The Atlanta Falcons have a lot to fix after suffering their second loss of the season to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. There were plenty of positives that essentially got brushed aside because of how terribly the game ended for the Falcons.
Both teams needed a win Sunday, and despite a dominant start, Atlanta wasn’t able to finish yet again. The Cowboys stole a game they had no business winning and now fans have a familiar stomach ache that only football can provide.
With 14 games left, though, they’ll be plenty of time to complain later in the season. For now, let’s give some credit to Falcons rookie cornerback A.J. Terrell, who played well for the most part. The entire defense had lapses in the fourth quarter, but for Terrell’s second NFL game, he wasn’t bad at all.
According to Pro Football Focus‘ post-game grades, Terrell was Atlanta’s highest-rated defender (79.8 PFF grade) against Dallas. He allowed two catches for just seven yards on three targets.
Highest graded #Falcons defender yesterday (minimum 20 snaps):
Rookie CB A.J. Terrell
-79.8 overall grade
-Targeted 3 times
-Allowed 2 receptions for 7 yards pic.twitter.com/473xdc4Gfb— PFF ATL Falcons (@PFF_Falcons) September 21, 2020
Terrell has a lot on his shoulders as a rookie starting at one of the toughest positions in the all of sports without a preseason to prepare. While few rookies are in as tough of a situation as Terrell, he’s handling his business for the most part through two weeks.
If Atlanta can get second-year CB Kendall Sheffield (foot) back on the field sometime soon, it will help the team’s young secondary. Stay tuned for injury updates on Sheffield, Ricardo Allen, Takk McKinley and Kaleb McGary.
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