During the exhibition season, the Falcons committed 27 penalties for 252 yards. Projected over a season, that would total 108 penalties. The team’s penalty rate was one of coach Mike Smith’s major concerns heading into the season.
The yellow flags haven’t stopped flying.
Through the first three games, the Falcons have committed 16 penalties for 131 yards. Last week against Miami, they had seven penalties including three on special-teams plays. They are on pace to commit 85.3 penalties.
“We can’t do that,” special-teams coordinator Keith Armstrong said. “We have to play penalty-free football because of spot fouls. They aren’t 10-yard penalties. They are 30 and 40 yards penalties. We can’t do that. We cannot do that. You’ll eventually beat yourself.”
The Falcons set an NFL record in 2012 for the fewest accepted penalties during a 16-game season. The Falcons were penalized only 55 times during the regular season, breaking the mark of 57 set by the 2008 New England Patriots. Before breaking the mark, the 2010 Falcons ranked second on the all-time list, with 58 penalties.
In 2012, the Falcons also set the league-record for fewest penalty yards (415) in a 16-game season. The 2007 Seattle Seahawks (428 yards) held the previous mark.
“You can still be aggressive and play penalty-free football,” Armstrong said. “There is a right way and wrong way to do things, and we’re going to do it the right way.”
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