1. The no-spin zone: The Falcons (5-9) still have a chance to make the playoffs, but a lot has to happen in their remaining three games.
First and foremost -- they must win Saturday as seven-point underdogs on the road against the Ravens (9-5) and find a way to jump-start an offense which hasn’t scored more than 18 points in their past five losses.
“Most importantly, we have to find a way to win,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “That’s all we are concerned about is Baltimore and the challenge. Not letting the other things distract us.”
The final two games are at home – Jan. 1 vs. Arizona and Jan. 8 vs. Tampa Bay. They’ll have a chance to beat the Cardinals, who will be without quarterback Kyler Murray, but will be underdogs in the regular-season finale against the Buccaneers.
If they close out 1-2, they will finish with a record for 7-10 in a season were their over/under for wins was set at 4.5 by oddsmakers. So, they’ve already overachieved.
The Falcons, who are playing with an NFL-record $82.8 million in dead salary-cap space, have played tough all season, but have gone 4-7 in one-score games.
Given the dead cap space and the $22.2 million in salaries currently on injured reserve, and you have a team that’s been taking the proverbial switch blade to a gun fight.
It’s going to be a busy offseason, with the Falcons having a projected $71.8 million in salary-cap space to pursue some help across the board.
The Falcons won’t say they are rebuilding, but that’s what has happened this season.
The offensive line has exceeded expectations and helped to carve out the third-ranked rushing attack in the league. That’s something that they can build around.
Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett needs some help up front and the team needs to find some defensive backs who can hold up in man-to-man coverage.
2. Allgeier’s big run: Smith cited blocks from wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Parker Hesse to help spring running back Tyler Allgeier on his 43-yard run against the Saints.
“They really made that thing go,” Smith said. “Tyler broke that first tackle. That was a huge play in the game.”
3A. Grant’s big gamble: Falcons free safety Richie Grant gambled and lost last week on a pass from Taysom Hill to Rashid Shaheed that resulted in a 68-yard touchdown pass for the Saints. Smith was asked when was it OK to gamble and try to undercut routes.
“He just misjudged it,” Smith said. “Shaheed turned him around, and as he’s playing it. That’s a tough lesson to learn. He misjudged it, going under it going back. That’s what happened. Everybody saw it.”
3B. Preparing for Huntley: Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury, did not practice Tuesday.
Tyler Huntley is 1-1 as a starter with Jackson out.
“Lamar is on a different level,” Smith said. “He’s a guy that, unless you’re playing him, he’s one of the most exciting players to watch. It’s rare when you have a player that when he has the ball in his hands, he can score from anywhere.”
The Falcons are preparing as if Jackson will play.
“He’s an electric football player,” Smith said. “That’s not a shot at anybody. There’s only one Lamar Jackson. You saw it at Louisville, and he’s done the same thing in the National Football League. We’ve got to prepare for him.”
The Ravens are in a battle for the AFC North title and are one game behind the Bengals. “I’m sure the narrative all week, they will say he’s going to play and probably won’t know until Saturday,” Smith said. “We have to prepare for him.”
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
4. Series history: This is the seventh meeting. The Ravens lead the series 4-2. The Falcons’ last win was a 26-21 victory Nov. 11, 2010 at the Georgia Dome.
5. Falcons injury report: Falcons offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, who has a knee injury, returned to practice Tuesday.
He was listed as limited on the team’s official injury report. Edoga has played in two games and made one start for the Falcons.
6. Huntley to IR, pass rusher signed: Running back Caleb Huntley, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in the Falcons’ 21-18 loss to the Saints, was placed on injured reserve by the Falcons on Tuesday.
The Falcons signed outside linebacker David Anenih to the 53-man roster off the Steelers’ practice squad.
Huntley, an undrafted rookie from Ball State who played at Locust Grove High, spent most of last season on the practice squad. He made the roster this season.
