Atlanta Falcons: 5 Things Learned From Week 1

The Running Game Exists

After a 3-year slumber, it seems like the Atlanta Falcons will have a running game in 2015.  Between Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman, the Atlanta Falcons rushed for 98 yards against a strong Philadelphia front seven.  Atlanta mostly bounced to the outside off tackle to rack up most of those yards, but still managed to pick up some on dives up the middle to keep the Philly defense honest.

Coleman carried the rock 20 times for 80 yards in the regular season debut.  The former All-American at Indiana University looked impressive considering the rookie only played in about 5 quarters in the 2015 Preseason.  I love his ability to glide off tackle and fight for the extra yard after contact.

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The offensive line looked surprisingly competent in run blocking in the new zone blocking scheme of Kyle Shanahan.  Guards Chris Chester and Andy Levitre led the way, but Tackles Jake Matthews and Ryan Schraeder helped set the edge to give Coleman and Freeman that extra bit of space on the outside.

When the passing game soured in the second half, the Atlanta Falcons could rely on their running game to move the chains and give their defense some rest against the up-tempo Philadelphia Eagles offense.  How Shanahan handled that go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter, by running the football to set up a Matt Bryant field goal, put the Atlanta Falcons back in control of the game.  The decision to chew up clock on the ground on that drive saved the game for the Falcons.

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