If you're making a list of the 10 players the Falcons could least afford to lose, Kroy Biermann and Bradie Ewing probably wouldn't make the cut. One blogger's opinion of the "Can't Lose Top 10" (in no particular order): Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, Steven Jackson, Sean Weatherspoon, Osi Umenyiora, William Moore, Jonathan Babineaux, Asante Samuel.

But roster limitations and salary caps being what they are, losing starters obviously has an impact. Biermann suffered a torn Achilles and Ewing a separated shoulder in Sunday's win over St. Louis. Both are out for the season and affect already thin areas of the team.

Consider:

• While Biermann hasn't matched the expectations of some since getting five sacks in his second season in 2009, he starts in the base defense and has proven to be a valuable role player. His speed and mobility allows defensive coordinator Mike Nolan to drop him into pass coverage. Depth already is an issue on the defensive line. The Falcons added Osi Umenyiora to boost their pass rush but released John Abraham in a salary cap move. Biermann's injury likely means more playing time for Cliff Matthews (who suffered a neck injury Sunday but returned after missing some time) and Jonathan Massaquoi, neither oh whom had been able to play their way into a starting position. The Falcons also drafted Stansley Maponga in the fifth round  but he has been inactive the first two games.

• The Falcons' offensive line issues have been well-chronicled, both in the areas of run blocking and pass protection. The team rushed for only 36 yards Sunday after losing running back Steven Jackson (who suffered a thigh injury on his first-quarter touchdown). So the loss of Ewing, a proven blocker in the blocker in the backfield, obviously hurts. It might not seem that finding a competent fullback on the street would be that difficult but Mike Cox was not overwhelming in that role for the team in 2012 after Ewing was injured. (Cox, formerly of Georgia Tech, is unsigned.)

The Falcons haven't played great or with any consistency in their first two games. So losing two starters for the season and having at least three others -- Jackson, Samuel, Weatherspoon -- banged up and uncertain for this week's game at Miami will be an early test for this team. The Dolphins are a surprising 2-0 and coming off an upset of Indianapolis. The Falcons the return home to play New England. So this season can get sideways in a hurry.

The Falcons already had some issues. The losses of Biermann and Ewing just adds to the list.

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A dozen or so ramblings

-- MyAJC ($): Falcons win but they're keeping us guessing

-- Blog: Short takes from Falcons win: Injuries, O-line and Julio

-- MyAJC ($): Poor line play could force Falcons to change their meal ticket: offense

-- Blog: Weekend Predictions: Beware of Bammy, Tech, Spurrier bullying

-- MyAJC ($): Falcons lose opener, largely because they can't block

-- Blog: Three takes from Falcons' loss to Saints

-- Blog: Falcons have bigger problems than narrow losses

-- MyAJC ($): Leadership has been Matt Ryan's strength, not his undoing

-- MyAJC ($): Page 2 Special: It's easy to criticize safety rules from cheap seats

-- MyAJC ($): Georgia fans, others shouldn't obsess over opening losses

-- Blog/MyAJC: Weekend Predictions: Dogs, Falcons win

-- MyAJC ($): Loss to Clemson won't define Georgia's season

-- MyAJC ($): Ludacris, Georgia State not quite 'all in' yet