The Atlanta Falcons took a troublesome 22–17 loss at house Sunday night time to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The defeat was much more painful as a result of Atlanta had a possibility for the profitable rating on its remaining possession.
After shifting 49 yards to the Chiefs’ 13-yard line, the Falcons confronted a fourth-and-1 to maintain the drive alive with 0:58 remaining. Nonetheless, as a substitute of calling for a quarterback sneak that presumably would have gotten a primary down with lower than a yard to achieve, Atlanta known as for an outdoor run for Bijan Robinson to the left that was smothered by the Chiefs protection.
Robinson misplaced three yards on the play and the Falcons turned the ball — and the sport — over on downs.
Atlanta coach Raheem Morris was requested on Monday concerning the play name on that fourth down (and the third-down name on which Tyler Allgeier was tackled for no acquire). Why not name a QB sneak that may be a brief push quite than an outdoor run that wanted to develop?
“Positively was a part of the dialogue final night time, sneaks and issues of that nature,” Morris mentioned, through reporter Terrin Waack. “I really feel actually good with our two backs.”
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on why the fourth-and-1 play name wasn’t a quarterback sneak: “Positively was a part of the dialogue final night time, sneaks and issues of that nature. I really feel actually good with our two (operating) backs.” Simply did not work that point.
— Terrin Waack (@TerrinWaack) September 23, 2024
Morris is true that he has two productive operating backs in Robinson and Allgeier. But Kansas Metropolis had held each gamers in verify to that time. Robinson had 34 yards to that time (averaging 2.3 yards per carry), whereas Allgeier had 32. But there was lower than a yard to achieve. Even when a QB sneak wasn’t most popular, why not name for an inside run?
Requested if that was offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s name, quite than his, Morris mentioned the choice was made as a employees.
“In that specific scenario, that was collaborative,” Morris mentioned. “It clearly did not work. However that was not a self-made resolution by anyone.”
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on whether or not offensive coordinator Zac Robinson made that fourth-and-1 play name: “In that specific scenario, that was collaborative. … It clearly did not work. However that was not a self-made resolution by anyone.”
— Terrin Waack (@TerrinWaack) September 23, 2024
Was there worry of placing Kirk Cousins via that grinder of a play coming off a torn Achilles harm? Was there doubt about backup heart Ryan Neuzil, taking up for the injured Drew Dalman, having the ability to execute that play correctly?
These might have been issues within the dialogue that Morris mentioned befell earlier than the fourth-down name. However as he mentioned plainly, the sweep play that Falcons coaches went with did not work. Because of this, Atlanta is 1–2 after its first three video games and left to dwell over probably having a profitable file if higher performs and selections had been made.
