The Atlanta Falcons got off to a hot start at 6-3, but things have gone south ever since. On Sunday, the team’s losing streak was extended to four games.
Not much went right during the Falcons’ 42-21 road loss to a Minnesota Vikings team that improved to 11-2, but the Falcons especially struggled in the penalty department.
Atlanta racked up some 12 penalties for 127 yards in Sunday’s game against Minnesota, marking the team’s highest single-game total this season. It was also the highest individual game total in the NFL until the New York Giants tied that number in their loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
“It crushed us,” head coach Raheem Morris said of those self-inflicted mistakes in the postgame press conference.
That has been a weak area in general for Atlanta all season long. The team entered Sunday’s contest with a total of 67 penalties for 561 yards.
The Falcons have plenty of questions and lots of things to sort out as they desperately seek a win moving forward, but there’s no question serious adjustments need to be made and that a higher degree of discipline will be required to accomplish that.
Atlanta will continue the season on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Dec. 16 in Allegiant Stadium.