Falcons fans are anxiously awaiting their Monday Night Football date with the Eagles. Even though their favorite team didn’t play yesterday, they were still disappointed on Sunday by the Saints and Buccaneers’ performances.
New Orleans had the best win of the day in Dallas. The Cowboys were favored and gave up 35 points before halftime. Derek Carr threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns while running in another score. Under Klint Kubiak, the Saints have found great success on offense, scoring touchdowns on their first six drives a week after setting a franchise record by starting the season with points on nine consecutive possessions in a 47-10 rout of the Panthers.
The Saints looked good in Week 1, but it was Carolina. Nobody was that impressed. However, the Cowboys are a formidable opponent. The Saints had 310 yards of offense in the first half, and their defense is as good as ever under Dennis Allen.
Falcons fans, myself included, were sure that the Saints would be easily dealt with because they effectively were running it back with a similar squad as last year. It turns out the offensive line isn’t as bad as once thought, and Kubiak is the best thing to come to town since Sean Payton. It was a brutal day for Falcons fans, and the Bucs upsetting the Lions only made it worse.
After falling to Detriot in a 31-23 defeat in the divisional round of the playoffs last year, Tampa Bay gets revenge behind a decent performance from Baker Mayfield, who overcame five sacks to complete 12-of-19 passing attempts for 185 yards, a touchdown and an interception while also leading the team with 34 rushing yards.
Falcons fans thought we had the best quarterback in the division. It doesn’t seem so clear anymore. Carr and Mayfield lead the NFL in touchdowns (5) and passer rating, with the former having a 142.4 and the latter owning a 129.1 passer rating, first and second in the league.
Meanwhile, the Falcons got one of the worst debuts I can remember from Kirk Cousins last week. A lot can change over the course of the season. Atlanta and Cousins have a great opportunity to silence the doubters today on Monday Night Football against the Eagles.
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Photographer: David Jensen/Icon Sportswire
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