The Falcons turned in an absolutely pitiful performance and appear headed for another losing season.
“Our young players, our old players have all contributed to this, and we have to get it fixed, and nothing is off the table in regards to what we have to do to be better,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said.
The Falcons dropped to 2-4 after they couldn’t move the ball against a middle-of-the-pack Chicago defense that was playing without its starting linebackers. There were no Wilbur Marshall or Fridge Perry sightings at the Dome.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
The offense is fractured and the defense continued to hemorrhage yards as they made Jay Cutler look Slingin’ Sam Baugh. He passed for 381 yards.
Here are the Falcons’ grades for the 27-13 lost to the Chicago Bears.
GAME BALLS: Running back Antone Smith and defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi showed some pass rush as he had a sack and two tackles for losses. He leads the team with two of the seven sacks.
F – Quarterback: Matt Ryan completed 19 of 37 passes for 271 yards and was victimized by his receivers. He had one interception and finished with a quarterback rating of 73.1. The offense had a season-low 12 first downs and converted on 4 of 13 (31 percent) third downs. Over the past two games, the offense has converted on 6 of 26 third downs (23 percent) situations.
D — Offensive Line: They got off to a good start, but for the second week in a row they crumbled in the second half. They gave up four sacks and seven quarterback hits on 24 pass drop backs in the second half.
F --Wide recievers/tight ends: Julio Jones, who had two dropped passes, caught four passes for 68 yards against the Bears. His 44 receptions this season are the second-most in the NFL while his 620 yards rank third. He has caught 44 of 66 passes (66.7 percent) and has four drops this season. Levine Toilolo had three dropped passes against the Bears. Roddy White, who has been struggling this season, had two dropped passes against the Bears. He's caught 19 of his 37 targeted passes (57.4 percent) and has four drops.
D -- Running backs: Antone Smith scored on a 41-yard reception. Smith and Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch are the only players in the NFL to record multiple touchdowns both rushing and receiving this season. Smith's five total touchdowns rank tied for the sixth most in the NFL.
F — Defensive line: There was no sustainable pressure again and they didn't stop the run. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora appears to be getting frustrated with this designated pass rusher nonsense. The Falcons have started to cut Kroy Biermann's snaps. He played 42 of 73 snaps (58 percent). He played 68 percent against the Giants and 75 percent against the Vikings. Biermann and Paul Soliai split a sack. The Bears ran the ball 28 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
F — Linebackers: Joplo Bartu started for Prince Shembo, who was questionable with an ankle injury. He'd started the past two games and was supposed to get more action as a pass rusher. He played 12 plays on special teams. Bartu and Paul Worrilow had six tackles.
F — Defensive backs: Jay Cutler orchestrated explosive pass plays of 74, 47, 26, 25 and 20 yards. Cornerback Desmond Trufant appeared to be passing Alshon Jeffery off to safety Kemal Ishmael on the 74-yarder. Cornerback Robert Alford had a nice breakup on a fade route to Brandon Marshall. Both Marshall and Jeffery had over 100 yards receiving. "Obviously, there was some confusion on some deep routes, and we've got to be much better at it," coach Mike Smith said. "They weren't always the same coverage; they were different coverages, and we have to make sure that we are seeing it the same way."
C — Special teams: The Falcons wasted two 50-plus yard field goals from kicker Matt Bryant. Punter Matt Bosher booted a 23-yard punt and failed to pin the Bears inside the 20. Devin Hester had two punt returns for 10 yards with a long of 12. He had two kickoff returns for 44 yards, including a long of 26.
F — Coaches: This is really the halfway point of the season if you count the exhibition season. The Falcons have played 10 games and have 10 games to play. The coaching staff knows what doesn't work now and needs to scrap some things, perhaps starting with the revamped defense. The plan to rotate so many players hasn't worked and has led to some of the confusion. Put the best players out there and let them play. Also, the coaches still haven't figured out how to get the ball to their most consistent playmaker, running back Antone Smith. They'll have to figure out a way to get things moving over this tough stretch of the season or it's going to be another losing season. The offense was held to a season-low 42 rushing yards and a season-low 12 first downs. The third down woes continued as the receivers dropping seven passes. If the Falcons are going to turnaround the season, the coaching staff most make some bold moves.
NEXT UP: The Falcons (2-4) play the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) at 1 p.m. Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
GAME STORY: Jay Cutler's aerial attack leads Bears over Falcons, 27-13
COLUMN: Mark Bradley -- The 2-4 Falcons stand revealed as a house of cards
Cutler makes Falcons pay, especially on third down
Another big-play touchdown for Falcons RB Antone Smith
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