"When they start strong and have control of the game, they earn their victory definitively. That has come against three previous playoff teams last season in beating Minnesota, Washington, and Buffalo. When they come out flat and struggle to find a rhythm offensively, they lose in discouraging fashion. That has materialized in ugly games against Carolina and San Francisco. The defeat to Tampa Bay was the lone competitive matchup where they were the better team, but failed to make enough plays in pivotal moments."
"The Falcons haven't responded well when things aren't clicking from the first drive. As the down and distance gets longer and the ground game can't be relied upon, Michael Penix Jr. starts committing traditional young quarterback mistakes. Opponents will use the lead they gain and run the ball efficiently in between the tackles against an undersized front. That allows them to dominate possession by controlling the pace of the game."
Six games reveal a clear Falcons pattern: dominant wins after fast starts and discouraging losses after flat openings. Wins came over Minnesota, Washington, and Buffalo; ugly losses occurred versus Carolina and San Francisco, with Tampa Bay competitive but decided by pivotal mistakes. Starting quickly boosts confidence, encourages aggression and proactive play, but top teams also overcome slow starts. The Falcons struggle to overcome early setbacks. When drives stall and distance grows, Michael Penix Jr. makes typical young-quarterback errors. Opponents exploit an undersized defensive front to run between the tackles, control possession, and dictate game pace. Bijan Robinson’s production is critical to outcomes.
Read at The Falcoholic
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