The Atlanta Falcons were able to get on the field for the first time in their preseason opener against the Denver Broncos to see what some of their team could look like this year. Many would say that it was an underwhelming performance, as they lost 27-7 and didn't see many flashes from the starters.
The biggest concern came from the offense, which has been a question mark throughout the offseason and training camp. More specifically, thequarterback position is still leaving fans uneasy, and after the game against the Broncos, it didn't leave anybody feeling better. Tua Tagovailoa got the start, and therewasn't much positive to takefrom his two drives of the night.
In the end, he finished completing 3 of his 5 passes for 22 yards. In that period, he dropped the snap but was able to recover the fumble. That's what most people are going to remember from that game, as there wasn't much of anything else to take away. When Cooper Rush entered the game, it felt like things got worse, as he got the ball intercepted and returned for a touchdown. He finished his night completing 7 of his 19 passes for 62 yards and two interceptions.
Jack Strand also played in the game, completing 6 of his 12 passes for 50 yards.
The quarterback position is still a question mark for the Falcons
All of the quarterbacks that were on the field for the Falcons were underwhelming, and that's not what the Falcons need at the moment. For a team that has the talent at several skill positions, the one area they can't seem to find consistency in is the most important position on the field. Though it was a small sample size, Tagovailoa didn't show much to prove that he's the sure bet to be the starting quarterback in Week 1, and that's a problem.
Michael Penix Jr. still has a chance to win the starting job, and he has yet to be cleared for 11-on-11s. He could be cleared in the coming weeks, but it may not be enough time for him to make a case for himself by the time the start of the season arrives.
That means Tagovailoa will probably be the starter by default, and after his showing against the Broncos, it's hard to have much confidence.
At the same time, there shouldn't be much stock being put into the preseason opener, and the Falcons' starters will have another chance to find a better rhythm, but it was not the best start for the new regime in Atlanta, and questions will probably continue to come up about the quarterback position.
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