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The Atlanta Falcons Week 15 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers was always going to be difficult, and things went pretty much how they were expected to as the Niners came away with a 31-13 victory. The Falcons fell to 6-8 on the year, and the loss put a significant damper on any hopes they had of making the playoffs. Still, if the team can keep fighting, they have a slim chance to squeeze in. With that in mind, we'll go over the Falcons-49ers game with a few of our Falcons' Week 15 takeaways to discuss.
If the team truly wants to win out the season and earn a spot in the playoffs, they'll need to make some significant adjustments. One of the most glaring issues with the Falcons is the team's consistency. That holds true on a game-by-game basis, as much as it does on a drive-by-drive basis. Matt Ryan will look exceptional one drive before looking like a lost dog in the next, and some of his weapons have the tendency to disappear for spells.
With the playoffs still in reach, it'll be all systems go in Atlanta, and everyone will need to bring forth their A-game every single play. A matchup against the Lions is the perfect recipe for the Falcons to stay in the mix of things, but Detroit is coming off a commendable win over the Cardinals, so Atlanta can't underestimate them in Week 16.
With all that in mind, here are three Falcons' Week 15 takeaways from their rough loss to the 49ers.
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Atlanta Falcons Week 15 Takeaways
3. Atlanta's pass rush needs to step up
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The Falcons didn't get to Jimmy Garoppolo a single time during their Week 15 matchup, allowing the 49ers quarterback far too much time to operate in the pocket. The result? Garoppolo had a clean game, completing 18-of-23 pass attempts for 235 yards and a touchdown. If the Falcons pass rush isn't able to get after the quarterback, the opposing offense has free will to do whatever they please. The Niners are primarily a run-first team, and with Atlanta being forced to respect Garoppolo via the air, the Niners had their way on the ground, racking up 162 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
The numbers will paint out a poor day for Atlanta's rushing defense, which isn't untrue, but they weren't helped by the lack of pressure created by the lackluster pass rush, which ultimately enabled the Niners' offense to dictate every factor of the game. If Atlanta can't make some improvements in that regard against the Lions, they can kiss their playoff hopes goodbye.
2. Falcons need to convert on 4th down, or just play it safe
Going for it on 4th down is a risk, no matter what. The Falcons were putrid when running that risk on Sunday, going 0-for-3 against the Niners on 4th down plays. When it isn't working, you're better off keeping the game close by playing things safe, as opposed to blindly deciding to go for it. This conversation could be entirely different had the Falcons successfully converted on fourth down even a single time against the Niners, but their inability to clutch up and get the crucial yardage to extend key drives plagued them in their loss. Failing a 4th down play at midfield is one thing, but not coming away with any points from a red zone trip because an inconsistent team took a significant risk is a truly disappointing way to cap off what was an otherwise successful drive.
1. Russell Gage can fill Calvin Ridley's void
Obviously, the team would love to have Calvin Ridley out there doing his thing, but with the young wideout sidelined due to personal issues, someone else has to step up and claim the role of WR1. Over the past few weeks, and particularly on Sunday, Gage has been that player. The speedy wideout was huge against the 49ers, catching eight receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown, having been targeted 11 times by Matt Ryan. Gage has over five targets in each of the past five weeks and has gone for over 60 yards in four of those five games. He boasts impressive speed and runs a clean route that can make any defensive back slip up. If the Falcons want to play through the air, Gage should be getting double-digit targets from Ryan on a weekly basis as they continue to develop a rapport.
