New England Patriots 25-0 Atlanta Falcons: Men against boys

The Atlanta Falcons were brutally beaten for the second time in the span of five days. This time around, it was at the hands of the New England Patriots. It was an embarrassing loss that drops the Falcons to 0-4 at home this season. It was the first time since 1988 that Atlanta had been shutout at home. It is hard to think of a worst home field advantage then the Falcons have since moving to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Arthur Blank has priced many fans out of being able to attend. If this season has taught me one thing, it is that we must stop wasting Matt Ryan's final years and trade him. It isn't fair to arguable the greatest Falcons player of all time to be on a roster so devoid of talent. This team ain't getting fixed anytime soon. The offensive line is comparable to a turnstile, the defence wouldn't stop a nose bleed and the receiving group wouldn't catch a cold. 

The rosters key players are Ryan, Pitts, Ridley, Patterson, Lindstrom, Matthews, Jarrett, Koo and Terrell. Everyone else won't have any trade value. When a team is in rebuilding mode they should be smart by dumping aging players with trade value for picks to plan for the future. Instead Terry Fontenout was committed to being competitive and insisted that we weren't in a rebuild. We had the choice to draft a quarterback of the future in Mac Jones or Justin Fields but the front office and Arthur Smith decided against it. 

Building around a 36 years old quarterback with a roster that's atleast three years away from competing (that's if we get most of our draft picks and free agency signings right) seems like an incredibly stupid decision to me. Brett Farve was 36 when Green Bay used a first round pick to draft fellow Superbowl winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Falcons preached continously during the off season that this wasn't a rebuild and as soon as our season has gone real sour; they have the media on their side beating the drum that this roster was nowhere near ready to compete. If that is the case, (which it is) then why in gods name are you not trading away your aging players with high cap numbers? Ryan, Jarrett, Matthews and Deion Jones should all be on the trade market. Even someone like Hayden Hurst could have been attractive to a team with injuries at tight end before the trade deadline.

Honestly without Matt Ryan, this team would go 0-17.

The Game

Both defences started the game by forcing a punt. The Patriots second drive on offense lasted nine plays and resulted in a Nick Folk 32 yard field goal. 3-0 Patriots. A score that would be enough to win the game. The Falcons managed a pathetic six play 16 yard drive before punting again. The Patriots done what I said they'd do in my preview by bracketing Kyle Pitts with two men leaving Matt Ryan with no options as no other Falcons receiver could get open. On their following possession, Damien Harris had 41 total yards that helped set up a Mac Jones 19 yard passing touchdown to Nelson Agholor for the only offensive touchdown of the game to extend New Englands lead to 10-0. Agholor had the freedom of Atlanta as nobody picked him up running a crossing route. Penalties killed the Falcons all night and they had a 45 field goal chalked off for illegal formation. The resulting Younghoe Koo kick from 50 yards went wide left. The Patriots went in at half time up 13-0 after a second field goal drive. The Falcons defence was making things difficult for the Patriots offense. 

A scoreless 3rd quarter followed where both teams threw interceptions. Firstly AJ Terrell nabbed a pass intended for Jonnu Smirh and returned it 35 yards setting up Matt Ryan and Co in good field position. Ryan got the Falcons to the Patriots 16 yard line before being turned over on downs after getting stuffed rushing the ball on 3rd and 4th and 1. 

Devon McCourteys interception after Ryan overthrew Kyle Pitts set up another Folk field goal to make the game 16-0. Ryan was picked for the second time to end his disappointing night; his pass intended for Olamide Zaccheaus was tipped by the Atlanta wideout and fell straight into the hands of JC Jackson. The Patriots could only settle for another field goal but this game was over. 19-0.

Arthur Smith used the last few minutes to get a look at back up quarterback Josh Rosen but he threw a pick 6 to Kyle Van Noy on his 3rd snap. Folk missed the PAT to leave the score at 25-0. Rosens night was over, he was benched for the following drive and you'll never guess what 3rd choice quarterback Feleipe Franks done with his one pass attempt?! He threw an interception to Patriots defensive back Adrian Phillips. Game over.

Terrell a lone brightspark for the Falcons

Where do we go from here

Start playing all the rookies. We have nothing to lose playing rookies like Richie Grant and Frank Darby. Erik Harris and Duron Harmon are aging players with no potential. They won't help the Falcons winning in the future so continuing to play them makes little sense. If Tajae Sharpe and Russell Gage are the answer, I don't want to know the question. Darren Hall made a nice play on his first career sack on Thursday, it would be nice to see him earning more snaps.

When Matt Gono is available for selection again, he deserves an opportunity to prove himself. The current crop of offensive lineman aren't getting the job done. I think we win 2 games then rest of the way. 

Matt Ryan has never quit on the Falcons like Julio Jones did. Do the right thing. Let him have the chance at a title run cause he isn't getting another one with these Falcons.

Only once in his Falcons career have we given him a top 10 defence and special teams. It will be the 10th year in a row that we have had a defence ranking equal or lower then 23rd.  Not even Tom Brady or Peyton Manning in their prime would win under these circumstances.