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Andre Roberts going back to returning the opening kickoff I see. I'm not sure if he actually tries to read the field or just takes off...
Falcons run game was dominant in this game. Outside of some runs that were stopped for a loss, ATL was having plenty of success there.
Which makes the lack of play-action in this game even more confusing. Run game is working, it's supposed to set that up for you...
Missed tackles were a huge issue in this game. Teams are going to eat you up with underneath throws, screens, and draws if you can't wrap up
Duke Riley looks like he has no idea how to tackle at times. He'll just go up to the ballcarrier and put his arms out. Baffling.
Poe and Jarrett both had dominant games. That interior combo is deadly. Only issue is the depth behind them with Crawford and Upshaw out.
Falcons tried Campbell at WILL again on some plays, but it's clear that he's a much better option at SAM. Duke needs to step up.
Neal had some good plays and some bad plays in this game. Had a lot more responsibilities in this one with Rico out.
Falcons gave up a 3rd-and-17, which is bad by itself. It was perfectly executed by Bills. Campbell probably should've been more aggressive.
Charles Clay is clearly the Bills #1 receiving option. Falcons didn't have an answer for him all game long. Will need to find one.
Pass rush was getting pressure, but Tyrod just kept making plays with his legs. That's just what he does.
Trufant played quite poorly in this game. He was regularly getting beat down the field by bad WRs. Dunno whats wrong but it needs to change.
Falcons finally used play-action on their second drive. Matt couldn't take advantage on the throw to a wide open Derrick Coleman. He was off
Heroics by Julio Jones saved that second drive. Unfortunately, Falcons wouldn't have that element later in the game.
Hooper makes plays regularly, but he doesn't get the targets. Why he wasn't a bigger factor after Julio and Sanu went out I don't understand
Again, the deep ball was off. Matt under no pressure. Just floats it too far. Not sure what the disconnect is.
After that one play-action on the first play of the drive, Falcons abandoned it for the remainder of the drive. I don't get it at all.
Run game was working, Bills and aggressive, blitz-happy defense. PA would be a perfect counter to a lot of what they do. Still not used.
Brooks Reed making plays, gets a nice TFL on Shady. He's not flashy, but he's a valuable rotational guy.
Deion Jones successfully spied Tyrod on that 3rd and 15. Wouldn't have that kind of success much later in the game, but encouraging early.
Falcons get a free play on an offsides, and Ryan just sails the ball out of bounds. Why even throw it at that point?
Coleman with a terrific long run. If he hits the hole clean, he's getting 10+ yards. Long speed very impressive, better balance this season.
and a dumb Toilolo hold ends up killing the drive. Team as a whole was just playing sloppy, uninspired football.
Props to the Bills. They tackled well to prevent YAC. Falcons should've run the route a few yards deeper to make sure it wasn't an issue...
Deion Jones shoestring tackle on Tyrod saved a huge gain on that play. It was past the first down, but you take what you can get there.
Joe Vellano was getting absolutely blown up. He's a liability against the run, Falcons need someone else there.
Neal got roasted on that long play to Clay, but the Falcons had ample opportunity to get to Tyrod. DL needs to finish the play.
Trufant got absolutely roasted against Jordan Matthews on that crosser. Not sure why he's looking so slow out there. That was bad, though.
Props to Tyrod, he placed the ball perfectly. Trufant looked like he wanted to undercut the route, but ball placement was too high for him.
Falcons started leaning on their run game after Julio went out. It was working, for the most part. But still no play-action element...
Hooper made a clutch catch on third down, but a good tackle by the Bills prevents him from reaching the first down. Matt under pressure.
Trufant did have a nice pass break-up on Zay Jones late in the second quarter. He's still in there, just needs to get back to his elite ways
Takk was virtually a non-factor in this game. Bills chipped him and used his aggressive nature to take him out of plays. Kudos to them.
If it wasn't for Zay Jones having hands of stone, Bills probably would've been in much better shape. Ball was a bit overthrown, but still.
Falcons special teams strikes again. They didn't have a penalty on every return this time, but still too many. gotta clean that up.
Tevin Coleman really carried the offense after Julio went out. Beautiful long catch down the sideline. He's a monster, needs to be featured.
Very little creativity from Sark with Coleman, though. You have two huge weapons at RB, put them both on the field. Line up Coleman in slot.
Something, anything to take advantage of those mismatches. After impressive offensive gameplans against GB and DET, too vanilla in Week 4.
Again, Ryan absolutely air mails a deep shot to Gabriel. Completely off target. Possible Gabriel ran wrong route, but still just bad.
Nick Williams showing why the Falcons wanted him on the roster with a clutch catch across the middle. He's dependable, if nothing else.
Falcons run game consistently gashing the Bills defense, but Sark still refuses to use play-action. PA should be a staple of this offense.
Sanu wildcat play was fun. Should've scored, TBH, but sad he got hurt there. That type of creativity is what this offense needs, though.
Freeman is able to punch it in at the 1. He's absolutely dead in short-yardage goal line situations. Versatility as a passing option helps.
