ATL Standard

The Atlanta Falcons are facing a crucial moment as they prepare for their Week 15 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. With playoff hopes on the line, the team's focus is on improving their red-zone efficiency, which has been a significant issue throughout the season.

Despite moving the ball effectively, Atlanta's drives often end in field goals rather than touchdowns. The team ranks ninth in the NFL with a 45.6% success rate and eleventh in down-set conversion at 74%. However, during their recent four-game losing streak, their red-zone struggles have become more pronounced.

Atlanta leads the league with an average of 6.9 plays per drive since Week 10 but ranks low in points per drive and touchdown rate. A key factor hindering their progress has been penalties in critical moments. According to Tru Media, "During the Falcons' four-game slide, they've committed seven red-zone penalties," impacting potential scoring opportunities.

Specific instances highlight these issues. In a game against New Orleans, penalties pushed them back from near-touchdown territory to settling for a field goal instead of potentially closing the gap further. Similar scenarios unfolded against Denver and Minnesota.

Despite these challenges, there are positive signs if penalties can be minimized. Since Week 10, when avoiding penalties, "the Falcons have scored four touchdowns on red zone drives." Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier have contributed significantly to this success.

Beyond offensive challenges, other aspects of Atlanta's game show promise. Defensive Coordinator Jimmy Lake emphasizes trusting the process as improvements are evident in areas like pass rush and individual player performances.

Ray-Ray McCloud III and Drake London are achieving career milestones while Bijan Robinson excels with high rushing success rates and missed tackles forced. Defensively, Atlanta is tied for most sacks across Weeks 13-14 with nine recorded over two games.

As they aim for postseason contention with four regular-season games remaining, focusing on reducing errors will be crucial for Atlanta's prospects against Las Vegas and beyond.