The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ryan, Offense can help reeling defense by taking over games
TEMPE, ARIZ. — With the defense struggling, the Falcons’ best formula may be to win offensive shootouts.
The Falcons’ offense has counterpunched and kept the team close, but it hasn’t taken over a game.
The Falcons (1-4) are set to face the Arizona Cardinals (1-31), a team that amassed more than 500 yards in a win over the Bengals in Week 5 and has to be considered dangerous if they figure out their red zone issues, on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
The Falcons’ offense needs to mash its collective foot on the gas pedal, while the defense has to stop the run, get a pass rush and stop blowing coverages in the secondary.
“There have been times where we have been able to move the ball effectively and score points, but we haven’t been able to put a complete game together,” quarterback Matt Ryan said. “Where for four quarters we’ve played consistent football that way for the entire game. That has to be our mindset.”
This past Sunday, the Falcons were in a shootout with the Texans. The Falcons took a 17-16 lead at the half with both offenses racing up and down the field.
Houston scored on its first two possessions of the sec- ond half, the Falcons punted twice, including a three-andout. From there, things went down hill swiftly.
Against Minnesota, Indianapolis and Tennessee, the offense started slow and had to play catchup after trailing at halftime 21-0 to the Vikings, 20-3 to the Colts and 24-7 to the Titans.
The offense scored two late touchdowns against the Vikings. The offense closed it to a one-score game twice in the fourth quarter against the Colts, but the defense couldn’t get a stop either time. There would be no rally against the Titans as the Falcons could only muster a field goal in the second half.
While the defense is strug- gling, the offense needs to carry the team.
“I think it’s all 11 of us doing our job for four quarters,” Ryan said. “Have a week of practice that gives us the best chance to be consistent for four quarters.”
The offense did come up with the big play, a 54-yard screen pass to Julio Jones, to help pull out the win over the Eagles.
The defense needed a dropped pass and a fourthdown stop to preserve that win.
The Falcons’ passing numbers are elite, but they are still struggling to get the ground attack moving.They are counting short passes, as extended handoffs.
Running back Devonta Freeman scored on a 9-yard screen pass against the Texans.
“They had something com- bined like 10 catches last week or something like that,” Ryan said of Freeman and Ito Smith. “Both of those guys catching the ball out of the backfield when you can get it to them quick, it is an extension of the run game for us.”
The Falcons like to get Free- man and Smith in space.
“We put them in space and try to make people miss, that’s exactly what we’re trying to do in the run game, is get those guys into space on the sec- ond level so they can create explosive plays,” Ryan said. “We don’t care how we do it. Obviously, you want to be balanced, but some weeks dictate that you get it out faster and get those guys in space.
“We’ll do whatever we have to do to find a way to get a win.”