Brooks Reed again making his presence known just after halftime with a sack on Tyrod. The man deserves to be on the field, and that hair...
Then immediately after, Neal with a great TFL on Tyrod on an option play. Defense came out firing in the third quarter.
Falcons special teams holds on a fair catch. Fair to wonder just what the hell Armstrong is coaching.
After halftime and down their top two WRs, Sark finally started to incorporate more creativity and PA. The pass to FB Coleman was nice.
And the whole game was completely changed with the botched call on the Matt Ryan "fumble".
How you could get it wrong initially, maybe I understand. It's a bang-bang play. But replay clearly showed control and throwing motion.
To then double-down on the bad call, with assistance from the replay center, is completely crazy. Officiating is in a bad spot in the NFL.
It wasn't even a difficult call. Instead of using their eyes, they decided to call it a fumble on "technical" BS. "Maybe ball was moving..."
Falcons played poorly the entire rest of the game after that fumble. Completely changed the outlook and momentum of the game from then on.
Bills went on to win by 6 points. Maybe they still would've won without it, but it certainly helped their case. Thanks, refs.
Falcons then almost turn the ball over again on the ensuing kickoff. After that botched call, the Falcons seemed to have the life sucked out
It was an awful call, but you have to be able to overcome that. Would've liked to see some more fight and better play from the depth.
Nick Williams does nothing but make clutch catches on third down apparently.
Then, on second and 1, Matt makes an abysmal deep throw into triple coverage to the 5'8 Gabriel. No pressure, just an awful pass.
That play is clearly designed for Julio, but the poorness of the throw is the issue. If it had been placed correctly, Gabriel mightve scored
How Ryan could go from one of the best deep passes in the league to one of the worst in one offseason is nonsensical. Something is up.
Could be the protection, or lack of training camp reps with Julio and Gabriel. But whatever it is, they need to get it fixed ASAP.
Before, it was just causing incompletions. Now it's causing bad interceptions. It's officially moved from concern to problem.
After the pick, the D started to look a little gassed and uninterested. Can't have that when you're only down by 4, but I get being upset.
Deion Jones gives up 3rd and 3 to Tyrod despite Tyrod being surrounded by four DL in the backfield. DL MUST finish plays.
Falcons run D starts getting gashed by Shady and Tolbert. Lack of DT depth is apparent here. Need a better option than Vellano there.
Alford gets beat by a double move by Zay Jones. He's too good to give up plays to bad WRs like that.
After making a nice open-field tackle on Shady, Neal goes out of the game. This is where he dislocated his finger. Only out two plays.
To sum up just how unlucky the Falcons were: they finally force a fumble, with Falcons all around, only for a Bills OL to wind up with it.
The Falcons give up another third-and-long to the Bills bad WR corps. This is a problem.
However, in goal to go, the Falcons defense steps up. That's been one part of the team that has improved drastically since 2016. Encouraging
Then the Falcons seem like they're trying desperately to turn the ball over. Coleman fumbles, then Hardy drops an easy catch. Bad series.
When in doubt, go back to the run game. That should be the Falcons offensive motto this year. They've killed teams with their RB tandem.
Sark is baffling at times. Falcons will go series without any creativity, then all the sudden there are awesome plays. Like Coleman screen.
Sark is obviously still working out the kinks, but it's clear there is talent and ingenuity in there SOMEWHERE. Just need consistency.
Bills started selling out to stop the run in the red zone with Julio and Sanu out. Offense simply isn't the same without those two.
Hardy makes up for some of his bad plays with a very nice TD grab. This should've put the Falcons up 17-10, but blown call means its tied.
See what I mean? Game completely changed. Bills aren't the same team when behind. Forcing opponent to play from behind is their strength.
Again, Charles Clay kills Neal down the field. He needs to learn to play the ball better, has the athleticism to keep up.
Falcons defense starts playing with some juice on this drive, though. Grady Jarrett looks like a man possessed.
Kazee might have been able to pick off that Tyrod pass on third down if he had jumped for it. He was in the right position, at least.
Hauschka then nails a 55+ yard FG. Buffalo again gets to play with a lead.
Andre Roberts with a heroic 60-yard kickoff return. Love that fight, and that dynamic element. Too bad Falcons would completely waste it.
Freeman, with a rare bad decision, loses ten damn yards on first down. Can't do that against a good defense.
Hardy then drops a very catchable ball on second and long. Normally sure-handed. Maybe fazed by being thrust into a large role.
Then the normally reliable Nick Williams bobbles a catch into the hands of a perfectly-placed Bills defender.
Not sure that was an INT, though. Ball clearly moved when it hit the ground, appeared that the ground helped secure the catch. These refs...
Still, at this point it's abundantly clear that the Falcons were snakebit in this game. Comedy of errors + injuries + awful officiating = L.
That INT put the Bills in FG range immediately, instead of needing to drive down the field. Made a big difference.
Grady Jarrett might just be my favorite Falcon this season. He becomes a monster on this drive, almost single-handedly shutting it down.
Blows past Incognito, a very good G, and destroys the RB for a big loss. Mighty impressive play.
