Atlanta Falcons Offense: Week 12 Grades Vs New Orleans
Atlanta Falcons High Flyers: Offense
Julio Jones – Wide Receiver
Another game, another 100+ yard receiving day for Atlanta Falcons All Pro wide receiver Julio Jones. This week it was an 11 catch, 147 yard outing. The 11 catches came on 14 targets, a 78.6 reception percentage.
Ryan only had an 80.7 quarterback rating when targeting Jones. That was due the tipped interception being marked for Julio. Julio had zero drops in the game. 26 of his yards were accumulated after the catch, and his longest reception was 21 yards. He also carried the ball once for one yard on a jet sweep play.
Julio Jones leads the NFL in receiving yards by nearly 200 yards. The next closest receiver Tyreek Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs is on a bye week. Julio Jones is also third in the NFL in receptions. He trails NFL leader Michael Thomas of New Orleans by just two catches.
Unfortunately for Julio Jones he failed in his attempt to score a touchdown for four consecutive weeks. Even worse he had a major blunder in week 12, fumbling the ball in the red-zone. He hurdled a defender and was hit, the ball dislodging as he twisted around.
That turnover really hurt the Atlanta Falcons as they could not afford to squander red zone possessions against their hated rival. It ruined what was otherwise a brilliant day for Julio Jones.
Snaps Played: 62
Pro Football Focus Grade: 73.4
ATL All Day Grade: B –
Jake Matthews – Left Tackle
Left Tackle Jake Matthews was solid in pass protection for the Atlanta Falcons in a game where very few offensive linemen could say the same thing. In fact, Jake Matthews was the only offensive lineman that did not allow multiple pressures on quarterback Matt Ryan.
Jake Matthews did allow one pressure and subsequent hit on the Atlanta Falcons quarterback. Pro Football Focus gave him a pass protection grade of 78.9, best on the team and one of only two linemen with a positive pass blocking score.
In run blocking, Jake Matthews did not fare well. He posted a grade of 56.1 in only 14 run blocking chances. As low as that grade is, it was second among Atlanta linemen, on an abysmal day running the football. Jake was a bright spot overall, in a poor performance by the blocking unit.