1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:01,240 Speaker 1: Marrow two. 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 2: Slips. 3 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 3: Hello everybody, welcome back to another episode of Final Whistle. I, 4 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 3: for some reason and your host tonight today this morning, 5 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 3: I'm tarn Walk joined by Will McFadden. 6 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: Hello, what's up? Everybody? Different chair, same Will. 7 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 2: Everybody says, what's up? Back? 8 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: I heard them now, all the ghosts in their car 9 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: screaming at us. 10 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 3: We are here at Mercedes Benz Stadium after the Falcons 11 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 3: lost their Week eleven game to the Carolina Panthers thirty 12 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 3: to twenty seven. The Falcons now dropped to three and 13 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 3: seven overall. And we're gonna break it down for you 14 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 3: with this episode. This EPPI, as I like to say 15 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 3: for those who don't know, it is four quarters of 16 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 3: information six minutes apiece. 17 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 2: And yeah, should we just get right to it. 18 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: Absolutely, Let's let's start the first quarter. 19 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 2: I wanted to start with the fourth. Okay, first quarter? 20 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 3: It is this was a tale of two halves for 21 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 3: the Falcons, and this is a team that has been 22 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:12,559 Speaker 3: defined by inconsistencies this season. What did you take away 23 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 3: from how the team performed in the first half versus 24 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 3: the second half? 25 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,479 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I really think, well, when you look 26 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: at kind of the way the game even started right 27 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: and Carolina scores the first points, and I think everybody 28 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: was coming off of a thirty to nothing loss in 29 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: Carolina like then, to see the Panthers do what they did, 30 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,320 Speaker 1: you could understand everybody being like, Okay, what's going on here? 31 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 1: We expected the Falcons to come out firing. They didn't 32 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 1: do that, but it quickly turned around. They rolled to 33 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 1: a twenty one to ten lead in the first half. 34 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: I mean, three rushing touchdowns. They were kind of getting 35 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: everything that they wanted. And then defensively after that opening drive, 36 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: I thought they performed really well. So it was a 37 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: strong start for Atlanta, which only kind of makes the 38 00:01:55,960 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: second half all that much more stark. In contrast, what 39 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: did you see what was working for Atlanta in your 40 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 1: opinion in the first half as well? 41 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 2: It was the offense that they want. They were able 42 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 2: to run the ball. 43 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 3: I think the first quarter was kind of like ideal 44 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 3: Atlanta Falcons. Maybe not perfect, but nothing is really perfect, 45 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 3: especially when they're trying to still find consistency. 46 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 2: But you could see they were able to, I. 47 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 3: Hate to use his word, consistently move the ball because 48 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 3: we're talking about their inconsistencies at that point and you 49 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 3: have the Jean Robinson scoring two touchdowns. You want that 50 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 3: if you are the Falcons, you have Michael Pennix jun 51 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 3: You're kind of sharing the love a bit with the. 52 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 2: Ball, and so they're kind of. 53 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 3: Firing, maybe not at full capacity at all cylinders, but 54 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 3: they're at least hitting all the different notes. 55 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, it did feel like they came out with a 56 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: clear vision of what they wanted to do, balancing the 57 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: run and the pass, getting you know, solid plays off 58 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: of both. But when you look at this now five 59 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: game losing streak for Atlanta, I think it's been a 60 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: lot of different things, which has been partially the reason 61 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: it is so frustrating. If it's not you know, the 62 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: red zone like it was for the first couple of losses, 63 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 1: then it becomes third down. Well, the Falcons were three 64 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: for three in the red zone on Sunday, and by 65 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: and large, third downs for much of the game kind 66 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: of weren't the issue. And so when you start looking 67 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 1: at the totality of this five game slide, really the 68 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: most consistent part about it is the inconsistency that they're 69 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: playing with. 70 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 3: That's probably one of my favorite phrases. You only think 71 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 3: consistent is the inconsistency. 