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I’m calling it now: Sunday’s game will make or break Atlanta’s season. Their odds of making the playoffs drop significantly if they fall to 3-3, especially in the likely situation where the Carolina Panthers beat the Chicago Bears. This should not only be a revenge game, but Atlanta needs to get back on track after a few duds.
What could be helpful is the New England Patriots defense is objectively terrible. What’s even more helpful is they are already down two cornerbacks while the Atlanta Falcons get Mohamed Sanu back.
No Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe or Harvey Langi at Patriots practice this afternoon. Looking like Johnson Bademosi will be no. 2 CB Sunday.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) October 20, 2017
Rowe, Gilmore and Langi are out. Burkhead, Hogan and Mason are good to go. Bademosi (abs), Hollister (chest) new to report, questionable. pic.twitter.com/dx6bcrQdBa
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) October 20, 2017
Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, and Johnson Bademosi play at corner. The Patriots have had zero pass rush this season, so these injuries make this matchup very interesting. Atlanta is both fully healthy and very strong at offensive line and wide receiver.
Can Steve Sarkisian use those massive matchup edges to his advantage? Hard to say yet, but if the Falcons are going to have a meaningful bounce back game, it is on Sunday.