Atlanta finally scores 30 points and loses. Of course.
The Falcons found yet another way to lose a game when the offense scored 30 or more points and even if they are 1-3, we’re going to try and celebrate the guys that made a positive impact on the game. As you’d expect, the names here are on the offensive side of the ball.
Matt Ryan
Ryan had a rough start to the season, and we can debate the reasons why until we turn blue in the face. However, he bounced back in a significant way in this game.
He went 25/42 for 283 yards and 4 touchdowns and a 111.5 passer rating. Those numbers would be more impressive had guys like Calvin Ridley, Kyle Pitts and Olamide Zaccheaus held onto some of his passes. It was a really good performance from the team’s franchise quarterback, and he deserve better than taking another loss like this.
Offensive Line
This unit came under fire repeatedly after their first two games, but they’ve bounced back nicely in the past two weeks. Guys like Jalen Mayfield and Matt Hennessy are beginning to get their feet underneath them on the interior and Kaleb McGary made Chase Young mostly an afterthought on Sunday. They still have some work to do in the running game overall and there were still penalties for Mayfield, but the trajectory is looking good on this unit.
Cordarelle Patterson
It feels criminal leaving this guy for third on our list, but he’s such an obvious choice. As a runner, he had 6 carries for 34 yards and a very healthy 5.7 average. His biggest damage was as a receiver where he had 5 catches for 82 yards and 3 touchdowns. Patterson has been one of the biggest bright spots of this Falcons team and it’s fair to wonder if he’s played his way into a new contract after this season as a core weapon for Arthur Smith and company.
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