72 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, that is why it's you know, like Tory and 73 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: I were talking kind of this week before the game, 74 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: and I posed to it. I was like, it feels 75 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: like the Falcons are a team capable of like winning 76 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: seventy five percent of the game and still losing because 77 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: the twenty five percent that they don't win and that 78 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: the other team plays well just feel like they're the 79 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 1: most pivotal parts of the game, or that the swing 80 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: is so great in magnitude that it kind of washes 81 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: out all the seventy five percent that you do well. 82 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: And it's really the latter that I think is today's 83 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: the story of today's game, because if you look at 84 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: just the first half numbers, the Falcons had seventeen first 85 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: downs to Carolina seven. They were two of three on 86 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: third down Panthers were two of six. They had two 87 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty seven yards Panthers had one hundred and 88 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 1: forty one. They were perfect in the red zone. And 89 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:22,919 Speaker 1: then if you look at their stars Atlanta Stars, Michael 90 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 1: Pennix Junior maybe his most efficient start so far. He 91 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: was eleven of twelve one hundred and sixty three yards. 92 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: Drake five catches one hundred and eight yards bijon sixteen 93 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: carries for ninety three yards, two touchdowns that you mentioned, 94 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: So everything that you really wanted was rolling in the 95 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 1: first half. Defensively, you're getting sacks like you really felt 96 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: the full phase kind of play from Atlanta. 97 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, but we did say this is the tail of 98 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:51,040 Speaker 3: two halves. What happened in the second half. Where did 99 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 3: those great numbers. 100 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 1: Go, Well, they totally disappeared. It's you know, we'll get 101 00:04:55,760 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: into why, but I think it's very telling when you, okay, 102 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: what I just read out about the first half, let's 103 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: flip it. Falcons outscored seventeen to six in the second half. 104 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 1: They had six first downs to Carolina's fourteen, two of 105 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: seven on third down. Panthers were four of ten on 106 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: third down. This is crazy. Panthers had two hundred and 107 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 1: eighty five yards, Falcons had just eighty seven in the 108 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: second half. They didn't even make it to the red zone. 109 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: And then I mentioned all their superstars what they were 110 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 1: doing in the first half. Not the case in the 111 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: second half. Obviously. Michael Pennock Junior left the game with 112 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:29,839 Speaker 1: an injury. We'll get to that, but he was two 113 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 1: of four for twelve yards. Kirk Cousins came in not 114 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: much better six to twelve forty eight. Then this is 115 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: is kind of the biggest thing. Drake two catches for 116 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: eleven yards and Bejean Robinson after ninety three yards two 117 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: touchdowns in the first half, only six carries for seven 118 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: yards in the second half. It's stunning to me to 119 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: kind of see offensively how much of a dip they 120 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 1: had from first to second half. 121 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 3: It was day and night, and I feel like Night 122 00:05:55,920 --> 00:06:00,039 Speaker 3: has been more reflective of the past few losses and 123 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 3: kind of being like, where's Bejon Robinson? Why isn't the 124 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 3: run game doing what you wanted to? Drake London has 125 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 3: had big moments throughout each game, so I can't really 126 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 3: say his lack of production the second half is reflective 127 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 3: of the past few games. 128 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: He was solid and he's been like a superstar out there. 129 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 1: But it's just the receiver position is so tough because 130 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: you are incumbent upon another position, right. 131 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 2: And yeah, it's just the numbers speak for themselves. It's 132 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 2: a complete flip of the coin between the two halves. 133 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, and obviously, like injuries are starting to take their toll. 134 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 1: The offensive line has been banged up. They haven't really 135 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: been fully healthy in a little while. But even still 136 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 1: it this is more of a loss that I think. 137 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: You look at yourself and you point at yourself, and 138 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: Raheem Morris has consistently said, you know, we got to 139 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 1: find a way to make those plays. They haven't done that. 140 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: They haven't found ways to make those plays yet. And 141 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: kind of against a team maybe like New England and Indianapolis, 142 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 1: you can understand because those are good teams. Nanthor's this 143 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:04,040 Speaker 1: year are proving to be more resilient than we expected. 