The Falcons’ three-game win streak was abruptly ended Sunday by a Seattle Seahawks team that came to Mercedes-Benz Stadium firing on all cylinders, handing Atlanta a 34-14 defeat.
A key moment came just before halftime as the Seahawks got the ball on their own 32-yard-line with just 1:07 left in the first half. Seattle quarterback Geno Smith threw for a few big chunks of yardage, getting all the way down to Atlanta’s 21-yard-line before a penalty backed them up 10 yards.
On the next play, Smith stepped up to avoid the pressure easily, and delivered a perfect strike to receiver DK Metcalf over the middle in the end zone, putting them up 17-7 after the extra point with just four seconds left.
That series of plays summed up the game well for the Falcons’ defense. The pass rush couldn’t get to the quarterback, and the secondary couldn’t get a stop when they needed it.
Going into this game, the Falcons had a league-worst five sacks on the season. They left, still in the league-worst position, with six.
Miscues and unforced errors were the theme for the Falcons’ offense and special teams on Sunday.
Kicker Younghoe Koo missed a field goal from 54 yards out in the second quarter, his second miss from beyond 50 this season.
Down 24-14 early in the fourth, quarterback Kirk Cousins scrambled out to his left as the pocket collapsed. He couldn’t outrun Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe though, who pounced on him, forcing a fumble returned 64 yards for a touchdown by another Seahawks’ edge rusher, Derick Hall.
Cousins, on the Falcons’ next drive, threw an interception that went straight through the hands of receiver Drake London, who has been the Falcons’ most sure-handed receiving option.
Cousins threw his second pick on the next drive, sailing the ball over tight end Kyle Pitts‘ head and into the hands of defensive back Coby Bryant, the first pick of his career.
Sunday wasn’t all bad for the Falcons, however.
Atlanta’s rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. got the first snaps of his career on Sunday after Cousins’ second interception. He completed one pass to another rookie, receiver Casey Washington for 14 yards.
Running back Bijan Robinson showed he still isn’t slowing down any time soon. He put up 103 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, and added another 40 yards with three catches.
Head coach Raheem Morris said he was well aware of the team’s all-around struggles after the game.
“We didn’t play well as a unit across the board. Special teams, offense or defense,” Morris said in his postgame press conference. “We did not come out with the energy that was required to win a football game today, and we need to be better.”
Next Sunday the Falcons head to Tampa to face the Buccaneers for the second time this season.
