The Falcons got behind early against the Colts on Sunday and despite a late rally, they lost the game, 27-24. Not only are they 1-1 on the year, but they may have lost one of their best players for the season.
Here are five takeaways from their Week 3 road loss.
Safety Keanu Neal could be out for the season
Neal went down at the end of the first half and had to be carted off the field. The Falcons safety missed most of last season with an ACL injury, and now will likely miss the rest of this season with a reported Achilles injury. He was seen leaving the stadium on crutches and in a walking boot. Atlanta’s secondary was playing well over the first two weeks, but if Neal’s out for the year his loss is a huge blow for Atlanta’s playoff hopes.
Falcons secondary was slightly overrated
We talked all week about how the Falcons’ secondary was leading the league in passing yardage allowed, but that stat was somewhat misleading. Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett was on fire to start the game, completing his first 16 passes. Second-year cornerback Isaiah Oliver in particular had a tough game. It wasn’t all on Atlanta’s secondary though. They didn’t stop the run when it mattered and the team’s pass rush couldn’t get home for most of the day. Brissett finished with 310 passing yards, two touchdowns and was only sacked once.
Penalties were devastating
Atlanta had a whopping 16 penalties on the day for 128 total yards lost. The worst came when guard Jamon Brown was flagged twice on the same drive with the Falcons still alive late in the fourth quarter. The team still had a chance at the end, but you’re not going to win many games in the NFL when you commit 12 more penalties than the opposing team. Dan Quinn’s squad needs to be more disciplined going forward.
Matt Ryan didn’t show up until it was too late
Ryan overcame a really tough start to throw for 304 yards, three touchdowns and an interception for a 121.1 passer rating. It was too little, too late for the former MVP, though. His lone interception wasn’t just a bad read, it was a bad throw that killed the team’s momentum. Make no mistake, Ryan is still an elite passer. However, he needs to be better earlier in the game for this team to have a chance at the playoffs. He already has six interceptions through three games.
Devonta Freeman can still play
Freeman ripped off a 28-yard run on Atlanta’s first possession. He finished the game with 16 carries for 88 yards (5.5 yards per carry). If there was a bright spot in another ugly road loss, it was the return of Freeman’s explosiveness. The Falcons need to get him the ball more going forward, but they were playing from behind for most of the day. It’s just good to see that No. 24 has still got it.
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