Atlanta Falcons: How The Falcons Can Beat Seattle
By Kit Anderson
![Oct 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) and quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrate the win over the Denver Broncos in the second half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Falcons defeated the Broncos 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports Oct 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) and quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrate the win over the Denver Broncos in the second half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Falcons defeated the Broncos 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/929dbc958ec0d855aaf4285cf52f13ce24a278ccbfaa8d39ee6b850978bd7c0b.jpg)
The Atlanta Falcons are in Seattle getting ready to face yet another tough team. How can the Falcons beat the Seahawks in Seattle in Week 6?
The Atlanta Falcons are coming off of their highest point this season after taking down last year’s Super Bowl teams in back to back weeks. Both games seemed to be in the Falcon’s grasp the whole time and they never once let up leading them to a 4-1 start on the young season.
This week finds them in Seattle practicing and preparing to face another tough test this Sunday against the Seahawks. The Falcons may have the toughest four week stretch of any team in the league. After going to New Orleans on a Monday night they had a short week to prepare for the Carolina Panthers before heading to Denver and now on to Seattle. The fact that at worst, they have gone 3-1 in those four games is impressive and something that last year’s team could not have done.
Seattle is a tough team to figure this season. They are 3-1 after losing to a average Ram’s team this season, their three victories have been against the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49er’s, and the New York Jets. Those teams are three of the softest opponents in the NFL right now. So figuring out exactly how good this Seahawk’s team is in their 5th game is not easy.
There is no questioning the fact that no matter the talent level of this year’s team the Seahawks are never easy to play in Seattle with the dedicated fan base. To win this week the Falcons are going to have to do three things.
First, Vic Beasley is going to have to be the beast of a player that he was against the Denver line. The Atlanta defense won the game for the team last week making life hard for Paxton Lynch and getting in his head early in the game. Russell Wilson is going to be much harder to limit and shake up, if the defense cannot get pressure Wilson will pick the secondary apart.
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Getting pressure from Beasley and the rest of the defensive line will be the biggest key to slowing down the Seattle offense this week. If they cannot get pressure this game may turn into a shoot out.
Which leads into our second key of the game, Matt Ryan has to be the MVP that he was before facing that monster of a Denver defense. He posted the highest QBR that Denver has seen in quite some time, but he missed several key throws to Julio Jones and was hurried by the Denver front for most of the second half.
To win against Seattle at Seattle Matt Ryan is going to have to lead his offense and make smart throws against one of the best secondaries he will see this season. The Falcons have to get in the end zone early and more than once in the first half to hold off the Seahawks.
The third and final key for the Falcons this week will be Dan Quinn. Quinn is headed back to Seattle for the first time since he coached the Seahawks, how much of his strategy will Seahawk’s Coach Pete Carroll be ready for?
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Dan Quinn is one of the keys to victory due to the fact he will be under more pressure this week than he has in quite a while. Deny it or not, This week is more important to Quinn than he might admit going against his former team and his coaching may show those effects this week in Seattle.