If we’re going by the eye test, it’s not hard to see where the strength of this Falcons team lies. Kirk Cousins and the offense are clearly the driving force in Atlanta’s 6-4 record and first-place position in the NFC South.
The stats back it up too. Among the quarterback betrayal index from The Athletic, Cousins ranks fourth, behind Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Baker Mayfield. Cousins ranks eighth, while the Falcons defense and special teams ranks 30th, with a “betrayal” worth -22. The index is based on quarterback EPA and where their teams rank in defense/special teams EPA during each of those starts.
Suffice to say, the special teams and defense have been letting Kirk Cousins down, none more apparent than last week in New Orleans, when Younghoe Koo missed a career-high three field goals to lose to the Saints.
“Two victories over Tampa Bay and another over Philadelphia in games in which the Falcons’ defense/special teams faltered helped offset a tough opening-week defeat against Pittsburgh, when Cousins and the offense struggled in his first game back from a torn Achilles,” Mike Sando writes.
The Falcons defense has to be better. The pass rush has been dreadful and will eventually cost Atlanta their season, but Cousins certainly hasn’t been as unlucky as those ahead of him.
In games when the defense and special teams had negative EPA, the Falcons are 3-3, compared to the Bucs’ 0-6 record and the Bengals’ 0-4 mark. The Falcons are going to have to be more well-rounded if they’re to make any sort of deep postseason run.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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