback is an extremely stressing one more. Naturally, a few of that gameplan was based on the state of the offending line and the truth of the match, with the Pittsburgh pass thrill in general and T.J. Watt particularly proving to be much way too much for this group to manage. Kaleb McGary was smoked repetitively, the line lost matches often enough that Relatives seldom obtained a clean appearance, and a line that was expected to be a group strength just looked line one in brief stretches. The matchup was a specifically difficult one, but if that proceeds against the Eagles and Chiefs, we've obtained ourselves an actual concern. The Falcons truly battled with George Pickens, who got a little separation seemingly at will certainly and would certainly have had a substantial grab down the sideline working against A.J. Terrell if he had not been required a borderline offensive pass disturbance on the play. Provided that Pickens is the receiver to cover up until somebody else steps up, it's past irritating that he had the ability to work his method cost-free so often. That's particularly real when a lot of came versus Terrell, who requires to be the group's top cornerback and play at a high degree for this defense to truly grow. The mistakes felt also acquainted, from the mistimed interceptions to the breeze that bounced off Ross Dwelley, that was in movement far too late on the play and might only watch as T.J. Watt scooped up the loose sphere. They likewise had a defensive holding phone call and a gamer voluntarily out of bounds on a punt return, the sort of tiny but careless errors that start amounting to larger troubles. The Kyle Pitts illegal formation penalty after Kirk Cousins tried to obtain him lined up correctly and he still really did not get up to the line of skirmish in the 4th quarter on a definitely critical drive was the infuriating crowning achievement. Raheem Morris has promised that he will not play starters in preseason, which's a method that has actually worked for various other coaches. In order for that not to be something that is inspected and criticized, the Falcons need to leave to a rapid begin to the period. After the sloppiness and slowness in this one, a lot of fans will certainly be taking purpose at the total absence of breaks for a new team in the summertime, and it's hard at fault them. Shedding to your previous head trainer hurts, even if his infraction needed to choose 6 basket, and shedding yet again to a Pittsburgh team that has actually constantly had this franchise business's number injures too. At some time I would certainly like to stand and happily proclaim the Falcons have turned an edge and are not the usual team that drops brief in acquainted scenarios and in matchups that are ripe for disappointments, however that day is not today. The WrapupGame MVP You could give it to Bijan Robinson for his strong day, however I'm commending Grady Jarrett for quietly and not-so-quietly leading this protection to a quite strong day. It's an additional plume in his cap, and a particularly purposeful one considered that he was coming back from a major injury. One TakeawayIf this is what the crime needs to provide on an once a week basis, the Falcons are deeply screwed. Following WeekA primetime matchup versus the Philadelphia Eagles, who looked problematic but powerful in their Week 1 game against the Packers. Have A Look At Blood Loss Green Country for more on the week's challenger. Final WordUgly. In This Stream Falcons - Steelers Week 1 insurance coverage The Kirk Cousins/Michael Penix problem: A Falcoholic conversation Falcons vs. Steelers wrap-up: A slow-moving activity start ends in loss Falcons' Week 1 tactical plan increases fresh inquiries about Kirk Cousins' healthView all 49 stories