144 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 1: But I still feel like the Falcons, if you play 145 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: this game one hundred times, probably come out a majority 146 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: of the time with the win. Unfortunately, it's just twice 147 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: this season that has not been the case, and it 148 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: really puts them. 149 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 2: Hey, that was the whistle in a perilous spot. 150 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: E hold me accountable. 151 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 2: I know, I know, I've heard the whistle. It's trigger 152 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 2: The whistle waits for no one, A little triggering. As 153 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: a former lifeguard. 154 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: Well, you were the one in control of the whistle. 155 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: The whistle one controlling you as a lifeguard. 156 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 2: I hope true. 157 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 3: Anyways, second quarter, you mentioned injuries to the offense that 158 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 3: kind of are still lingering and affecting their performance. But 159 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 3: there were two big injuries on Sunday night. I want 160 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 3: to walk us through what happened to Michael Pennix Junior 161 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 3: and Drake London specifically. 162 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: I don't Teran. I'm going to toss it back to 163 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: you because this is this is your bag. You're our 164 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: beat reporter. You break it down for us what went 165 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: down with Michael Pennock Junior and Drake Lennon. 166 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 2: I don't like see I'm supposed to be the host. 167 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: You are multiple hats in that chair. 168 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 2: Michael Pennocks Junior hurt his knee in the. 169 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 3: Third quarter, yes, sir, and no, I'm gonna let that 170 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 3: slide in. London hurt his knee I am presuming in 171 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 3: the end of the fourth because then he wasn't in 172 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 3: overtime at all. He was ruled out officially in overtime though, 173 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 3: So those are just two knee injuries kind of too really, 174 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 3: two key players. Raheem Morris didn't have an update post game, 175 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 3: so make sure you're staying up to date with both 176 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 3: Will and my Twitter accounts for the Monday press conference 177 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 3: when there hopefully will be an update if not definitely 178 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 3: come Wednesday when the first injury report comes out. 179 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 2: But what was the impact. 180 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 3: I think you could feel it more with Michael Pennock 181 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 3: Junior because it was more time without him when he 182 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 3: exited and Kirk Cousins came in. 183 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I feel like, really the biggest impacts 184 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: may have been just on the offensive game plan in general. 185 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 1: You know this, even with the Miami game, you know, 186 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: it's just been a little bit of a night and 187 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 1: day contrast with Michael Pennix Junior. Obviously, you had the 188 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: full offseason training camp to install a version of this 189 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: offense with him as the focal point, and I think 190 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 1: when he is buying center, there is a downfield element 191 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: to this offense that when Kirk came in, I felt 192 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: like it was more shorter passes, a little bit more 193 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 1: of a controlled We're going to be meticulous and march 194 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: the ball down the field, which Jafer yes at times 195 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: that that worked, you know, like in a weird way 196 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: late in the fourth quarter when the Falcons had to 197 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: respond after giving up that late touchdown, there was a 198 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: moment where I was like, all right, hey, I'm glad 199 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins is the guy here in this game. 200 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 2: He's good under two minutes. 201 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: He really is, like he has been able to lead 202 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:48,079 Speaker 1: them down there, and he did it again. Now we 203 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: mentioned kind of that play on third and four, he 204 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: throws the deep pass to Drake London, and presumably that 205 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: is the play that Drake gets injured on. They don't 206 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: connect on that. You can wonder about the decision to 207 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: take a deep shot on a third and four if 208 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: you can keep it up, but they were already in 209 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: field goal range. They take it to overtime. It more 210 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:10,959 Speaker 1: was about I think the ripple effect on the rest 211 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: of the offense. And then maybe when we look at 212 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 1: Bejon's second half numbers and kind of