Matt Ryan way off target as Falcons lose fourth straight
ATLANTA — With 4 minutes, 34 seconds left in regulation Sunday, right after quarterback Matt Ryan was sacked on a fourth-and-1 play that resulted in a fumble and turnover on downs, Atlanta Falcons fans rushed to the exits.
With their team down 13-3, they had seen enough.
A fourth consecutive loss for the reeling Falcons — this time 20-10 against the Minnesota Vikings — was hard to watch. In what has become a weekly storyline, Ryan struggled miserably. He threw another interception in the end zone. This time, it came in the third quarter with his team trailing 7-3.
Ryan is not playing like a franchise quarterback. Point blank.
Is it time to sit Ryan? The Falcons really don’t have another option. Sean Renfree is the backup and has no game experience. The guy who might have been capable of stepping in, T.J. Yates, is now in Houston winning games. Yates wasn’t playing with the same confidence this preseason with the Falcons.
We’ll see how first-year coach Dan Quinn handles this dilemma. He has stood behind his quarterback the entire way despite the outside noise. Now that the honeymoon is over from a 5-0 start, something has to change for a 6-5 team that has dropped five of the last six.
There are 100 million reasons why the Falcons have to stick with Ryan. But there’s no more room for excuses.
None.
The Falcons don’t look like a wild-card team and don’t even deserve playoff consideration at this point. But they still are in contention, and next week’s matchup with the NFC South’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers is that much more crucial. Lose again, and the Falcons truly will find themselves on the outside looking in.
What were they thinking? We talked about Ryan’s mistakes, but rookie Tevin Coleman entered the game intent on not fumbling the ball. So what did he do? He went out and fumbled for the third time this season. This one came after a 46-yard run that appeared headed to the end zone. But Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr stripped Coleman at the 21-yard line, where the ball was recovered by free safety Antone Exum. It was Coleman’s third fumble on 63 carries, which is not the way you want to start your NFL career. His fumble negated his first 100-yard rushing effort as a pro.
One reason to get excited: Top running back Devonta Freeman, who missed the game as a result of a concussion, worked out before the game and is on track to return to practice Wednesday. The expectation is for Freeman to be back in the lineup when the Falcons travel to Tampa Bay next Sunday. Entering Sunday, he was tied for the league lead with 11 touchdowns. The Falcons need his versatility — not to mention his ability to hold onto the ball.
One reason to panic: Ryan now has four red zone interceptions this season, which is the most in the league. His throws have been off or have lacked zip and his decision-making has been horrid. This is the guy the Falcons count on and believe in, and he’s letting the team down. There’s no way around it.
Fantasy watch: Coleman had a chance to earn some fantasy points with what appeared to be 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. However, the score was taken off the board after tight end Tony Moeaki was whistled for a 15-yard clipping penalty. Whether the call was right or not, the touchdown got taken away.
Ouch: Linebacker Justin Durant, who has dealt with an array of injuries this season, hurt his left ankle in the first half Sunday and did not return. Durant has missed three games this season due to injury. Fellow linebacker Nathan Stupar suffered a head/neck injury in the first half but returned in the second half.
Just for kicks: Coleman wasn’t the only rookie running back to have a blunder. Undrafted Terron Ward was flagged for unnecessary roughness for kicking a Vikings defender off him. It stalled a drive in the red zone and forced the Falcons to settle for a field goal.
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