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This is not where the Falcons front office, coaching staff, or locker room expected to be headed into Week 3 of the 2020 NFL season. This season was supposed to be different—at least that’s what head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff spent the entire offseason telling us. Oh well.
There are currently 11 NFL teams sitting at 0-2. But at 0-2, history is already against the Falcons, because historically only approximately 12 percent of NFL teams that start 0-2 make the playoffs. That said, the Falcons have done it twice in franchise history. So it’s not that a wholesale turnaround isn’t possible; it’s just extraordinarily unlikely.
The Falcons definitely flashed last week, particularly on offense. But they continue to make the same head scratching in-game decisions that’ve plagued the franchise over the last 3 seasons. If they can’t turn this thing around tomorrow, then there’s a real chance Quinn and/or Dimitroff are relieved of their duties. And if they aren’t, it at least tees up that possibility headed into a Week 4 matchup against the Packers at Lambeau. To be frank, Arthur Blank can’t continue to put off the inevitable. Someone has to be held accountable, and the Falcons can’t lean on a cheesy slogan to get themselves out of this mess.
On the injury front, things are ... well, ugly. Really ugly. Both the Thursday and Friday injury reports featured several key contributors. In fact, in just one week, the Falcons went from being relatively healthy to banged up across the board.
The Friday injury report isn't much better. As expected, RIcardo and Sheffield have already been ruled out. Julio Jones is a game-time decision, which makes me think he's actually doubtful. Foye, Fowler Jr., McGary, and Takk all officially listed as questionable. https://t.co/hzyVl32Bd5
— Jeanna Kelley (@jeannathomas) September 25, 2020
The Falcons secondary has been a real weakness over the first two weeks of the season, and this injury report doesn’t engender much confidence that’ll change in the near future. Ricardo Allen hasn’t been getting starter snaps, but he’s still a factor anytime he’s on the field. And with Keanu Neal feeling less than 100 percent, the secondary continues to be thinner from a depth perspective than we’d like. Notwithstanding the fact that the Falcons are 3.5 point favorites going into this game, the health of the team will undoubtedly affect the outcome.
Your thoughts about the state of the franchise, Falcoholics?