the rushing total, 213 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,319 Speaker 1: I do wonder does that play a factor when you 214 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 1: don't have Michael Pennox in the game. Did they kind 215 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: of crowd the box a little bit more? Do they 216 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 1: walk a safety down and just kind of really focus 217 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: on the run game. The numbers indicate that there was 218 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 1: something maybe there to that, But yeah, it was just 219 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: a really kind of dispiriting thing to see Michael PENNOCKX 220 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,440 Speaker 1: Junior walk to the sideline in a game that suddenly 221 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: had gotten a little bit tighter. You know, you're up 222 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 1: twenty one to ten. Then the Panthers come and they 223 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:45,959 Speaker 1: make it twenty one sixteen. Then you fumble and turn 224 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: the ball back. It was like, oh no, okay, and 225 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: then your quarterback goes out. So all in a span 226 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: of a very quick three third quarter action, things started 227 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: to kind of tilt downhill. 228 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, and it's not even like the Panthers were out here, 229 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 3: come in and wearing touchdowns to catch up. 230 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 2: It was inch by inch, it really was. 231 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 3: The defense did what they could because it was field 232 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 3: goal after field goal. But I am getting off the 233 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 3: point and we're focusing on the injuries and what it meant. 234 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 3: But I do agree with you in the sense that 235 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 3: without Michael Penix Junior, the offense changed. And I did 236 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 3: think it was really interesting that Raheem Morris alluded to 237 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 3: as much, where he said, we'll have to figure out 238 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 3: what Kirk is good at or not good at, but 239 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 3: like what works with him behind center, specifically if Michael 240 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 3: cannot play in week twelve, And that kind of took 241 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 3: me as surprise because you have this backup who has 242 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 3: a massive contract and has so much experience that you 243 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 3: would think if Michael Penick Junior were to get injured 244 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 3: like he did today, that plugging Kirk Cousins in a 245 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 3: veteran would have kind of been more seamless than it 246 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 3: has been. 247 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: It is, you know, the reason that you believe Kirk 248 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 1: is still here, right, it is because of that value 249 00:11:57,679 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: that he offers as a backup quarterback coming right off 250 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: the bench, you know. And now this is it's interesting 251 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: to me that the Miami game and this game, it's 252 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: not like the offense has been lighting it up with 253 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: Kirk under center. And that's where I keep kind of 254 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 1: coming back to this scheme. And it's really tough when 255 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: you're putting in a game plan for one person and 256 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: it goes out the window. It's not necessarily like a 257 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,439 Speaker 1: true understudy and a play where it's the same lines, 258 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: all the other parts of the exact same and you 259 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: just kind of know everything ripples out from the quarterback 260 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: position and even just the cadence somebody's like the way 261 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: they command the huddle. It can be very different, and 262 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: it really is just kind of a shame to see. 263 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: I feel like we didn't get a chance to see 264 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,959 Speaker 1: maybe a vintage or classic Michael Pennock Junior second half 265 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 1: because the way he played in the first half, I 266 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: was like, Okay, if you can keep this going in 267 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 1: the second half, there is a chance. And we kind 268 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: of saw that awesome duel in Week eighteen between me 269 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: and Bryce Young. Maybe it was setting up for that 270 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 1: and we will just never know. 271 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm really curious how this knee injury is going 272 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 3: to impact not just week twelve. 273 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:02,599 Speaker 2: But possibly. Yeah, it I'm farther down the line. 274 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 1: Because it is it is worth noting. You know, Brahim 275 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 1: Morris afterwards didn't say you know which knee exactly it was, 276 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: but Michael Penick junior two ACL injuries on his right 277 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 1: knee in college, has the brace on his right knee. 278 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: You know, he kind of seemed like he was grabbing 279 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 1: at both knees when he went down, but he kind 280 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: of tossed his helmet up in the air in a 281 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 1: little bit of a frustration. So, you know, we'll see 282 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 1: where it goes on that. I'm curious though, It's like, 283 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: what would be if you had one guy was going 284 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 1: to miss the game for New Orleans? Is the offense 285 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 1: better off with with Kirk and Drake out there or 286 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 1: Michael and know Drake, Like. 287 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 2: That's that's tough. 