Falcons offense among the NFL’s best at converting 3rd-and-long

Coming into the 2019 season, the Falcons were expected to be one of the most explosive offenses in football. A plethora of weapons and a revamped offensive line have not equated to success, though.

The team’s 1-7 start was reflective of an offense that was both one-dimensional and too predictable. Atlanta’s rushing attack is ranked 30th in the NFL, but its passing attack is ranked 3rd.

This has led to an abundance of third-and-long situations, but only three teams have converted more of them this season, according to NFL Matchup on ESPN:

Offenses don't want to be in 3rd and long situations, but it's a huge momentum boost if they can find a way to move the chains.#DallasCowboys #OnePride #RavensFlock #InBrotherhood #GoNiners #HTTR #GoBills #HereWeGo #DUUUVAL #GoBucs @gregcosell | @MattBowen41 pic.twitter.com/PBrJxuJjTc

— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) November 21, 2019

The Cowboys, Lions and Ravens are the only teams more successful on third -and-long than the Falcons, who are converting 31.8 percent of the time.

Atlanta’s Week 12 opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are ranked tenth on the list with a 28.2 percent conversion rate. The Falcons are favored over the Bucs by 4.5 points for this Sunday’s NFC South battle.