Free-falling Falcons start to look to future in fifth straight loss
With their first-ever losing season under Dan Quinn assured, the Falcons started to get a look at some younger players in their loss to the Packers.
2018 ScheduleAll times ET
2018 Schedule
4-9, 4th in NFC South
Ryan on team's frustration: 'We have to do something about it' (0:28)
Week 14 takeaways: Danger zone for Redskins and Panthers?
Bad losses for Carolina and Washington have both teams nearly out of the playoff picture. NFL Nation dives into Week 14's lessons.
Vaughn McClure ESPN Staff Writer
Falcons right tackle Ryan Schraeder on being benched for Ty Sambrailo: ``You've got to play better. You've got to have more production. ... We'll see how the rest of the three games play out. Yeah, I do [feel like I should be starting]. I've got to get whatever they are telling me to do right and hopefully get back in the starting lineup.''
Packers beat sliding Falcons 34-20, 1st win under Philbin
Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes and set an NFL record for interception-free football, and the Green Bay Packers beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-20 Sunday to win their first game under interim head coach Joe Philbin.
Vaughn McClure ESPN Staff Writer
Falcons drop their fifth straight with a 34-20 loss to the Packers. Now at 4-9, the Falcons will finish the season below .500. Turnovers on offense and penalties on both sides kill the Falcons once again. Coach Dan Quinn expected a little more fight out of his team after asking the leaders to step up. At least Julio Jones showed up with two touchdown catches. Season has been a disaster for the Falcons, starting with a slew of injuries.
Jones separates himself from defenders for 16-yard TD (0:18)
Tristan H. Cockcroft ESPN Senior Writer
Julio Jones has five receiving touchdowns in his past six games. He had five total in his previous 31 regular-season games.
Scuffle breaks out after Rodgers takes late hit (0:31)
Vaughn McClure ESPN Staff Writer
Falcons trail the Packers 20-7 at halftime, with Green Bay getting the ball to start the second half. Matt Ryan's pick 6, which might have been attributed to Austin Hooper not running the route as sharp, helped Packers run off 20 straight points. Ryan is 9 of 14 for 98 yards with a TD and INT. Falcons have rushed for 62 yards on 14 carries. On defense, Falcons have four sacks but have some costly penalties and a dropped interception.
Vaughn McClure ESPN Staff Writer
Falcons inactive vs. Packers: K Giorgio Tavecchio, FB Ricky Ortiz, CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson, LB Bruce Carter, T Matt Gono, TE Logan Paulsen, DT Justin Zimmer.
Rob Demovsky ESPN Staff Writer
Falcons coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff take a stroll around Lambeau Field before today's noon CT kickoff.
Steve Sarkisian doesn't feel need to validate his coaching to critics
The Falcons' offensive coordinator isn't worried about the 4-8 record, but is focusing on doing his job, leading his players and winning games.
Vaughn McClure ESPN Staff Writer
Falcons OC Steve Sarkisian said he doesn't need any validation outside of the building.
Vaughn McClure ESPN Staff Writer
Julio Jones on offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian: "It's not like you can go into a game, `I don't have confidence in him.' That's just like him saying he doesn't have confidence in us and he doesn't call certain plays. It's a trust thing. I appreciate Sark, everything he [does] for us. He dials up the plays. Unfortunately, we haven't been scoring. ... I'm still high on him. I don't mind Sark at all.''
Vaughn McClure ESPN Staff Writer
Falcons coach Dan Quinn on WR Julio Jones, who is dealing with a foot injury. ``He'll do our walkthrough today but he won't practice fully. He may do some individual work. His foot was still sore, so just wanted to make sure he could be fully full speed as we're heading into tomorrow's practice. So he'll get some work today, but nothing at full speed.'' Quinn said he anticipates Jones being ready to face the Packers on Sunday. Jones did not practice Wednesday.
Barnwell: Six ugly NFL free falls, and what they mean for 2019
Carolina has lost four straight and is on the outside looking in at the postseason race. Cam & Co. aren't alone in falling apart down the stretch.
Falcons' Vic Beasley Jr. vows to keep pushing through 'frustrating' season
The NFL's 2016 sacks leader, who has just three this season with one year left on his contract, says he needs to make the most of his opportunities.
Predicting the NFL wild-card races
It's a muddled mess in both conferences, with 14 teams still in the mix. Here's an updated ranking of each wild-card contender's chances.
Vaughn McClure ESPN Staff Writer
Falcons coach Dan Quinn was asked about the health of the team today and didn't indicate any concern about WR Julio Jones, who sat out Wednesday's practice with a foot injury. We'll see if Jones return to action Thursday. Jones was out on the practice field at the start but apparently didn't do anything. He's coming off a season-low two catches for 18 yards against the Ravens. Jones came out of the game briefly last week but ended up playing 41 of 53 offensive snaps.
Vaughn McClure ESPN Staff Writer
Falcons DE Vic Beasley on his season: ``I wish my production was higher. But all I can do is go out there and continue to put my best effort on the field and try and show each and every coach that I play hard, play for my teammates, and give my best effort.'' Beasley, who led the league with 15.5 sacks on 2016 to go with 6 forced fumbles, has three sacks and no forced fumbles through 12 games. Beasley did recover a fumble and return it 74 yards for a TD last week, showing his freakish athleticism.
Vaughn McClure ESPN Staff Writer
Last time Falcons played at Green Bay was Dec. 8, 2014. Matt Ryan threw for 375 yards and 4 TDs and Julio Jones had a then-career high 259 yards and 1 TD on 11 catches (17 targets) in a 43-37 loss. Roddy White, Steven Jackson, Eric Weems, and Harry Douglas also scored TDs in the game. Temperature at kickoff that night was 33 degrees with flurries. Forecast for this Sunday's afternoon game is 29, partly sunny with no snow.
If Falcons fall out of playoff hunt, should they sit Matt Ryan?
Atlanta's QB is on pace to be sacked a career-high 48 times in a lost season, and playing Matt Schaub may be the surest way to limit the punishment.
Revisiting preseason concerns for all 32 NFL teams
Which problems identified in the summer came to fruition? Which were overblown? Analysis for every team, plus what comes next.
Falcons' offense fails at wrong time of season
The Falcons had their worst offensive output in almost 20 years, unable to generate anything in the air or on the ground in a loss to the Ravens.
2018 NFC South Standings
| TEAM | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 11 | 2 | 0 | .846 | 447 | 283 |
| Carolina | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | 324 | 332 |
| Tampa Bay | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | 332 | 383 |
| Atlanta | 4 | 9 | 0 | .308 | 316 | 367 |
2018 Team Leaders
- Offense
- Defense
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Receiving Yards
Tackles
Sacks
Interceptions
Team Stats
Passing Yards293.8
Rushing Yards81.2
Points For24.3
Points Against28.2
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2018 Draft Picks
| RD(PK) | PLAYER | POS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(26) | Calvin Ridley | WR | Alabama |
| 2(26) | Isaiah Oliver | CB | Colorado |
| 3(26) | Deadrin Senat | DT | South Florida |
| 4(26) | Ito Smith | RB | Southern Miss |
| 6(20) | Russell Gage | WR | LSU |
| 6(26) | Foyesade Oluokun | S | Yale |
