ATL Standard

The Atlanta Falcons faced a challenging game against the Seattle Seahawks, resulting in a 34-14 loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This defeat marked a departure from their usual performance as they allowed several explosive passes.

Falcons safety Justin Simmons described the defensive effort as "not good enough," emphasizing that successful teams find ways to win even when not at their best. The team struggled to regain momentum and failed to make crucial stops against Seattle's offense.

Quarterback Geno Smith of the Seahawks connected with six different receivers for 207 passing yards, including four plays of at least 15 yards. DK Metcalf, a wide receiver for Seattle, accumulated 99 receiving yards and one touchdown before leaving the game due to an injury in the fourth quarter. A critical play occurred just before halftime when Metcalf found open space in Atlanta's defense, scoring a touchdown that Simmons labeled "unacceptable."

Simmons acknowledged his role in this defensive lapse and stressed the need for improved communication during pivotal moments. He stated, "From a defensive standpoint, if we're going to win in this league, we got to have that mindset. We're going to win because we're doing our job, we're doing it at a high level."

Jessie Bates III, another Falcons safety, echoed Simmons' sentiments about learning from mistakes and improving defensively. Bates expressed confidence in the team's ability to bounce back: "That's when great defenses step up; we get stops in that situation... We'll get better, I promise you that."

Looking ahead, the Falcons are preparing for an upcoming divisional matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They aim to maintain their perfect division record of 3-0 as they face off against Tampa Bay once more.