FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons rank fourth in the NFL in rushing (162.9 yards per game) but only 30th in passing (157.2 ypg).
A little more production in the passing game will help the Falcons sustain drives and become more potent.
An improvement in the passing game will be the X-factor when the Falcons (4-5) play at the Panthers (2-7) at 8:15 p.m. Thursday in an important NFC South game. The Falcons are tied for first place but are 1-2 in the division, with losses to Tampa Bay and New Orleans.
They need to sweep the Panthers.
Getting the ball more to tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London is rather obvious, but the key player may be wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, who has caught 22 of 25 targets (88%) for 331 yards and two touchdowns. Of his 22 catches, 17 have gone for first downs.
“Yeah, I feel like I can take on more, for sure,” Zaccheaus said. “But I just do what I’m told. I just do it to the best of my ability. Just try to make plays when they come to me.”
Zaccheaus ranks second on the team with 106 yards after a catch. London has 113 yards after a catch.
“At the end of the day, it’s about winning,” Zaccheaus said. “So, I’m understanding. But could I take more, sure.”
Zaccheaus doesn’t have any dropped passes, and quarterback Marcus Mariota has a 145.4 passer rating when throwing to Zaccheaus. Mariota’s full passer rating is 90.
“For OZ, the more volume that guy gets, the more plays he can do for us,” Mariota said. “We’re finding every way that we can to get him the rock because I do really think he’s a great player for us. He’s made a lot of big plays for us throughout the year.”
Mariota passed for a season-high 253 yards Oct. 30 in the previous meeting with the Panthers. However, he’s had five games with fewer than 150 yards passing.
Falcons offensive coordinator Dave Ragone believes it’s a team effort to improve the passing attack.
“We need to continue to put more drives together, score in the red zone, touchdowns,” Ragone said. “If you look especially, last week, 2-for-4, that’s not good enough. What we need to do and consistently do, is stay on the field.”
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The Bow Tie Chronicles
Atlanta Falcons 2022 schedule
Sept. 11: Saints 27, Falcons 26
Sept. 18: Rams 31, Falcons 27
Sept. 25 Falcons 27, Seahawks 23
Oct. 2 Falcons 23, Browns 20
Oct. 9 Buccaneers 21, Falcons 15
Oct. 16 Falcons 28, 49ers 14
Oct. 23 Bengals 35, Falcons 17
Oct. 30 Falcons 37, Panthers 34 OT
Nov. 6 Chargers 20, Falcons 17
Nov. 10 at Carolina, 8:15 p.m.
Nov. 20 vs. Chicago, 1 p.m.
Nov. 27 at Washington, 1 p.m.
Dec. 4 vs. Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
BYE WEEK
Dec. 18 at New Orleans, TBD
Dec. 24 at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Jan. 1 vs. Arizona, 1 p.m.
Jan. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, TBD
