Devonta Freeman: Difference maker in Week 13?

Devonta Freeman, who was a full participant in Thursday’s practice after going through concussion protocol in Week 12, will help Atlanta greatly in Week 13.

According to ESPN’s Vaughn McClure, Atlanta Falcons starting running back Devonta Freeman was a full participant in Thursday’s practice at Flowery Branch leading up to the Falcons’ must-win road game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Devonta Freeman suffered a concussion on the Atlanta Falcons’ first offensive drive in their Week 11 home loss to the Indianapolis Colts. His replacement rookie tailback Tevin Coleman was largely ineffective in Week 11, but did rush for over 100 yards in the Falcons’ third consecutive home loss in Week 12 to the Minnesota Vikings.

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Week 13’s divisional game at Raymond James Stadium against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is seriously the Atlanta Falcons’ third consecutive must-win game. A loss to Tampa gives the Bucs the seasonal tiebreaker should these two NFC Wild Card contenders need it come Week 17. Fortunately Tampa Bay has been a better road team than a home team since the Raheem Morris Era in Tampa Bay.

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However, while getting back Devonta Freeman will certainly help bring back some much-needed balance to the Atlanta Falcons’ offense, Tampa Bay is 12th in run defense on the season. It helps having All-Pros in the front seven in defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and linebacker Lavonte David.

What is interesting in examining the run defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is how incredibly streaky they are at run stuffing. Against four poor running teams (Washington, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, and Dallas), the Bucs have held those clubs to no more than 55 yards on the ground.

On the other side of it, they’ve allowed over 100 yards rushing in seven games. Atlanta is middle of the pack running the football entering Week 13 at 15th in the NFL. The Falcons have rushed the football over 100 yards in 9 of 11 games in 2015. Freeman has 764 rushing yards in 10 games and 8 starts.

Where I think that the Atlanta Falcons benefit the most in getting back Devonta Freeman in Week 13 is in the passing game. In offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s West Coast system, quarterback Matt Ryan has to make several short to medium throws, including many check downs to the running back.

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Though Ryan thrives more in the medium-to-long Air Coryell offense than in the West Coast, Devonta Freeman is an exceptional receiving back. He’s had 42 catches for 420 yards and two touchdown receptions. Behind wide receiver Julio Jones, he’s probably the second most reliable receiver on the Atlanta Falcons, though tight end Jacob Tamme is starting to come on in his new starting role with his new team.

Getting Freeman back adds so much to the now down-on-its-luck passing game of the Atlanta Falcons. Freeman is arguably the most competitive person on the Atlanta Falcons roster and reminds me of a Brian Westbrook type of dual-threat running back. Most importantly, his return should only aid the struggling Matt Ryan.

Atlanta could have won their last two games had Freeman been healthy. My guess is that Atlanta would have survived Indianapolis at home in Week 11 if Devonta Freeman didn’t go down. While the score indicated otherwise, Atlanta may not have looked as bad as they did in their 10-point home loss to the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday afternoon.

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Devonta Freeman isn’t a panacea for the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive woes of late, but his return should aid in the Dirty Birds’ fight for their playoff lives down in Tampa on Sunday. Atlanta simply cannot afford to sit at .500 after Week 13 by means of losing their lead over Tampa Bay in the NFC Wild Card race. Rise Up!