Time is running out on Falcons

PITTSBURGH >> The Atlanta Falcons kept stressing there was no need to panic during their sluggish start. That the small mistakes that kept costing them games would get cleaned up. That their banged-up roster would get healthy. That the team that began the season with Super Bowl expectations would eventually show up.

Time is running out. Quickly. It may already have.

Sloppy early and overwhelmed late, the Falcons were run over by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half of a 41-17 loss on Sunday that dropped Atlanta to 1-4, last place in the AFC South. Not exactly where a team that won a combined 21 games in 2016 and 2017 expected to be as mid-October approaches.

The Falcons appeared to have a chance after they walked into the half down just 13-10 following safety Damontae Kazee’s leaping end zone interception of Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger in the waning moments of the second quarter.

Then it all fell apart. The league’s 28th-ranked defense couldn’t stop the Steelers on the ground or in the air. The offensive line couldn’t protect Matt Ryan, who himself couldn’t find a way to get the ball to star wide receiver Julio Jones when it mattered.

Shadowed by Pittsburgh cornerback Joe Haden all afternoon, Jones finished with five receptions for a season-low 62 yards, all of them coming in the fourth quarter with the Falcons down double digits.

Jones came in leading the league in yards receiving but was targeted just four times while the game was competitive.

Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown connected on two second-half touchdowns as Pittsburgh (2-2-1) put together its most complete performance of the season.

Atlanta managed just 130 yards over the final two quarters. Running back Devonta Freeman ran eight times for 32 yards in his return after missing three games with an injury, and Ryan was sacked six times in all.