The Falcons fell to the Vikings on Sunday, marking their fourth consecutive loss, headlined by Kirk Cousins’ two interceptions, a few defensive breakdowns, and another special teams blunder.
Whether it’s Yougnhoe Koo uncharacteristically missing field goals, or Ray Ray McCloud fumbling the kickoff, special teams has had more than a handful of untimely mistakes.
Though the Falcons gave up 42 points, the defense played pretty well, and if it weren’t for a couple of weird plays in the secondary and other short-field situations, we’d be talking about Jimmy Lake’s unit in a completely different manner. Still, they weren’t part of the solution on Sunday.
More than either of those, Kirk Cousins will be the topic of conversation this week. The veteran signal caller has now thrown eight interceptions and zero touchdowns in a four-game span, marking the first time that’s happened since Brett Favre did it in 2005.
If it’s not the defense or special teams, it’s the offense. If it’s not the offense, it’s the defense or special teams. Even when things are going perfectly well, the Falcons cannot help but shoot themselves in the foot by way of ill-timed penalties and questionable in-game management.
This is nothing new, though. Despite changing head coaches and quarterbacks, this is still the same old Atlanta Falcons. There’s one constant in all of the organization’s shortcomings — Arthur Blank.
Don’t roll your eyes when I complain about Arthur Blank, the owner. I’m not talking about Arthur Blank, the man. The man is a generous and thoughtful individual, one who gives money to charitable organizations at every waking moment. Blank’s philanthropy isn’t the topic of conversation.
Blank, the owner, has singlehandedly turned the Falcons into a Chinese finger trap, which by definition is a gag toy used to play a practical joke on unsuspecting children and adults.
Nothing illustrated this club’s unseriousness more than a pregame video of Raheem Morris surprising Arthur Blank with a hug from behind while the Falcons warmed up for a tilt against the Vikings.
Amid a three-game losing streak, with the division slipping through their fingers, against one of the best teams in the NFL, the Falcons head coach was playfully hugging his boss… If that doesn’t exemplify the kind of unhealthy comfortableness around Flowery Branch, I don’t know what does.
The culture in Atlanta is too buddy-buddy because that’s what Arthur Blank wants. He wants it to be a family, and that’s all good and well until there’s a need for tough love. This is a business at the end of the day, and the Falcons owner is running it like a mom and pop shop.
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Photographer: Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire
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