The Falcons found another way to lose this past Sunday. Whether it's forgetting the onside kick rules, throwing a pick-2 to go along with a pick-6, "28-3" or blowing their 99% percent chances of winning in two straight weeks, this team finds novel ways to lose games. You can now add "Star RB accidently scores TD allowing opponent to drive downfield for game winning TD in 64 seconds with no timeouts".
The Falcons were down 16-14 with 1:12 left in the game on the Lions' 10 yard line. They called a simple run down the middle that Gurley busted through fairly easy. Safety Will Harris was the last man standing in his way initially wrapping him up for the tackle. But him letting go at around the 4 yard line caused Gurley's momentum to carry the ball across the goal line despite his best effort to stop at the 1 yard line. If this was a competent team, the touchdown and 2pt conversion would be enough to win the game because Matthew Stafford only has 1:04 to score a touchdown with no timeouts left. This being the Falcons, the defense was nonexistent and Stafford recorded his 36th game winning drive in his 12 year career.
People love to scapegoat innocent people and Gurley is no exception. Sure, he took responsibility for not stopping in time in order to bleed more clock but I feel it's not his fault why they lost 23-22 to the Lions. He did what he was supposed to do, which is score a touchdown to give them the late lead. Sure, stopping at the 1 would've allowed them to drain the clock so they can kick a last second field goal and keep the ball out Stafford's hands but you shouldn't pass up a scoring opportunity just to bail out your defense. Especially since that kick could get blocked or a bad snap would keep them from kicking it in the first place. Even if they decided to run the ball again, the Lions could stuff them and they would've passed up those eight points for nothing.
The ones who should get 100% of the blame is that shitty ass defense. The offense is doing their job with Matt Ryan passing for 338 yards and 1 TD in the game. Gurley chipped in 63 yards and 2 TDs as well in that Sunday loss. Overall, this 3rd ranked offense has been pulling their weight this season while the 32nd ranked defense is literally dead weight pulling down this team to a 1-6 record. And that's not a this season problem, good offense/shit defense has been a problem for the Falcons for DECADES! Just go back to the Bomani Jones rant on the Falcons' constant fuckups and blowing massive leads due to their piss poor defense. Hell, just look at the insights into this loss if you don't believe me.
- Matt Ryan threw for 300+ passing yards in a loss for the 33rd time in his career (3rd most in the Super Bowl era).
- Todd Gurley ran in 2+ TDs in a game for the 16th time since 2016 (most in NFL in that timespan).
- The Falcons have allowed 300+ passing yards in 6 games this season (most in NFL).
- Todd Gurley's 4th quarter TD was his 77th scrimmage TD since being drafted in 2015 (most in the NFL in that span).
- Calvin Ridley surpassed Andre Rison (22) for most receiving TDs in a player's first 3 seasons with Atlanta.
Yet all they have to show for it is a meme for their Super Bowl LI chokejob. You may consider these stats arbitrary but the point still stands that the offense is doing everything they can to win games while the defense does everything they can to shit the bed.
THE GAMES
Atlanta Falcons 19
Carolina Panthers 24
It bears repeating, the Falcons wouldn't be 1-6 if it wasn't for this shitacular defense playing like they rely on pre-programmed animations to function and spazzes out when they can't branch into a tackle or interception animation.
Pittsburgh Steelers 37
Baltimore Ravens 17
Hey! Former Cowboy Dez Bryant was signed to the Ravens' practice squad! It felt like forever that he was out of football since leaving Dallas after the 2017 season. He tore his Achilles shortly after signing with the Saints in the middle of the 2018 season so he didn't even play a game. Now he's back but in the AFC this time. After this butt whupping, the Ravens are gonna call him up to the main squad real quick (after passing all his tests that is).
Los Angeles Rams 13
Miami Dolphins 20
People questioned the move to start Tua Tagovailoa against the Rams of all teams when Ryan Fitzpatrick was doing a fine job himself. Sure, the Dolphins have history on their side with a 11-2 record vs the Rams franchise but this Rams team has Aaron Donald! Maybe he can join Kyler Murray as the only other rookie QB Donald haven't hit in a game.
