Atlanta Falcons: 5 reasons for 5-game losing streak

2. Costly Turnovers on Offense

This is a scary thought, the Atlanta Falcons turn the football over more than any other team in the National Football League. 16.5% of the team’s offensive drives result in either a Matt Ryan interception or a lost fumble by any eligible ball carrier. Even the 3-9 Tennessee Titans are ever so slightly better in taking care of the football in 2015 (16.4% of drives end in turnovers).

Only the Indianapolis Colts, the Tennessee Titans, and the Philadelphia Eagles have turned the football over more than the Atlanta Falcons (22). Atlanta is 7th in the NFL in interceptions thrown (13) and 9th in fumbles lost (9).

While every turnover is costly, Atlanta’s almost always seem to come in the worst possible moments. Atlanta will execute a well-orchestrated drive on offense, using good play calling in a total team effort, only to throw a pick in the red zone or fumble the football in the other team’s territory.

Head Coach Dan Quinn continues to preach that “it’s all about the ball”, but the offense seems like they are asleep in the meeting room when Quinn tells his team about ball security principles for the thousandth time.

Good teams don’t turn the football over and when they do, they are able to rebound in their next offensive series. Atlanta doesn’t do this and the once-lethal offense under former offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is now pedestrian under new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

Next: 3. Inefficient Red Zone Play