Looking ahead
After ending a three-game losing streak with a 31-23 victory over Tampa Bay last Sunday, the Falcons (2-4) travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals (3-4) Sunday. Arizona is the second of four NFC West opponents on the Falcons’ schedule. Atlanta defeated the Rams 31-24 on Sept. 15 at the Georgia Dome and will play the Seahawks on Nov. 10 at home and at the 49ers on Dec. 23.
Arizona lost 34-22 to visiting Seattle on Thursday to drop to 0-3 in its division. The Cardinals own victories over Detroit, Tampa Bay and Carolina and also lost at New Orleans.
There are three subplots:
- Action for Jackson?: Falcons running back Steven Jackson hasn't practiced, much less played, since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 2 but could return this week. Atlanta's running game has stalled without him, with the average yards per rush declining each game to a season-low of one yard (18 yards on 18 attempts) against the Buccaneers.
- Abraham's "A-game": Tampa Bay didn't sack quarterback Matt Ryan, hurried him five times and hit him once in 27 drop backs, according to Pro Football Focus. Smith said he expects to get Cardinals defensive end John Abraham's "A game" after the Falcons released him in March. Abraham hadn't made much of an impact for Arizona until recording two sacks and two forced fumbles against Seattle.
- Attacking Arizona: The Falcons had good results pressuring Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon with blitzes and maintaining tight coverage when the pressure didn't get to him. But Glennon is a rookie who has been thrust into the starting role on a bad team. Cardinals veteran Carson Palmer is more capable of taking advantage if Atlanta's blitzes aren't effective.
Sound bites
"At best, this is an 8-8 team that will not make a wild card (playoff slot). I know the NFL is a business, but out of respect to Tony (Gonzalez), they should sit him down and ask him if he wants to go to a contender. Tony has to make that decision." — Fox NFL Sunday analyst Jimmy Johnson
By the numbers
67
Falcons’ red-zone touchdown percentage over last two games.
39
Falcons’ red-zone touchdown percentage over first four games.
Twitterati
Todd McClure — @ToddMcclure62
Retired Falcons center
“Time for a big play. Good to see @M_Ryan02 with a smile on his face.”
Quotable
"It was a safety blitz, we were both going. (William Moore) was the free guy and caused the fumble. I scooped and scored. It was fun. I vowed I would have more of a dance celebration for my first touchdown. But it was kind of spur of the moment so I didn't have any time to prepare for it." — Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud on his 30-yard fumble return for a touchdown against the Bucs.
"Whenever you can get a win, period, it doesn't matter how you do it, how many points you win by. It's always a big deal." — Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglas
Falcons notes
Bye week drawing board: With the Falcons at 1-4 and reeling during the bye week, coach Mike Smith said he and his staff took a deeper look at their methods and strategies to see what needed to be changed.
Some of the new wrinkles they came up with against the Buccaneers included an eight-man rotation on the defensive line and moving defensive coordinator Mike Nolan from the press box to the sidelines during the game.
“When you have a bye week, you get an opportunity to study your football team with even more depth,” Smith said. “Our coaching staff did a very good job looking at all things. We take a holistic approach in everything we do.”
Going deep: The game Sunday marked just the second time this season the Falcons used more than seven defensive linemen and the first time the seventh and eighth men played more than a handful of snaps.
Rookies Stansly Maponga (22) and Malliciah Goodman (35) each played a season-high snaps. Maponga played mostly on run downs while Goodman was an every-down end.
Smith said the rotation was predetermined and players took their shifts during their assigned series regardless of game situation. The Falcons had used the strategy in previous years but Smith said the young linemen weren’t ready to contribute earlier in the season.
“It keeps our guys fresher and we are all about competition,” Smith said. “I think it is very important to have a competitive situation each and every week. I think we are creating that right now in the defensive front.”
"Unacceptable" fumbles: Harry Douglas fumbled away a punt return in the loss at Miami Sept. 22. Douglas kept the job for the next two games but with injuries forcing him to start at wide receiver, rookie Robert Alford handled punts against the Buccaneers. And he lost a fumble.
Alford’s third-quarter gaffe led to a Buccaneers touchdown that cut Atlanta’s lead to 24-17. Smith said coaches would decide during the week if Alford would keep the job.
“We have confidence in Robert Alford but have to make decisions that are best for us moving forward,” Smith said. “We’ve now put two balls on the ground in punting situations, which is totally unacceptable.”
Up next
The Arizona Cardinals (3-4) Sunday at 4:25 p.m. (EDT) at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
“Larry Fitzgerald. Wow!” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “Without a doubt, one of the top wide receivers in NFL. I’ve had the opportunity to play against him a number of times and he’s a guy know that you have to know where he is and know how to defend him. … I know (quarterback) Carson Palmer is learning a new offense and his numbers probably are not as good as they want them to be. But he is a guy that can spin the football. He’s got a strong arm and can throw the ball down the field.”
Compiled by Michael Cunningham
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