ATL Standard

There's a growing concern for the Falcons as they grapple with a recurring issue in their recent games. The team has struggled with opponents scoring touchdowns in the final two minutes of the first half, impacting their defensive performance and game outcomes.

Jessie Bates III highlighted this issue after a game, stating, "That possession before halftime, I thought we were in great position, down three, but instead we gave up a touchdown. That's been a recurring theme that's happened these last couple weeks."

In their matchup against the Panthers, quarterback Andy Dalton capitalized on space left by the Falcons' defense. A series of plays allowed the Panthers to gain significant yardage and score before halftime. Similarly, against the Seahawks, miscommunications and split-second decisions led to crucial gains for Seattle.

Justin Simmons took responsibility for one such moment against Seattle when D.K. Metcalf scored a 31-yard touchdown. Simmons admitted postgame that it was his error: "That's on me...that can't happen."

The trend is concerning as it wasn't decisive against Carolina but significantly affected their game with Seattle. With an upcoming match against Tampa Bay's strong offense led by Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans, rectifying these defensive lapses is critical for the Falcons.

Simmons emphasized this need for improvement: "That's not good enough, unacceptable...especially situational ball at the end of the half." The team aims to address these issues promptly to enhance their chances in future games.