As the Falcons prepare to travel to play the Giants on Sunday they appear no closer to solving their issues with winning away from the Georgia Dome, especially outdoors.
Their 41-28 loss at Minnesota on Sunday was their ninth consecutive defeat in outdoor games, including a 24-10 loss at the Bengals on Sept. 18.It’s a pressing issue because the Falcons will play one game at the Georgia Dome from now until Nov. 23.
“We have to address it,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We’ve had conversations as coaching staff, with the players. It’s hard to win on the road but if we want to be kind of team we want to be (in the playoffs) we’ve got to split on the road. Right now we have not played anywhere close to getting the outcome that we want. “
Smith said he plans to address the road issues with his assistants and players but doesn’t want put too much focus on the issue because it could be counterproductive. He said he tries to make the pregame schedule for road games as close to possible as those of home games.
The Falcons haven’t won a game outdoors since earning a victory at Tampa Bay on Nov. 25, 2012. The Falcons’ only road victory in 2013 came against the Bills in Toronto with the roof closed at the Rogers Centre.
After facing the Giants, the Falcons play Chicago at the Georgia Dome the following Sunday and then go to London to play the Lions on Oct. 26 (Wembley Stadium has a partially-closed, retractable roof). A bye week is followed by games at the Buccaneers and Panthers before the Falcons finally return to the Georgia Dome to play the Browns on Nov. 23.
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