Heading into the fourth quarter, the Atlanta Falcons led the Chicago Bears 26-10. Then the Bears rifled off 20 unanswered points and all hell is breaking loose in Atlanta. Here are four quick reactions from the game from Thomas Mott:
1. The Falcons can’t close a football game… Again. You’d think that getting a second-half lead and holding it until the end of the game would not be that hard to do. (Reference last week) How do you follow the worst fourth-quarter collapse since the Super Bowl with ANOTHER TERRIBLE COLLAPSE? Fans will undoubtedly call for someone to get fired. Maybe they are right this time?
2. Calvin Ridley is really good. I know, fans don’t want to talk about anything positive after a loss like that but come on. How many times have you heard someone say, “Ridley is only good because Julio is taking all of the doubles”? Well, no Julio Jones today no problem for Ridley who finished with 5 catches for 110 yards. Calvin Ridley is already having his best year as a pro. Last year’s mediocre performance following his special rookie year led some to believe that maybe Ridley was never going to be good enough to be a #1 WR. Through three games so far this year, Ridley has 16 for 239 yards and 4TDs. The Falcons are always going to have a good offense as long as Matt Ryan and Julio Jones exist, but Ridley playing at this level makes them scary.
3. The Falcons can run the football and should keep doing it. It’s no secret that Todd Gurley has impressed at times this year. However, Atlanta has struggled to produce a 100-yard rusher through the first three games of the season. This seems to be more on OC Dirk Koetter choosing to get away from the run than the team being bad a running the football. Today was no different, when will Koetter figure out that running with Gurley late is a recipe for success? Gurley finished with 14 carries for 80 yards and as a whole, the Falcons rushed for 144 yards. We know the Falcons’ can throw the football, but maybe someday Koetter will figure out that Gurley can help the team for the full 60 minutes instead of just the first 45.
4. The Falcons are a decent football team that does not know how to win. Okay sure, this team is 0-3 and probably not going to the postseason. I’m not saying they will win somehow win 9 games, but the Falcons are good enough to win in this league. Seattle Week 1 was an L from the start as Russell Wilson is probably going to win the MVP and get a first-round bye for the Seahawks. Take away the onside kick debacle and the meltdown today with 6 minutes to go and the Falcons are 2-1. With Green Bay, Carolina and Minnesota upcoming, Atlanta needs to get back on track… fast.
Bonus: Is three games too early to fire a Head Coach? I think so. However, back-to-back horrific collapses in the fourth quarter might just the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Your move Mr. Blank.