The Falcons have won three of four games since firing head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff in Week 5. Interim head coach Raheem Morris has experience from his time in Tampa Bay, and has seemed to bring a different, more disciplined brand of leadership to Atlanta.
Sunday’s win over the Broncos was more evidence that no matter how poorly the team begins the season, the Falcons just have too much talent to bottom out in a traditional sense. Plus, the team’s renewed focus has led to development of some younger players, such as LB Foye Oluokun and WR Olamide Zaccheaus.
In Touchdown Wire’s Week 9 power rankings, Doug Farrar moved Atlanta up from No. 29 to No. 26 following the team’s win over Denver. Farrar gave credit to Matt Ryan’s textbook play at quarterback, while tipping his cap to Morris as well.
Again, this gives us a moment to highlight textbook quarterback play. Watch how Ryan maneuvers in the pocket here, climbing in response to the pressure instead of bailing from what his essentially a clean pocket. After his climb, he launches a perfect deep ball to hit Zaccheaus in stride, and the receiver makes a great catch in the end zone for the score.
As we will find with another team yet to come in the rankings, the Falcons have turned things around a bit after being left for dead – and firing their head coach and their general manager – just a few weeks ago. Could they climb back into the playoff mix? Unlikely. But at a minimum, Raheem Morris is making a strong case for becoming the head coach on a permanent basis.
With games remaining against the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Falcons currently have the league’s toughest remaining strength of schedule.
If Morris can somehow navigate this team to the playoffs after an 0-5 start, he won’t be going anywhere in the offseason.
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