Following their 23-20 win over the Browns, the Falcons placed Cordarrelle Patterson on the IR after a minor procedure. Since then, Atlanta has gone 1-1, losing to the Buccaneers and upsetting the 49ers. The offense certainly took a hit with the versatile Patterson out of the lineup, but Arthur Smith’s unit remains one of the best rushing attacks in the league with an incredibly efficient supplemental passing game. Patterson is set to be out for four weeks, so we are still a couple of games from seeing the veteran return. But he’s got a message for the Falcons, their fans, and the rest of the league:
Almost that time! pic.twitter.com/Ifk9CZcaFR
— cordarrelle patterson (@ceeflashpee84) October 19, 2022
The Falcons are obviously a more dangerous team with Patterson in the lineup, so everyone should be excited about him returning. However, the offense has been doing just fine since his absence.
In Week 4, Patterson didn’t get much burn and was immediately placed on the IR afterward. Instead, the bulk of the carries went to Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley against the Browns, both totaling 10 carries. Allgeier totaled 84 yards, and Huntley recorded 56 yards to go along with a touchdown. As a team, Atlanta rushed for over 200 yards for the second straight week.
In Week 5 against the Buccaneers, the Falcons struggled out of the gate but never got away from running the football. The offense totaled 151 yards on the ground, 98 of which came in the second half on 20 second-half rushes. This time, Allgeier received a bulk of the carries.
Coming into Week 6, the Niners’ defense allowed an average of 71.4 yards rushing per game. Against what many considered to be the top defense in the league, Smith’s offense put up 168 yards on the ground, with three players eclipsing 50 yards. It was the fifth time the offense has rushed for at least 168 yards in six games, which called for celebratory beers following the upset victory.
Cordarrelle Patterson returning should provide a boost to the Falcons’ offense. He’s quickly become a fan favorite in Atlanta, and the entire fan base is eager to see him back on the field.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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