Atlanta Falcons: Where Does Offense Stand Entering Week 6?

The Atlanta Falcons seem to have more balance on offense than in any season in the Matt Ryan Era at quarterback (2008-Present). How do the Atlanta Falcons look on offense entering Week 6?

According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, the Atlanta Falcons have the 2nd best offense in the NFL in terms of points scored (162), behind only the NFC West leading Arizona Cardinals (190). Atlanta leads the NFC in total yards on offense (2,031) and trail only the AFC’s Cincinnati Bengals (2,107) and the San Diego Chargers (2,050).

The Atlanta Falcons are 7th in passing (1,401), 6th in rushing (630), 4th in scoring percentage (44.6%), and lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns (10). Honestly, the only areas where the Atlanta Falcons aren’t a Top 10 unit in football on offense is in passing touchdowns (6) and thrown interceptions (4). Atlanta is 23rd and 17th in those categories, respectively.

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Pro Football Focus gave positive grades to Right Tackle Ryan Schraeder (+5.2), Left Guard Andy Levitre (+2.2) and Running Back Devonta Freeman (+1.6) on offense for the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5’s 25-19 victory over the Washington Redskins. Matt Ryan (-2.8) had the worst game of any player on the Atlanta offense in Week 5.

So what do we know about this 2015 Atlanta Falcons’ offense entering Thursday Night Football in Week 6? The zone blocking scheme of Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan is working wonderfully in Flowery Branch, as Atlanta had the highest graded offensive line in football entering Week 5.

While I do expect the unit’s overall grade from Pro Football Focus to drop some, they won’t plummet out of the Top 5 if I had to guess. However, Center Mike Person needs to come back healthy and the unit dropped off tremendously in his absence when Backup Center James Stone took over in Week 5 when Person got hurt.

Entering Week 6, Atlanta can run the football better than nearly anybody with Running Back Devonta Freeman playing at a Pro Bowl level in the first part of the year. The receiving corps has looked good, but not great in the first part of the season. I believe that has to do with Wide Receiver Julio Jones dealing with a lingering hamstring issue the last two weeks. While he likely will play on TNF, don’t expect him to carry the Atlanta Falcons offense in Week 6.

Tight End Jacob Tamme had has best game so far as a member of the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6, leading the team in receptions (8) and receiving yards (94) against the Washington Redskins. He looked great catching balls in the middle of the field. I wonder if Shanahan plans to use him in the red zone, or go with Tight End Levine Toilolo. Sure handedness (Tamme) or size (Toilolo, 6’8″)?

Outside of Carolina and Denver, the reason for the four other teams that remain undefeated (Atlanta, Cincinnati, Green Bay, New England) is because of their high-powered offenses. I’d put 4-1 Arizona in this conversation as Quarterback Carson Palmer has played better than expected in 2015. Same thing applies to Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton.

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