You’re exhausted and you’re angry that you’re back at the office. We get it. That’s why Falcoholinks are here bright and early to help ease you through your Monday after Thanksgiving weekend.
Falcons - Saints recap
The Falcons were ignominiously eliminated from playoff contention on Thanksgiving night, dropping to 3-9 in an ugly loss to the Saints at home. Matt Ryan was sacked nine times in the affair, which registers as second-highest in Atlanta Falcons history.
To say that play in the trenches once again doomed the team would be a major understatement. The unit’s performance certainly made our list of head-scratchers from Thursday.
Dan Quinn is essentially a dead man walking as the Falcons head coach, but even after that atrocious showing, he’s likely to remain with the team through the remainder of the 2019 season. Making a move at this point would make little sense. Basically: Quinn’s on mop-up duty.
Roster moves
The Falcons made a couple of roster moves after Thursday’s loss, electing to release linebacker Jermaine Grace and punter Ryan Allen.
With Matt Bosher poised to return from injury this week, the move to release Ryan Allen makes sense. Jermaine Grace had yet to get any run on defense, but he may land back on Atlanta’s practice squad.
Draft order
After the loss to the Saints, the Falcons currently hold the 5th overall spot in the 2020 NFL Draft. Could all-world defender Chase Young still be available at that position? It’s debatable. What’s not debatable is the impact a generational player like Young could have on Atlanta’s defensive line.
Three up, three down
So who saw an increase in their stock and who is trending downward after the Saints game? Jaeden Graham has definitely shown what he’s capable of over the last couple of weeks, while Matt Ryan had one of his lousiest games as a pro.