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The Falcons defeated the Jaguars 24-12 yesterday in a game that will soon be forgotten. If we could fast forward a year or two, I’d guarantee that this game won’t stick in your memory. But that’s to be expected when a couple of 5-9 teams face off in Week 16, right? That’s just par for the course.
Let’s take a look at some of the best and worst individual performances during yesterday’s win.
3 Falcons Up
Oh, Julio. We don’t deserve you. Jones racked up 166 receiving yards (10 receptions on 15 targets) and if the rumors are true, he made every single member of the Jaguars secondary cry. Julio also became the quickest player in NFL history to accrue 12,000 receiving yards. So, in short, he’s making DBs cry and breaking records. OK, then.
Devonta Freeman
Freeman’s 2 first quarter touchdowns got the Falcons a quick 14-0 lead and they never looked back. He’s undoubtedly on the short list of players the Falcons may look to cut during the offseason, so the fact that he’s hitting his stride right before that happens makes sense ... said nobody ever.
Grady Jarrett
I might as well etch Jarrett’s name in stone here. Jarrett made Gardner Minsher uncomfortable throughout the day. He also threw in a sack and a tackle for a loss, because why not?
3 Falcons Down
Matt Ryan
It’s hard to nitpick the franchise quarterback when your team wins and he throws up 384 passing yards, but that’s what we’re here for, isn’t it? But those two picks were ugly. In his defense, Ryan’s receivers didn’t do him any favors Sunday afternoon, dropping some balls and getting less than ideal separation.
Blidi Wreh-Wilson
Chris Conley made Wreh-Wilson look downright foolish en route to a 42 yard touchdown. That’s all.
Wes Schweitzer
Poor Wes. The man is just trying to carve out a role as an NFL regular. The front office loves him, and the future at center and left guard is less than clear. That said, he killed the third offensive drive of the game, drawing a false start penalty on a 4th and 1. (Younghoe Koo would then attempt and miss a 42 yard field goal.) 2 offensive drives later, on a 2nd and 16, Schweitzer would again get flagged, this time for offensive holding. A 9 yard Devonta Freeman run would be called back as a result. The Falcons were left with a 2nd and 26 and punted 3 plays later.