What are the Atlanta Falcons? This might seem like an obvious question to many; however, many NFL fans are stumped. They arguably have one of the most talented teams in the league, with an offense highlighted by four first-round picks, including Bijan Robinson, one of the best running backs in the NFC. They have quality wins against the Bills and at the Vikings and they were a missed extra point and an overtime game away from beating the two best teams in the AFC, the Patriots and the Colts. Yet, the Falcons are 3-6, with blowout losses to the Miami Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers, getting outscored 64-10 in those games. So once again I ask: What are the Atlanta Falcons? In this article, I am going to dive deep into the problems that have plagued the Falcons this year.
It’s been nearly 10 years since the Falcons infamously blew a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Atlanta has made the playoffs just once since and is tied for the second-longest playoff drought in the NFL. The Achilles heel of the Falcons has always been defense, ranking near the bottom in almost every defense category for nearly a decade. With that in mind, general manager Terry Fontenot made it a point to focus on defense in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting multiple defensive players: James Pearce Jr, Jalon Walker, Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. These defensive rookies have been phenomenal for Atlanta and have been a big reason why Atlanta boasts the best pass defense in the NFL. So with all this talent and defensive production, why are the Falcons at risk of missing the postseason again?
The problem lies with coaching. Head Coach Raheem Morris has seemingly lost the locker room; the squad looks tired and unmotivated during this four-game losing streak. Time management and play calling have been major issues, especially within two minutes of the first and second half. Also, Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson has called a predictable offense; The Falcons have one of the best running back duos in the league and they love running the ball on first and second down. Robinson calls the same sequence of plays on first, second and third down and the lack of variation and pre-snap adjustments have driven the Falcons offense into the ground. This is a major problem, especially because the Falcons quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., has started just 12 NFL games. The Falcons’ lack of variation in theory makes things easier for a young quarterback. However, in reality, it has led Atlanta to a lot of third-down and longs, which is a major reason why the Falcons have converted just three times on third down in as many games.
This is the most talented roster the Falcons have had in a decade. If they want to make it back to the top, they need to make changes to the coaching staff. It’s time for owner Arthur Blank to make a decision.