288 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: I know. It's it's like you. 289 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:43,559 Speaker 3: Did see a little bit more of the connection between 290 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 3: Darnell Mooney and Michael PENNOCKX Junior tonight kind of grow. 291 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,079 Speaker 1: But I feel like I feel like Darnell is is 292 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: is Kirk's Kirk's guy to its heat. There's there's that 293 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: whistle yeah, I mean we saw Kirk like, really, you 294 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: posted such a. 295 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 2: Big question and then the whistle hits come on. 296 00:13:57,640 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 1: Now, But I do We'll keep it lingering for the 297 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 1: next time, but that'll be our halftime. I'm gonna handle 298 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 1: halftime presented by Microsoft co Pilot, and. 299 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 2: We've got you can handle it. 300 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: Don't be afraid of AI. It's it's only coming for 301 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: all of our jobs. But Microsoft co Pilot has, you know, 302 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: helped us all season long compile these these podcast outlines. 303 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: And you know, we're gonna not talk a ton about 304 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: the defense today because you know, only four quarters of action. 305 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: We got a lot of topics we got to hit. 306 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: So I thought this would be a good time to 307 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: briefly mention, you know, what the Panthers were able to 308 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: do on offense. Bryce Young, I was shocked when I 309 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 1: looked to the final box score four hundred and forty 310 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: eight passing yards for the Panthers quarterback. I mean, this 311 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: is somebody that I think a lot of people are 312 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: still trying to figure out exactly who he is as 313 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: a pro. On Sunday, with everybody coming in thinking Rico 314 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 1: Dwell and the Panthers pass or running game was gonna 315 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: be kind of the main offensive weapon for them, that 316 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: was not the case. And it's actually what is that sixth? 317 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: The sixth highest passing yard total against the Falcons in 318 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: history in a single game. So that list for anybody wondering, 319 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: I'll bet nobody out there, I'm gonna pause everybody trivia 320 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: question who has the most single game passing yards against 321 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 1: the Atlanta Falcons? All right, time is up. It is 322 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: Jake Plumber for the Denver Broncos in two thousand and four, 323 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: four hundred and ninety nine. 324 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 2: Passing yards, so close to five hundred. 325 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: Yep. Next on that list Joe Burrow. Third on that list, 326 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: Joe Montana nineteen ninety. Then you got Tommy Maddox and 327 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: Dak Prescott before Bryce Young. So that is quite the list. 328 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 1: And Bryce Young is the newest member of it, and 329 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: I mean he three touchdown passes zero interceptions. He also 330 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: had three touchdowns in that Week eighteen game. Bryce is 331 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: kind of sneakily becoming a boogeyman for the Falcons. He's 332 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 1: kind of creeping up that list a little bit. So 333 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: he will definitely have to be somebody the Falcons contend 334 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: with and keep circled on the calendar moving forward. 335 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 2: You mean on the I eighty five rivalry. 336 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 1: There you go on the I eighty five rivalry. So 337 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: that will do it. Four hour halftime brought to you 338 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 1: by Microsoft Copilot. Let's head on in to the third quarter. 339 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 2: I didn't have a halftime snack. Okay, third quarter. 340 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 3: The Falcons inability to make plays when they count, you 341 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 3: know that kind of speaks for itself. 342 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 2: But I'm gonna let you dive into it. 343 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, this is again it's something that Raheem 344 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: Morris has said it feels like a lot after these 345 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: games is We've got to find somebody to make a play. 346 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: We've got to find a way to make these plays. 347 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: And there were multiple times on both sides of the 348 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: ball in that second half where you could see, all right, 349 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: a sliding doors moment. If this play is made one way, 350 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 1: then you feel pretty comfortable about the outcome going in 351 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: your favor, and unfortunately there were a lot of plays 352 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: I wrote some of them down here that they just 353 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: didn't go Atlanta's way. You had in the fourth quarter, 354 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 1: right that final desperation drive when you had the lead 355 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: and you're kind of holding on to it after kicking 356 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 1: that field goal to give yourself a little bit of insurance. 