New York Jets 3
Kansas City Chiefs 23
I really hope the Chiefs stomp out the Jets here. It won't get Gase fired but at least Le'Veon Bell can enjoy what's it like being on a winning team post-Steelers.
Minnesota Vikings 34
Green Bay Packers 37
Is the 1-5 Vikings coach Mike Zimmer on the hot seat? Packers QB Aaron Rodgers doesn't think so. He took up for Zimmer calling him a "phenomenal coach" who's "one of the best coaches in the league". Zimmer may have Rodgers' support but in this "What Have You Done For Me Lately" league, fans will soon be calling for his head if the team doesn't turn it around.
Indianapolis Colts 31
Detroit Lions 20
The Colts are the opposite of the Falcons where they keep winning thanks to their 2nd ranked defense bailing out their 22nd ranked offense. We seen teams win Super Bowls with great defense and average at best offense but Phillip Rivers & Co. have to pull their weight if they want a realistic shot at surviving the playoffs for that long.
Las Vegas Raiders 46
Cleveland Browns 13
Is Baker Mayfield better without Odell Beckham Jr who is out for the season after tearing his ACL? Probably not. That didn't stop people from stating it as fact after Baker went on to throw for 5 TDs after the injury. We will see how much they miss him when the Raiders come to town.
Tennessee Titans 23
Cincinnati Bengals 13
That's how it goes sometimes. After weeks of not believing in the Titans, the simulation finally picked them to win only to lose to the Steelers 27-24. I know the feeling of doubting someone for weeks while they're winning only for them to disappoint me after I jump on the bandwagon. Lets see if the Titans will break the simulation's heart again after being chosen to win this week.
New England Patriots 13
Buffalo Bills 10
It's been awhile since the Patriots looked this bad in games. Not even during the 2008 season where Brady was gone for the year with a ACL and MCL injury have the Patriots looked this disjointed. Granted, pretty much all of their defensive starters are sitting out the year due to Coronavirus but JEEZ, you would think if Matt Cassel can get this team to 11-5 then Cam Newton should do so as well. Instead, he gets benched after throwing three interceptions and we're starting to see why it took so long for him to be signed. It's not all bad news though. He became the first NFL QB with 30,000+ career passing yards and 5,000+ rushing yards.
Los Angeles Chargers 27
Denver Broncos 21
Uh Oh, A Chargers player tested positive for the Coronavirus. And this is after multiple players and personal having to evacuate their homes due to the fires that are still burning in California! Good thing they're only playing the Broncos this week. If it doesn't get moved that is...
San Francisco 49ers 17
Seattle Seahawks 47
Fresh off of blowing out his former team, I see Jimmy Garoppolo getting blown out by his divisional rival.
New Orleans Saints 16
Chicago Bears 17
Here's some good news for all the Michael Thomas fans out there, his suspension for punching teammate Chauncey Gardner-Johnson at practice is over! It also seems that he may be past those nagging hamstring and ankle issues as he was seen in practice earlier today. It may not be enough though as the Bears look to rebound from their 10-24 loss to the Rams.
Dallas Cowboys 17
Philadelphia Eagles 13
Under normal circumstances, a matchup between a 2-5 team and 2-4-1 team would be nowhere near SNF, but the Dallas Cowboys is no ordinary team. Even if they was winless they would get national and primetime games because they're "America's Team" after all. And the NFC East is showing us they're no ordinary division having a bad year. It became the first division where no team has 3 wins through 7 weeks of football. Not even the 2010 NFC West could say that where the 7-9 Seahawks won the division. As the NFC "Least" cannibalize itself, we will all watch in awe as one of these teams host a playoff game with a (likely) losing record.
Tompa Bay Buccaneers 7
New York Giants 29
The simulation must really think Antonio Brown's signing will poison the locker room real quick to pick the Bucs to lose to the Giants. Maybe Saquon Barkley was teaching Daniel Jones how to run the football without tripping from the turf monster at that dinner they had last Friday.
LAST WEEK 10-4
OVERALL 58-46-1
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