In Week 2, the Atlanta Falcons were on the verge of going 0-2 before the Philadelphia Eagles squandered the game by throwing a pass to Saquon Barkley instead of running the ball. The third-down incompletion stopped the clock and gave the Falcons new life.
With 1:39 left, Atlanta got the ball back needing a touchdown. Quarterback Kirk Cousins marched the team down the field with ease, tossing the go-ahead touchdown to wide receiver Drake London. While it wasn’t a perfect performance by any means, the Falcons escaped with a much-needed win.
Here are five things we learned from Monday night’s thrilling comeback in Philadelphia.
1. Atlanta’s offense runs through the backfield
It’s very easy to see how limited the Falcons offense is right now. The passing game eventually opened up, but it’s clear that the heartbeat of this offense lies in the backfield. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier carried the load through the first three quarters. Robinson accounted for 97 rushing yards on 14 carries while adding 25 yards on four receptions.
Allgeier rushed for 53 yards on nine attempts, adding one catch for 12 receiving yards. Both running backs averaged over six yards per carry in Week 2. Considering the inconsistency of Atlanta’s passing attack, the ground game will likely carry this offense all season.
2. Kirk Cousins is not 100%
After Week 1, it was apparent to anyone who watched the game that Kirk Cousins is not 100 percent healthy after tearing his Achilles a season ago. This speculation was confirmed by Hall of Fame QB and current ESPN analyst Troy Aikman during warmups. “I talked to Kirk and he said he’s not 100 percent, but he feels 100 percent in the pocket,” said Aikman before the game.
Cousins looked better as the game progressed, but his mobility is almost non-existent. As long as the offensive line holds up in pass protection, Cousins can do his job. The Falcons allowed just one sack and it resulted in the team’s first win of the season.
3. Falcons still struggle to pressure QBs
It didn’t matter how often the protection broke down for the Eagles, the Falcons could not get their hands on the opposing quarterback. From breaking long runs on third and fourth down to extending broken plays, Atlanta’s defense had no answer for Jalen Hurts.
The Falcons sacked Hurts once the entire game, and it was the second week in a row that the team struggled to contain a mobile quarterback. With Patrick Mahomes coming to town, the defense will have to find a way to create some pressure in Week 3.
4. Kyle Pitts needs the ball more
In Week 1, the Falcons targeted Pitts just three times. the fourth-year tight end caught all three passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. In Week 2, Pitts finished with just three catches for 20 yards and was even less involved. The entire passing offense struggled for much of the first two games, but Pitts still isn’t being used to his full potential.
For as much of a mismatch as he provides, the Falcons have a tough time utilizing Pitts’ unique skill set. After topping 1,000 yards as a rookie in 2021, the young tight end is on track for just 391 yards this season.
5. Winning the NFC South won’t be as easy as predicted
All offseason, we were told how the division was the Falcons’ to lose. After two games, it’s clear the other NFC South teams were overlooked. Even with last night’s thrilling win, the Falcons are still in third place. The Saints and Buccaneers are leading the division with two wins apiece while the Falcons are holding on at 1-1. The Saints are 2-0 with an impressive Week 2 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Buccaneers also stayed undefeated with a win over the Lions in Detroit.
Since Atlanta’s next game is against the defending Super Bowl champions, it could be tough to gain ground on either team in Week 3. The Falcons will play the Saints in Week 4 and the Buccaneers in Week 5. Fortunately, the Panthers are still a complete disaster. Carolina benched former No. 1 pick Bryce Young on Monday.
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