Huntley had earned a spot in the rotation and rushed 76 times for 366 yards and a touchdown this season.
He’s set to have surgery on his Achilles.
Anenih, 23, played at Houston and went undrafted. He signed with the Titans.
Anenih, 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, has not played in an NFL game. He played in 56 games at Houston from 2017-21 and had 20 sacks. He was first-team All-American Athletic Conference in 2021.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
7. FitzPatrick activated: Rookie tight end John FitzPatrick, who was drafted in the sixth round (213th overall) of the NFL draft and has been on injured reserve all season, returned to practice Tuesday.
Also, center/guard Matt Hennessy, who had his 21-day activation period from injured reserve started last week, is progressing.
FitzPatrick, who played at Marist and Georgia, had an undisclosed injury. However, Georgia coach Kirby Smart said at the Bulldogs’ Pro Day that FitzPatrick played most of the 2021 season with broken bones in his feet.
8. TALE OF TAPE: Here’s how the Falcons and Ravens match up statistically:
Falcons Ravens
21.9 (15) Pts/Game 21.7 (16)
315.0 (28) Tot Offense 345.4 (16)
164.1 (3) Net Rush Yds/Game 164.7 (2)
150.9 (31) Net Pass Yds/Game 180.6 (27)
29:03 (26) Possession Avg. 32:00 (4)
23.8 (22) Opp Pts/Game 18.8 (4)
378.3 (28) Opp Tot Offense 327.0 (10)
129.9 (21) Opp Rush Yds/Game 85.6 (3)
248.4 (28) Opp Pass Yds/Game 241.4 (25)
-2 (19t) Turnover Differential 7 (3t)
#Falcons are ranked right before the 33rd team. https://t.co/ZIEWwjxOXJ
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) December 21, 2022
9. Depth chart: Despite posting his first 100-yard rushing game, running back Tyler Allgeier remained listed as RB2 on the official depth chart released by the Falcons.
Allgeier rushed 17 times for 139 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the 21-18 loss to the Saints. Cordarrelle Patterson remained as RB1.
The team just listed Desmond Ridder and Logan Woodside as the QB2. Since they Falcons used the Feleipe Franks package against the Saints we inserted him as QB3.
Rookie Troy Andersen who made his second start of the season was moved to ILB1 spot alongside of Rashaan Evans, with Mykal Walker listed behind Andersen.
Here’s the Falcons’ latest depth chart:
OFFENSE
QB – Desmond Ridder, Logan Woodside, Feleipe Franks
RB – Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier, Avery Williams
FB – Keith Smith
WR – Drake London, Damiere Byrd, Frank Darby
TE – Parker Hesse, MyCole Pruitt, Anthony Firkser, Feleipe Franks
LT – Jake Matthews
LG – Elijah Wilkinson, Chuma Edoga, Colby Gossett
C – Drew Dalman, Ryan Neuzil
RG – Chris Lindstrom
RT – Kaleb McGary, Germain Ifedi
WR – Olamide Zaccheaus, KhaDarel Hodge
DEFENSE
OLB – Lorenzo Carter, DeAngelo Malone
DE – Grady Jarrett, Tim Horne
NT – Abdullah Anderson, Jalen Dalton
DE – Matt Dickerson, Jaleel Johnson
OLB – Ade Ogundeji, Arnold Ebiketie, David Anenih
ILB – Rashaan Evans, Nick Kwiatkoski
ILB – Troy Andersen, Mykal Walker
CB – A.J. Terrell, Isaiah Oliver, Mike Ford, Rashad Fenton
FS – Jaylinn Hawkins, Jovante Moffatt
SS – Richie Grant, Erik Harris
CB – Darren Hall, Dee Alford, Cornell Armstrong
SPECIAL TEAMS
K – Younghoe Koo
P/H – Bradley Pinion
LS – Liam McCullough
PR – Avery Williams
KOR – Cordarrelle Patterson or Avery Williams
