Falcons vs. Seahawks: Where do the Falcons stand as Week 8 looms?

It’s hard to know what the next couple of years of Falcons football will look like. A coaching change will be tough to navigate, no matter how necessary it is. So we’re left to suffer through a forgettable stretch in the hopes that the ship will be righted at some point in the not so distant future. But right now, in this moment, where do the Falcons stand?

I won’t lie, this moment in Falcons history isn’t pretty. From injuries to a 5-game losing stream, this team has it all.

Injuries

This team is pretty banged up right now. We knew yesterday that Desmond Trufant (toe), James Carpenter (knee), and Ito Smith (concussion) won’t play tomorrow. But the team inexplicably elected to let Matt Ryan practice yesterday, notwithstanding his ankle injury. It’s fair to assume he didn’t respond well, because the team signed Danny Etling to the 53-man roster today, effectively signaling their intention to start Matt Schaub at quarterback against the Seahawks.

I suppose I understand the desire to have Ryan under center, if possible. But the decision to let him practice yesterday is perplexing. This is a lost season, and Ryan isn’t a spring chicken. With the bye week upcoming, letting him rest for a week or two seems like a logical path forward. But heck, this why Dan Quinn makes the big bucks, right?

Meanwhile Grady Jarrett’s status for tomorrow remains less than clear. Again, lost season, and a bye week upcoming. There’s simply no need to rush him back. Jarrett has been dealing with this ab injury all week and it sounds like we may not know whether he will play until shortly before game time.

Standings

Oh boy, this is going to be hard to stomach. The Saints are rolling at 6-1. They’ll likely get Drew Brees back this week in the middle of a 5-game winning streak. The Panthers are 4-2 and in the middle of their own 4-game winning streak. The Falcons and the Buccaneers round out the bottom of the division. As you know, the Falcons are at 1-6. The Buccaneers are at 2-4.

Your thoughts, Falcoholics?