Over the offseason in 2012, the Falcons decided to pay quarterback Matt Ryan like he was a Super Bowl winning quarterback.
But since the big pay day, Ryan has a pedestrian 9-21 record.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
On Sunday against Pittsburgh without wide receiver Julio Jones, he needed to lift his team to victory. He tried. Oh, how he tried. He had the two big scrambles, but the Ice Man could not cobble together enough plays to erase a big interception that was returned for a touchdown and the offense stalled in the redzone -- twice in the third quarter -- when it needed to take over the game.
Based on twitter feedback some wanted to blame the lack of the pass rush or the defense in general. But this team was built to win on offense and Ryan didn’t deliver at home.
Now, Ryan and the Falcons are facing must win games in New Orleans, where they are 1-6 under head coach Mike Smith, and at home against Carolina.
While the Falcons will play the injury-charade game, we don’t expect Jones to play against the Saints, barring a miracle healing from the Reggie White-led football Gods. Therefore, if the Falcons are going to win the NFC South, Ryan will need to elevate this flawed team in the Big Easy and at home against Cam Newton or Derek Anderson.
He knows it, too.
Let’s move on to the grades.
GAME BALL: Sharod (Roddy) Lamor White. He became the franchise's all-time leading touchdown scorer with a 4-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.
C-minus – Quarterback: The normally accurate Matt Ryan was off on too many key passes. On the opening drive, he made a sweet move to get out to his left and found White, but the pass was behind him. His interception may have been Harry Douglas's fault, but neither 2008 draft classmate would throw one or another under the bus. Ryan said he shouldn't have thrown it. Douglas said Gay jumped the route. We thought Douglas cheated on his route and took it up field too quickly when it should have been a flat inside-cut. He also missed Devin Hester on a touchdown pass, but it didn't really matter because Douglas was called for illegal contact. Ryan completed 26 of 37 passes for 310 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He finished with a passer rating of 102.3 yards. He missed Julio Jones (hip injury) dearly.
B – Running backs: The Falcons were off to a promising day running the ball, but after they fell behind 13-0 and 20-7, they had to abandon the run. They have been averaging 27 carries over the past six games, but only had 20 carries for 97 yards against the Steelers. The running backs had 17 carries for 70 yards. Steven Jackson surpassed the great John Riggins (11,352) for 16th on the NFL's all-time rushing list with 22 yards on the Falcons opening possession. He finished the game with 46 yards on 11 carries while averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Jackson is the NFL's leading active rusher with 11,379 career rushing yards.
B — Wide receivers/Tight ends: Douglas had 10 catches on 14 targets for 131 yards with a long of 41 yards. White had seven catches on 10 targets for 58 yards and one touchdown. Devin Hester had five catches on six targets for 85 yards and he did a foolish touchdown dance with the team trailing 13-7. He had a 46-yard catch on a screen pass. The group caught 26 passes of the 37 targets, a respectable effort without Jones, who warmed up in the training room and didn't make it to the field to test out his hip injury.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
C — Offensive Line: The Falcons have to protect Ryan. Tight end Bear Pascoe whiffed on Jason Worilds and allowed the quarterback to be splattered. A bizarre roughing the passer penalty was called, but that does not absolve Pascoe from the whiff. Ryan was sacked once and hit five times. He scrambled his way to safety three times for 27 yards. The line was opening some holes in the run game, but the Falcons had to throw after falling behind. The coaching staff still doesn't have any confidence in the unit in short-yardage situations. There were four of four pass plays called on third-and-3 or less and they punted on a fourth-and-2 late. Instead of going for it, the Falcons elected to send the 32nd ranked defense back out on the field.
B — Defensive line: Give them credit for holding the point of attack in the run game. They held Le'Veon Bell to 47 yards rushing on 20 carries, but it was the same story in the passing game: no pressure. The only sack came on a stunt from nose tackle Paul Soliai and they had five quarterback hits. When the Falcons blitz, they never get free. It looks like they run right into the blockers inside of trying to take path around them and to the quarterback.
A — Linebackers: Paul Worrilow (11 tackles), Joplo Bartu (seven) and Prince Shembo (two) helped to control the Steelers vaunted rushing attack. Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who's on injured reserve, was seen showing Shembo some cutups on the sidelines with his iPad. They stepped up to their challenge.
C-minus — Defensive backs: It's really hard to grade this crew when they are regularly asked to cover for six to eight seconds. That's impossible. Yes, the Steelers did pass for 360 yards, but when you're playing pitch-and-catch with no pressure, that's to be expected. Roethlisberger tried to attack nickel back Robert McClain, but he kept scrapping. Being a Falcons defensive back with no pressure has to be one of the worst jobs in the NFL.
C-minus — Special teams: Hester had a 43-yard kickoff return, but it was wasted as Ryan tossed the pick-six on the ensuing offensive play. Eric Weems, Pat DiMarco, Javier Arenas and Matt Bosher had specials teams tackles. Matt Bryant made his chip shot field goals after the offense stalled in the red zone.
A-minus — Coaches: The Falcons had a plan. But I'm with Roddy White. It's on the players at this point. There were no play call problems or clock management issues. The Falcons should have gone for the fourth down-and-2 with 4:34 to play. Nobody in the building that the 32nd ranked defense would get a stop and they didn't.
NEXT UP: The Falcons (5-9) play the New Orleans Saints (5-8) at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Superdome. The Saints play the dysfunctional Chicago Bears tonight at 8:30 p.m. on Monday Night Football.
FALCONS FAN MAILBAG: We take your questions from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
ICYMI: In case you missed it
GAME STORY: Steelers knock Falcons out of first place with 27-20 wi n
QUOTEBOARD: What the Falcons had to say after the loss to the Steelers
SIDEBAR: Falcons slow Bell but not Steelers wide receivers
SIDEBAR: A franchise record for Roddy White, but no reason to celebrate
COLUMN: The blame for lose No. 9 falls on Matt Ryan -- Mark Bradley
NOTEBOOK: Jones, Moore held out with injuries
BY THE NUMBERS: Steelers 27, Falcons 20
UP NEXT: The New Orleans Saints at the Superdome where the Falcons are 1-6 under Coach Smith
