Burning Falcons vs. Seahawks Questions, Week 8: Can the Falcons win with Matt Schaub?

The Atlanta Falcons could be without quarterback Matt Ryan for the first time in a very long time Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

It burns to even have to ask this question after everything that’s happened, but if Ryan can’t go with his ankle injury, can backup Matt Schaub get the team its second win of 2019?

Some of you who wish for a late-round draft pick are wringing your hands and hoping the answer is no. All losses do now is further ensure a franchise reset with the staff and get the team closer to a top-5 draft pick.

Schaub hasn’t started a game since 2015 with the Baltimore Ravens, but he led a touchdown drive in garbage time Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (6/6, 65 yards, 1 TD his final stat line). He has, of course, got plenty of starting experience under his belt, but the Seattle defense is pretty good this year, and him playing a full game as opposed to one drive will be a different sample size altogether.

A loss Sunday to the Seahawks puts the Falcons at 1-7 before its bye week, an abysmal fall for a team with playoff aspirations. But losing with Schaub at the helm would be a bit more excusable for Dan Quinn and his staff. If Arthur Blank really wants to ride this out, Quinn making it for the rest of the season seems to be the most likely scenario at the moment, even if the team loses with Schaub at the helm.

Can the Falcons win with Schaub against one of the NFC’s best teams? Even with Atlanta at home, it feels like a stretch. But stranger things have happened.