FLOWERY BRANCH — Wide receiver Drake London and running back Tyler Allgeier are developing into a nice one-two punch for the Falcons late in the season.
The two rookies will be the X-factors when the Falcons (5-9) face the Ravens (9-5) at 1 p.m. Sunday at M&T Bank in Baltimore.
“At one point, we just handed the ball off to Allgeier from a rookie quarterback (Desmond Ridder),” Falcons offensive coordinator Dave Ragone said. “The next play, we threw to a rookie wide receiver in Drake.”
London caught 7 of 11 targets in the loss to the Saints on Sunday, while Allgeier is coming off his first 100-yard game. He rushed 17 times for 139 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
“Through the evaluation process, either in college or free agency, there is a certain type of intent, vision, patience,” Ragone said. “Every carry that Tyler gets, Tyler gets better.”
With tight end Kyle Pitts on injured reserve, the Falcons needed some playmakers to step forward.
“We have to put those guys in the best positions where the experience in the NFL is not going to be high because they are rookies,” Ragone said. “We have to make sure that we put them in a situation where they can ultimately tilt toward being successful.”
Allgeier had a 76.5% success rate against the Saints, the highest by any running back in a game this season with a minimum of 15 carries, according to Next Gen Stats. He earned plus-61 running yards over expected (RYOE – the difference between actual rushing yards over expected rushing yards) in Week 15 (tied 2nd most).
He leads all rookies with plus-136 rushing yards over expected this season, which ranks seventh overall among running backs.
Allgeier was productive while facing a stacked box on 47.06% of his rushes against the Saints, the fourth highest rate in the league last week.
“As coaches, seeing them evolve from when they got here, when we drafted them to where they are today in mid-December, you grow an appreciation for how they go about (their business) as professionals,” Ragone said.
London, who must shake off the late-game fumble Sunday, has progressed, too.
“It’s hard to have guys, wide, wide open in the National Football League,” Ragone said. “You want guys who are fearless and understand space and you can trust. He’s shown in times, in critical situations those (traits).”
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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 Panthers 25, Falcons 15
Nov. 20 Falcons 27, Bears 24
Nov. 27 Commanders 19, Falcons 13
Dec. 4 Steelers 19, Falcons 16
BYE WEEK
Dec. 18 Saints 21, Falcons 18
Dec. 24 at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Jan. 1 vs. Arizona, 1 p.m.
Jan. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, TBD
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