Two big-time coaching blunders doomed Atlanta in Washington.
The Falcons remain mathematically alive in the playoff picture, but they’re going to need some massive help from the ::gulp:: Saints on Sunday to clinch the NFC South. That’s all due to the loss against the Commanders on Sunday Night Football, giving the Bucs the edge in the division and the Falcons praying for help from a hated rival.
Here’s hat tips & head-scratchers from Atlanta’s loss to Washington.
Hat tips
Trickeration
The Falcons got a bit fancy in the first quarter, opting for a wildcat formation for a direct snap to running back Bijan Robinson near the goal line. Bijan being Bijan was barely touched as he scooted in for the touchdown.
Robinson has become the offensive engine that Atlanta hoped he would be, and he continued his production with a two-touchdown performance against the Commanders.
Penix to Pitts
Can we talk about the pinhole that quarterback Michael Penix put the ball in for the Kyle Pitts touchdown on 4th-and-11? Can we also talk about Pitts laying out for the ball and ensuring leverage over the defender behind him? Context aside, that’s a highlight reel play under any circumstances, and the rookie quarterback held strong in the pocket and delivered an absolute dart to keep the game alive.
Head-scratchers
Penix pick. Looked like a miscommunication on the route. Nobody in the area. First possession.
DeAngelo Malone kills a defensive stand
Borderline call? Sure — but Malone has to be aware of the situation. With his illegal contact penalty in the third quarter, Malone turned an Arnold Ebiketie sack on 3rd-&-22 into a fresh set of downs for the Commanders. It was a massive swing that ultimately resulted in a Zach Ertz touchdown and a 17-14 scoreline.
Coaching 101
By far the biggest head-scratcher from Sunday’s loss is head coach Raheem Morris’ boneheaded clock management. It’s been discussed ad nauseam, but we’ll continue to talk about it because that’s how bad it was. Not once, but twice Morris failed to call timeouts in critical situations — one after a 12-yard completion to wide receiver Darnell Mooney at the end of the first half, where he seemed to be content settling for a 36-yard field goal to end the half.
Sure, points are good, but you’re putting your faith in a scrap heap kicker when you have three timeouts at your disposal that you could have used to potentially put six on the board.
Even more egregious was near the end of regulation, where again after a long reception by Darnell Mooney, Morris inexplicably kept his timeout in his pocket, allowing time to drip off the clock as the offense rushed 25 yards downfield to get set. The result was a 56-yard kick attempt from Riley Patterson — again, a recently signed kicker — that fell about five yards short.
Morris’ failure to recognize the situation and use his timeouts would not be acceptable at any level of football, let alone the NFL. His quip about thinking, ‘The guys would get down the field quicker’ was an unnecessary rationalization for poor decision-making. This was an indictment of him as a game manager and will continue to be a pall on his coaching tenure should the Falcons not get right next year.