Falcons’ depleted secondary ‘no excuse’ for final drive

Injuries left the Falcons depleted in the secondary against the Browns on Sunday and quarterback Brian Hoyer took advantage during the game-winning drive.

Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (wrist) and safety William Moore (shoulder) didn’t dress for the game. Robert McClain, Alford’s replacement in the lineup, went down with a calf injury in the third quarter.

The injuries forced Josh Wilson into the starting lineup to replace McClain and Javier Arenas became the fifth defensive back in the “nickel package.” Second-year safety Kemal Ishmael has started the past seven games in place of Moore.

“Injuries are not an excuse in the NFL,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said on Monday. “We’ve got to make those plays. There’s opportunity to get off the field and we need to get off the field. We need to stop them. It was way too easy.”

Hoyer completed four consecutive passes on the final drive to set up Billy Cundiff’s game-winning field goal.

On Hoyer’s first completion of the drive, Wilson and linebacker Paul Worrilow were a step late getting to Hoyer on a blitz. Hoyer completed an 11-yard pass to Miles Austin, who beaten Ishamel’s coverage.

Hoyer’s next completion, a 24-yard completion down the middle to Josh Gordon, was placed in a space behind Dezmen Southward, the No. 3 safety, and in front of Worrilow. Browns tight end Gary Barnidge then split coverage by Ishmael and safety Dwight Lowery and broke a tackle attempt by Ishmael for an 11-yard gain on the final play.