Atlanta Falcons Offense: Week 13 Grades Vs Baltimore
Matt Ryan – Quarterback
It’s a rare occurrence when Matt Ryan isn’t on our high flyers list. It is even more rare that he is on our grounded Falcons list. That was certainly the case in week 13, as Matt Ryan played his least productive game of the 2018 Season.
Matt Ryan only threw for a paltry 131 yards. That was his lowest total since he threw for 106 yards against Tampa Bay. Keep in mind that was a game in which he only attempted nine passes and was rested early, due to a top playoff seed being already secured.
Against the Baltimore Ravens, Matt Ryan completed 16 of 26 passing attempts and threw one touchdown pass. He he completed 61.5 percent of his passes, and had quarterback rating of 87.2. Matt was responsible for seven first downs on the afternoon.
Not only did the Atlanta Falcons have a low yardage total due to losing the time of possession, Matt Ryan also averaged a season low five yards per attempt. Additionally he was sacked three times, and is on pace to be sacked the most times of his career. One of the sacks resulted a fumble that the Ravens returned for a touchdown.
In addition to being sacked three times, Matt Ryan was pressured 11 times and hit four times. As the blocking has broken down, so has the Atlanta Falcons offense. Week 13 marked the fourth straight game that the normally high-powered Atlanta offense, failed to score 20 points.
Dan Quinn continues to tinker with the offensive line trying to find the right combination of blockers to protect his quarterback. After benching Ben Garland for Zane Beadles, Quinn will likely complete the overhaul of the right side, by benching right tackle Ryan Schraeder in favor of Ty Sambrailo.
If coach Quinn can’t find the right combination to protect Matt Ryan, he must consider treating his snaps like a preseason game, once the Atlanta is mathematically eliminated. A major injury for a player this late in the season, would jeopardize his availability for the beginning of next season.
Since they aren’t eliminated, Matt Ryan will look to recover from an unusually poor performance as the Atlanta Falcons take on the Green Bay Packers.