The Atlanta Falcons took on the New England Patriots on Sunday in their Week 9 matchup in Foxborough, and while they played a good game, they were defeated 24-23. The loss will leave the Falcons with a 3-5 record, and they’ll probably remain 3rd in the NFC South, given that the Carolina Panthers defeated the Green Bay Packers 16-13 today. But each game had its takeaways.
Let’s break down what the Falcons should learn from their loss to get future wins.
What Went Right Against the Patriots
The passing game was on fire with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. going 22-of-37 for 221 yards passing and three touchdowns to zero interceptions. Penix Jr. took care of the ball well and was on target with a lot of his throws. He throws the deep ball comparable to some of the best quarterbacks in the league. That’s something for the offensive coordinator to note down.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London played tremendously, leading the team in receiving, catching nine passes out of 14 for 118 yards and three touchdowns. London actually had all of the Falcons’ touchdowns today. He was dominant, winning his 1-on-1 contests consistently, and even caught a one-handed touchdown in the end zone that cut the Patriots’ lead to only one.
The offensive line exceptionally played well, particularly in pass blocking, as Penix Jr. was only sacked once. Throwing the ball was a focal point and a significant factor for the offense today, and they were efficient in that aspect.
Now that the positives are in the bag, let’s dwell on what could have gone better.
What Went Wrong?
The running game didn’t go very well for the Falcons as running back Bijan Robinson carried the ball 12 times for 46 yards, and Tyler Allgeier rushed for 6 yards on two carries. The run game seemed to be going poorly for them, so they focused more on the pass, which did work. Offensive guard Matthew Bergeron sustained an ankle injury on their first offensive drive and did not return to the game.
The defense contained the Patriots for the majority of the first quarter, but in the 2nd quarter, the Patriots scored two touchdowns. However, they did give up several big plays, but they stalled the Patriots’ run attack pretty well, holding Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson to only 55 yards.
Penix Jr. had a costly intentional grounding penalty, which ultimately ended a drive. However, kicker John Parker Romo missed an extra point late in the game, which would’ve tied the game at 24. Romo played well, making all but 1 PAT and making a 38-yard field goal, but the missed PAT late somewhat contributed to the loss.
PFSN’s Offense Impact grades the Falcons C- with an Offensive Impact score of 72.3 and a 73.7 score by PFSN’s Defense Impact. The Falcons will have their Week 10 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts in Germany on Sunday, November 2.