The Falcons came into Week 3 undefeated and riding high after a fourth-quarter comeback win over the Packers. Traveling to Detroit for their first game away from home, Atlanta took on a tough Lions team that had an answer for everything the Birds tried.
The result was a drubbing. Following the tilt with Green Bay, I gave three overreactions, which look like exactly that after the Lions game.
- Bijan Robinson is the most exciting player in Falcons history
- Falcons are going to the playoffs
- Desmond Ridder is the next franchise quarterback
Now, let’s give three overreactions to the Falcons’ Week 3 game.
Desmond Ridder isn’t the guy
Outside of garbage time, Ridder was 12-for-25 for 119 yards. The Falcons quarterback looked miserable at times, but like I said, this is an overreaction. The offensive line surrendered seven sacks; Ridder was running for his life much of the afternoon. Arthur Smith also didn’t call his best game. There was a lot working against Ridder in this one.
Moreover, this is Ridder’s seventh game. There were always going to be growing pains with a young quarterback, so this shouldn’t be a time for Falcons fans to panic. There will be more ups and downs for Desmond Ridder this year.
Falcons made a bad investment in OL
The Falcons handed contract extensions to Jake Matthews, Chris Lindstrom, and Kaleb McGary while spending a second-round pick on Matthew Bergeron, a fourth-round pick on Drew Dalman, and a third-round pick on Jalen Mayfield, who is not with the team anymore.
However, that unit gave up seven sacks and more pressure to the Lions. Desmond Ridder was running for his life, as mentioned before. However, unlike many Falcons fans, Ridder is defending his offensive line.
“I’m not worried about those guys up front,” Ridder said. “Those guys did a great job. I’ve got to get the ball out of my hands quicker, got to make better reads. Things have to move and happen fast better out there. … So, I wouldn’t put it on them, more so myself.”
This is an overreaction because it was just a bad performance and not the standard of this group. The Falcons’ offensive line might not be one of the league’s best like many had thought this offseason, but they’re not this bad.
Falcons wasted 2 top 10 draft picks
Through three weeks, Kyle Pitts and Drake London have combined for 17 catches for 198 yards and one touchdown. That’s not terrible production, but for two top 10 picks, that’s unacceptable. The Falcons haven’t gotten a ton of burn from those pass catchers, and it seems like Atlanta may have wasted those picks.
This is an overreaction. Sure, there needs to be more of a plan to get those guys involved, but it’s still far too early to make sweeping judgments. It’s up to Arthur Smith to get his horses the ball.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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