In perhaps the most anticipated season in Falcons history, the team showed it needs much improvement to legitimize its status as a Super Bowl contender.
While last season’s 13-3 team fell 10 yards short of the Super Bowl, there clearly is more work to be done after losing 34-10 to the rugged “Hard Knocks” Cincinnati Bengals in the exhibition season opener Friday night at the Georgia Dome.
The starting offense — playing without future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez (family leave) and wide receiver Julio Jones (tight hamstrings) — was sluggish and didn’t run effectively with newly acquired running back Steven Jackson. The first-team defense was steady, but not spectacular.
Quarterback Matt Ryan led the offense to a lone field goal in three possessions. The Falcons tried to run some I-formation power on a third-and 2 of their first possession, but Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins, a former Georgia Bulldog, plowed through the rebuilt right side of the line and stuffed Jackson in the backfield.
Kicker Matt Bryant came on to kick a 37-yard field goal before the Bengals scored 17 consecutive points on their way to a 17-3 halftime lead.
During the opening drive, the Falcons caught the Bengals in a cornerback blitz. Ryan connected with wide receiver Harry Douglas for a 42-yard gain. Ryan, who recently signed a five-year, $103.75 million contract extension, completed six of nine passes for 89 yards before giving way to backup quarterback Dominique Davis.
The defense didn’t allow a score as it opened with five defensive linemen and two linebackers. Defensive ends Kroy Biermann and Osi Umenyiora started along with tackles Peria Jerry, Corey Peters and Jonathan Babineaux. Linebackers Akeem Dent and Stephen Nicholas started.
The defense forced three punts — but no three-and-outs — while going against the Bengals’ first-team offense, which was without its top player in wide receiver A.J. Green, another former Georgia player.
With the season-ending injury to Mike Johnson (fractured fibula, dislocated ankle) on Tuesday, Falcons coach Mike Smith planned to keep a watchful on the right tackle position.
“Lamar Holmes was competing with Mike Johnson for the starting position,” Smith said before the game. “(Ryan) Schraeder is going to get some work there. Those two guys are going to get the majority of the work.”
Holmes, who was selected in the third round (91st overall) of the 2012 draft, played only seven snaps last season after having surgery on his left foot for a stress fracture. Schraeder, 25, is the second-oldest rookie among the undrafted free agents, behind linebacker Brian Banks (28).
Schraeder, a native of Wichita, Kan., didn’t play football in high school. After a few years in the work force, he decided to play at Butler Community College in Kansas before having two productive seasons at Valdosta State.
“It will be a competition,” Smith said. “Of course, Lamar has been there a lot longer, but there is going to be competition. We may look at moving someone and cross-training them because when you get to game day, you’ve got to have seven guys (activated) and you’ve got to have guys that can play multiple positions.”
Holmes played well into the second quarter with the first and second teams before giving way to Schraeder.
Last season, the Falcons were 1-3 in their exhibition games before winning their first eight regular-season games on the way to the NFC South title and the NFC Championship game.
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