Next play, Jarrett and Poe both beat their assignments and wrap up the RB for a minimal gain.
Third down, and the most impressive, Jarrett literally runs down Tyrod and makes the tackle for a minimal gain. Incredible.
Mad props to Jarrett, he played like his hair was on fire and showed that fight that you want from your D at the end of a game. Respect.
Hauschka then nails another 55+ yd FG. Might be a good time to mention opposing Ks are 9-9 on 50+ yd FGs against Atlanta. Just bad luck.
Consider this, and last time I'll harp on it, take that fumble TD away and the Bills are now down 17-16. Changed. The. Game.
We need to give Sark some props for doing a good job of getting the offense in position to win the game on this drive, even if end sucked.
Hardy drops another easy catch, nearly bobbling it straight to a defender. These WRs are killing Ryan, no sugar-coating it. Deserves better.
Hooper then joins the drop-party. Bobbles an easy catch, again putting it up for grabs to the defense. DO BETTER. No excuses for that.
Nick Williams redeems himself with a clutch catch on 4th and 4. If he was just a bit more dynamic, he'd be a real weapon.
Love the fight from Matt on his scramble. Almost gets taken down for a sack, escapes, and keeps running to midfield. Need that attitude.
Falcons efficiently move down the field in the two-minute drill. Ryan excels at this: calm, collected, and accurate. It's his element.
Ryan then takes a sack but a penalty on the Bills nullifies it and stops the clock. Only luck the Falcons would see in this game.
Freeman, being his beastly self, takes a short pass and rumbles down the field. This RB tandem is the Falcons' strength, USE IT!
Falcons then have 1st and 5 from the 14 after a Bills encroachment penalty, and this is when everything falls apart.
1st down playcall...deep shot to Gabriel that is sailed completely out of bounds. Wasted play. Even if it had worked, Bills had :58 left.
2nd down. Hooper makes a nice catch to set the Falcons up with a third and 1 with :54 remaining. PLENTY of time to run the ball or pass.
3rd down. Coleman WIDE open in the flat. Ryan doesn't even look his way. AGAIN tries a long ball to Gabriel. HE'S NOT A RED ZONE WEAPON!
4th down. Falcons run PA instead of just handing it off. Ryan A THIRD PASS to Gabriel, who is covered up by a DB. Incredibly weak play call.
That's game over, and kind of sums up Sark's playcalling: long stretches of effective and creative calls, and then some baffling ones.
I have to bone to pick with that series of decisions. First of all, Gabriel is great. I love him, he's a good player. That's not the issue.
The issue is that Gabriel is not at all suited to be a red-zone weapon. Not at ALL. Sark going to Gabriel THREE TIMES in one series is crazy
Clearly, the Falcons were limited with their WR options with Julio and Sanu out, but even Hardy or Williams would've been better fits there.
Gabriel beats DBs with his athleticism. No room to do that in red zone. Can be used creatively like on screens or jet sweeps, but not fades.
The fact that your primary target in the red zone was Gabriel when you have a good TE (Hooper) and the best RB tandem in the league..bizarre
Sark also called a pretty vanilla game in general after having success with creative calls against GB and DET. Why go back to that?
Lots of questions there, but too early to bail on Sark. Hopefully bye will help him figure some things out. Offense depends on it.
Otherwise, offense was merely passable in this game. Good news was that they didn't fall apart missing Julio and Sanu. Kept moving the ball.
Bad news was that the depth WRs were causing big problems. Drops everywhere, not helping Ryan at all. ATL clearly limited without big two.
Another positive: Schweitzer and Sambrailo both appear to be playing well. Schweitzer getting to be a good run blocker, Sambrailo competent.
Having a RG that isn't a liability is big for Schraeder's return, and having a swing tackle you can trust to not ruin your offense is nice.
When Schraeder is back (likely Week 6), Falcons have the makings of a potentially good-to-great OL. Could make a big difference down stretch
Defensively, while the team isn't a great unit, they're making the plays needed to keep the Falcons in games. Big upgrade from 2016.
Pass rush is decent without Beasley, but I think we could see defense really take off upon his return. Trufant, Neal need to play better too
Duke Riley's tackling has progressed from a concern to a problem. He's a liability at times out there. Hopefully bye will help him, too.
DT depth is in a bad spot with Crawford and Upshaw down. Upshaw may be back for Week 6 but Falcons need to find a better option than Vellano
It looks like they've been working out more hybrid players. Devin Taylor could be a good fit. Still think they need a run-stuffing DT, too.
Kazee played decently. Would've liked to see him leap to make that INT late in the game, but it may not have mattered. Missed Rico out there
Overall, game reminded me of the Philly game from last year. Score even eerily similar. Just a bad day and somehow Falcons were in it late.
Falcons really came out firing after that Philly game, though. Still plenty of time to get things back on track. 3-1 not a bad place to be.
That's all for the tweet recap. Thanks for following along with me. Look for my Observations article a little later on @TheFalcoholic
Also, burn those throwbacks. Seem to be bad luck. We demand black pants or no black uniforms at all. /fin