357 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: They pick up ten yard catch on fourth down, and 358 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: then the immediate next play is that Rico Dowdle twenty 359 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: eight yard to catch and run down the left sideline 360 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: that looked like it was initially going to be a touchdown, yeah, 361 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: until they reviewed it and rule him ultimately out it 362 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 1: I think like the eleven uh and then two plays later, 363 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 1: Kate Ellis kind of slips stumbles in coverage and there's 364 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,439 Speaker 1: a touchdown right over him. Like these are these are 365 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 1: players like Cayden is a is a guy I would 366 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: trust implicitly and a lot of different things, and it 367 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:22,640 Speaker 1: just kind of was a breakdown there in the last 368 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: little bit, kind of coming off the heels against Indianapolis, 369 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:27,959 Speaker 1: where again you have a lead late and there's a 370 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 1: big play that allows the other team to come back 371 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: and ultimately get you from behind, and then offensively talk 372 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: about that that third down, third and four kind of 373 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: the deep shot to Drake. 374 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 2: Kirk cousins to Drake London. 375 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: Yes, and just a missed opportunity to ask Kirk about 376 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 1: that play afterwards, and you know he said that he's 377 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: he's so maniacal is the word that he used in 378 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 1: kind of his review that choice. Yeah, that's why it's 379 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 1: stuck in my brains because I was like, okay, crazy, Okay, 380 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 1: he's he's a little bit uh kukoled when he's when 381 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,200 Speaker 1: he's digging in and in a good way. Right. He 382 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:02,200 Speaker 1: wants to stress on the He was like, it could 383 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: have been a good enough ball, but I think this 384 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: was him taking a little bit of ownership. It wasn't 385 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: a perfect ball, it wasn't a great ball, So how 386 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 1: could I throw that ball better? Is kind of the 387 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: answer that he gave. Ultimately, it doesn't matter because they 388 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,480 Speaker 1: didn't connect and sures A Gonzalez comes on and kicks 389 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 1: the field goal. That was positive, right, your kicker, you 390 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:22,120 Speaker 1: feel pretty good about right now to send it to overtime, 391 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: But then you had an ineligible receiver downfield on the 392 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 1: second play, in overtime, and that negated a nice Bajon 393 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:30,679 Speaker 1: catch and kind of run that felt like you were 394 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:34,199 Speaker 1: gaining some momentum. Follow that play up with Kyle Pitts 395 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:36,719 Speaker 1: dropping a slant route that hit him kind of right 396 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: in the hands on your follow up second down play. 397 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: So really, just the moments are there, the moments are 398 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: there to be made, and for whatever reason, these guys 399 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:46,679 Speaker 1: have not been able to make those plays. 400 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:51,720 Speaker 3: And what's really tough is, at least to us, we're 401 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:55,119 Speaker 3: not getting a hardcore explanation as to why these moments 402 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 3: are being made. It's we always get the we'll find 403 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:02,399 Speaker 3: a way. It comes down to execution. We need to 404 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,479 Speaker 3: be cleaner on the little things. And I don't know, 405 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 3: maybe maybe it's just because I see what the fans 406 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 3: say all the time on Twitter, y'all scare me. 407 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: You're they're not coming right up to you in the 408 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: streets and just telling you what they think. I'm me 409 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 1: in that all the time. People are like, will really 410 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,160 Speaker 1: sit down, let me tell you everything? Not Oh. 411 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 2: I was like, I hope that never happens to me. 412 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:25,200 Speaker 1: If you find Teraren though, no, no, no, no, no no, no. 413 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 3: Nor will never approached Aran in the wild, but they 414 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 3: want answers. I want answers like what is going wrong? 