ATL Standard

The Atlanta Falcons are navigating a challenging period as they prepare for their upcoming game on Monday Night Football. With a current record of 6-7, the team is trailing behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South. The stakes are high as they face the Las Vegas Raiders, and fans are questioning whether this is a must-win scenario.

A fan from Atlanta, Johnny B., expressed concern about the team's playoff hopes if they lose to the Raiders. The response highlighted that while recent games have been important, there was initially some leeway due to a strong start to the season. However, with diminishing chances, "this is a game the Falcons need to win," especially since losing to a team like the 2-11 Raiders would significantly impact their playoff prospects.

Rick F. from Ooltewah, Tennessee questioned why play-action passes aren't utilized more often with quarterback Kirk Cousins. It was noted that head coach Raheem Morris had mentioned increasing play-action plays after their bye week. Despite this intention, statistics show only slight increases in play-action usage post-bye week compared to before.

David H. from Marshalltown, Iowa raised concerns about draft picks and potential trades for future seasons. The Falcons currently hold four draft picks but may explore trades to acquire more selections in rounds three and four while managing salary cap space effectively.

Joseph M. from Jackson, Georgia pointed out issues with receiver separation during games. While average separation aligns with league standards, tight-window throws remain prevalent for Atlanta's offense at 24.6%. This could be attributed to various factors including player skills or defensive strategies across teams.

These discussions reflect ongoing challenges faced by Atlanta as they aim towards securing playoff positions amidst uncertainties surrounding performance dynamics within their roster setup moving forward into remaining fixtures ahead of them this season.