The Atlanta Falcons wrapped up a dismal 2021 campaign with a tough 30-20 defeat to division rival New Orleans Saints in Week 18 proceedings. QB Matt Ryan's struggles on the field paralyzed the entire offense and eventually hindered them from being in a position to win the game.
With the loss, the Falcons settled with a 7-10 record at the third spot of the NFC South. After missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, the Atlanta-based team will now shift its full focus to the offseason where several moves are expected to be made in a bid to improve the roster in 2022.
Let's take a look at three takeaways from the Falcons' most recent loss to the Saints in the final game of the regular season:
3. Younghoe Koo kept the Falcons alive.
In a game where the offense failed to gain momentum, Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo stepped up and had timely contributions to put up points across the board for the team. The Korean national went perfect on two attempts including a 54-yard field goal conversion against the Saints.
Koo also provided the intangibles as he contributed a special teams tackle during the game and ultimately ended the tilt with a total of eight points. Though his numbers in 2021 aren't as good as his stats as a Pro Bowler last season, he still proved that he remains to be an efficient kicker who can deliver the goods when needed.
Now set to become an unrestricted free agent in the upcoming offseason, Koo has shown that he is deserving to ink a long-term contract, be it in Atlanta or with another team.
2. Falcons players fell short in their bid to secure individual records.
On Sunday, Matt Ryan had a tough outing as he was visibly troubled by the stifling Saints defense from start to finish. He finished the game with 216 yards on 20-of-33 passes completed to go with a touchdown and an interception.
Due to his struggles, the veteran playmaker failed to reach at least 248 yards which could've extended his 4,000-yard streak that dates back to the 2011 season. Ryan finished his 2021 campaign with 3,968 yards and 20 touchdowns in 17 games played.
Another Falcon in tight end Kyle Pitts was also on the brink of breaking Mike Ditka's rookie record for a tight end which sat at 1,078 yards. The Florida product just needed 59 yards in Week 18 to be the new record holder but he concluded the game with only eight yards on two receptions as he played with an injured hamstring.
Despite falling short, it was still an impressive rookie season for Pitts who finished with 1,026 yards and a touchdown scored in 17 appearances. However, it surely could've been a lot sweeter if he successfully surpassed a legend like Iron Mike to close out his first year in the pros.
1. Atlanta's offensive struggles caused them to play behind New Orleans all game long.
The Falcons started their Week 18 matchup on the wrong foot as they committed multiple errors on the field which hindered them from reaching the red zone in the first two quarters of the game. Younghoe Koo's field goals were the only thing that prevented a shutout for them as they found themselves trailing behind by 18 points heading to halftime.
In the third quarter, a 19-yard scoring drive by running back Qadree Ollison finally got the Falcons on board with a touchdown. However, it wasn't enough as Arthur Smith and his men eventually ran out of time to complete their comeback which caused them to absorb a 30-20 loss to finish their 2021 season.
Clearly, Matt Ryan's struggles against a solid Saints defense served as one of the main factors as to why the team found themselves stuck in a deep hole early on. The Falcons' lack of talent also prevented them from keeping in step with a playoff hopeful squad like the Saints which possesses a more complete lineup on both ends of the field.
After a rough outing, there is no doubt that they can learn a lot from this game as they continue to advance their rebuilding efforts moving forward. Hopefully, the team's decision-makers will be able to reconstruct Atlanta's roster in the upcoming offseason in a bid to return to the playoffs after a four-year absence.
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