It was a somber Sunday in Georgia, as the Atlanta Falcons lost a close Week 9 game at Gillette Stadium against the New England Patriots by a 24-23 margin. The Falcons fought hard, but a few plays are being looked at as the reason they lost.
Plays such as quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s costly intentional grounding penalty, in which he received the snap before he was ready to disrupt the play from the start.
There was also Parker Romo’s missed PAT, which ended up being the difference in the game, after Drake London’s third and final touchdown of the afternoon.
London’s Tremendous Performance
London had a standout game overall, catching nine passes for 118 yards and the three touchdowns. One of his more electric plays was a one-handed scoring grab in the end zone.
London did a great job of using his athleticism and basketball background to go up and get the ball, flashing one of the top catch radiuses in the NFL.
London doesn’t just catch 50/50 passes. He can also run routes and create separation at a level that allows him to get open on fades, digs and outs. He’s solidified himself as not only the Falcons’ go-to target, but as one of the best receivers in the league.
But even with that caliber of performance, London wasn’t happy with the way the game turned out. Terrin Waack of the team’s official site reported that London iterated his
“We Over Me” mentality, saying, “I don’t care if I had just one catch, no catches or anything like that. It’s a loss. I don’t care about any personal stats or any bulls*** like that.”
On the topic of the athletic plays that he made and how he routinely pulls them off, London stated, “The man above: God-given talent. I just let my body take over.”
Yet, despite the individual accolades, London expressed his frustration by saying, “Terrible. I do not feel good. We just lost the game.”
What’s Next for Atlanta?
The Falcons’ run game needs to get back on track, as running back Bijan Robinson only netted 45 yards on 12 carries against the Pats. If that improves, it’ll take pressure off Penix and allow the Falcons to run a more balanced offense to keep defenses off balance.
The Falcons are currently sporting a 72.5 (C-) grade and No. 19 ranking in PFSN Offensive Impact Score, while the defense holds a 73.7 (C) grade and No. 17 ranking on PFSN’s DEFi leaderboard.
The Falcons will go to Berlin, Germany to play the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 9. Atlanta will be going into the game with a 3-5 record and sitting in third place in the NFC South, while the Colts are 7-2 after a Week 9 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers.