Here are the grades for the Falcons from their 17-0 loss to the New York Jets in their exhibition season opener on Friday at MetLife Stadium.
Run offense: Tevin Coleman started for Devonta Freeman, who was held out of the game by coach Dan Quinn. Coleman had three rushes for 8 yards. Ito Smith didn't take a firm hold of the third running back spot and was called for a lowering of the helmet penalty. Grade: C-plus
Pass offense: Matt Ryan played one disjointed series. He contended that the offense was much farther along when compared to last season, but that didn't show in this game. Wide receiver Julio Jones was held out in another coaching decision. Ryan was 1 for 1 for minus-2 yards to rookie wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Matt Schaub came on next and was a perfect 9 of 9 for 54 yards. Rookie Kurt Benkert started the third quarter and immediately tossed a 27-yard pass to Dontez Byrd. He had the team on the move before penalties bogged down his first drive and his second stalled in the red zone. He had a pass tipped by Xavier Cooper that was intercepted by linebacker Neville Hewitt. Falcons quarterback. Garrett Grayson came on late in the fourth quarter. Grade: C
Run defense: Takkarist McKinley started at right defensive end and played the run strong. After a tackle, Vic Beasley slapped him upside the helmet. Terrell McClain started at defensive tackle next to Grady Jarrett and was stout. Rookie Deadrin Senat played from the second quarter on but did not distinguish himself. Grade: B
Pass defense: Linebacker Duke Riley was giving chase on Isaiah Crowell's crossing route that he took 16 yards into the end zone for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Jets quarterbacks were able to find holes in the Falcons' zone defenses. They crafted together three 10-play scoring drives by working the short passing game. Safety Damontae Kazee was all over the field and finished with 11 tackles. Linebacker Jonathan Celestin had the Falcons' only sack. It came in the fourth quarter. Grade C-minus
Special teams: Marvin Hall returned punts. Smith and Justin Hardy were back deep for the kickoff return after Crowell's touchdown. The blocking on the kickoffs was porous. In the third quarter, Trenton Cannon muffed a punt but the Falcons could not recover. Punter Matt Bosher was in midseason form as he averaged 44.5 yards on six punts. David Marvin missed 42-yard field goal attempt at the buzzer. Grade C-minus
Coaching: Even though it was the first exhibition game, the Falcons appeared a bit lethargic. No one was expecting them to bring the heat, but a little execution and pop was expected. They Falcons went for it on a fourth-and-2 from the 5-yard line, but Benkert's fade pass to Devin Gray was incomplete. With teams not practicing in pads much, this is what you get when they go into battle for the first time. The Falcons will have to ramp things up for the second and third exhibition games and then throttle down for the fourth game as they are clearly pointing toward the Sept. 6 opener at Philadelphia. Smart moves to pull Jones, Freeman and the starters early. Grade B-plus
Next up: The Falcons host the Kansas City Chiefs at 7 p.m. on Friday at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
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