The Falcons couldn’t keep up with the Seahawks during Sunday’s 38-25 loss, despite 450 passing yards from Matt Ryan and three different Atlanta receivers going over the 100-yard mark.
Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage combined for 27 catches, 401 yards and two touchdowns, but much of that came in garbage time with the game out of reach.
Ridley was projected by both teammates and analysts to go over 1,000 receiving yards this season. The third-year wideout is on pace for 2,080 yards after his nine-catch, 130-yard performance in Week 1.
Pro Football Focus released a few of their player grades from Sunday’s game and Ridley was the Falcons’ highest-graded player with an 89.5 overall grade.
WR Calvin Ridley came in as the highest graded Falcon in yesterday’s season opener!
-89.5 overall grade
-12 targets, 9 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TD’s, 0 drops
-114.6 passer rating when targeted pic.twitter.com/kyekeuy1zT— PFF ATL Falcons (@PFF_Falcons) September 14, 2020
Ridley’s two touchdowns kept the Falcons in the game, but the team couldn’t slow down Seahawks QB Russell Wilson. Atlanta failed to convert on four fourth-down attempts, which was ultimately the difference in the game.
A lot went wrong in the Falcons’ season-opening loss. On the bright side, though, Ridley looks like he’s going to be a real problem for opposing defenses this season.
