Atlanta Falcons: Survive the Jets Headed for Division Test
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Falcons pulled out a 25-20 road win against the Jets and survived what was a sloppy game. As they get set to start Division play can the Falcons turn their season around after Sunday’s win?
The Atlanta Falcons have had an up-and-down start to what has been a 4-3 record through seven games this season. With two games left against both the Saints and the Panthers the Falcons will still control their destiny within their own division.
Sunday’s win may have stopped the bleeding but it did little to assure Falcon’s fans that this team is turning it around. After struggling on offense much of the day the Falcons mounted two late drives to help put the game away.
Ryan played much better as well, despite dropping three snaps in a nasty New York storm. The worrisome fact was that the Falcon’s receivers didn’t play well dropping balls with regularity and creating little separation.
Add in another pass play inside the one yard line and the play calling looked to be struggling as well. In fairness, the pass call resulted in a great throw and catch from Matt Ryan to his tight-end Hooper for the score.
The call was still another example of the current offensive coordinators insistence on getting cute as opposed to making the right call.
Regardless of how it happened the Falcons found a way to halt the losing streak and come away with a win headed into the tough portion of their schedule. Sitting at 4-3 the Falcons sit at the same position they were in last season and are still in control of where they finish in the division.
Their next game will match them up against the Carolina Panthers for the first time this season. With Carolina already ahead of the Falcons in the division this game is another must-win for the Falcons.
Cam Newton has been inconsistent yet again this season leaning on a swarming Panthers defense more than not this season.
The Falcons are going to have to shake off the rust on Sunday from the Super Bowl rematch and begin to play to their talent level on both sides of the ball. The offense has been inconsistent since the third game this season and needs to get back on track as the Falcons are set to face the Panthers, Cowboys, and Seahawks in consecutive weeks.
Still surrounded by questions and with a lot left to prove the Falcons are still in control of their destiny in the division and that will start this Sunday when the Falcons travel to Carolina to take on their hated divisions rivals.