415 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 3: You want to find a way? What are you finding 416 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 3: a way from? 417 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 1: Too? 418 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 3: Like just a little more, you know what I mean? 419 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 3: And because what does that exactly mean? I mean, find 420 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 3: a way to win? But how? 421 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:48,880 Speaker 2: I want to know the how behind it all? 422 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: And I think that that is to your point a 423 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: little bit like of the confusing nature of it, especially 424 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: when you can look at a bunch of the different 425 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: outcomes coming in in different ways, you know, the central 426 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: problem for some of these games being totally different, and 427 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: you actually can look at clear improvement in some of 428 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 1: those metrics. Right. The red zone has not been an 429 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: issue the last couple of weeks, right, And it's usually 430 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 1: it's rare to see a team execute as well as 431 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,680 Speaker 1: the Falcons have in the red zone kind of this week. 432 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: Last week and even in New England they were decent 433 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: in the red zone I think in that game as well, 434 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 1: and to emerge with zero to three in that where 435 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,919 Speaker 1: you're really being efficient down there third downs. Again, they 436 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,719 Speaker 1: weren't perfect today, they haven't been good recently, but before 437 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: that to start the season they were one of the best, 438 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: like ball possession teams in the league. And then when 439 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 1: it comes to kind of these critical crunch time moments, 440 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 1: just the individual plays, that is where I think it's 441 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 1: easier to maybe look and spotlight, but those happen to 442 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 1: every team every single week. So it really just does 443 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: feel puzzling to have a defense at times feel as 444 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: suffocating and the sad production, Like this team has the 445 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 1: second most sacks, Yeah, in Falcons history through ten games. 446 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: I'm trying to, off the top of my head think 447 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,200 Speaker 1: of what the I think it's ninety seven is maybe 448 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,360 Speaker 1: the number one season there. So you're getting sack production recently, 449 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: you've gotten the red zone production. Today. It was okay 450 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 1: on third down, like usually that ladders up to winning football, 451 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: and it just hasn't for the Falcons in five straight games. 452 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 1: And that's where it's just head scratching to be like, Okay, 453 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: you can point to some of the metrics that usually 454 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 1: indicate wins and they're not performing horribly in them. That's 455 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 1: why I keep coming back to the seventy five to 456 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: twenty five. It just feels like that, you know, twenty 457 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 1: five and sometimes it's probably like forty percent maybe sometimes 458 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: it's but the negatives are so so bad it feels 459 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: like sometimes or it outweighs the good to such a 460 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 1: degree that, Yeah, I get the frustration from the fans 461 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: because it is hard to pinpoint on when you're able 462 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: to wrap your head around something. I think you're able 463 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,400 Speaker 1: to tolerate it a little bit more. But the unknownness 464 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: of all of this. 465 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,199 Speaker 3: A clear cut answer might be like, all right, I 466 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 3: got it right. 467 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:05,719 Speaker 1: I may not like that, but at least I know, 468 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:07,360 Speaker 1: at least I have a diagnosis. 469 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. 470 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 3: And then I think the thing that stands out most 471 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 3: to me, maybely be because our entire offseason was triggered 472 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:17,920 Speaker 3: by the word pass rush, is the fact that they 473 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 3: are doing really well in that regard. 474 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: And we can't even enjoy it. 475 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 2: Tori had this tweet that the Falcons are the first 476 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:26,480 Speaker 2: team in the Super Bowl era to have eighteen plus 477 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 2: defensive sacks in a three game span but lose all 478 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 2: three games. 479 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 1: Man, that right there, that that kind of body. 480 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 2: But you can't celebrate the sacks. 481 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, And it's like, how many times has this 482 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 1: team franchise had an offense that you feel so good 483 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 1: about and then the defense You're like, if we could 484 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:50,239 Speaker 1: just get a little bit more tom Right. Yeah, now 485 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:52,639 Speaker 1: you've got Now you've got a game where you've got 486 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 1: one hundred yard rusher, one hundred yard receiver, you've got 487 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:58,160 Speaker 1: five sacks like that. Again, the metrics that you normally 488 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: point to aren't horrible or Atlanta and and they're just 489 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 1: not finding these ways to win. To Raheem's point, and again, 490 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:07,920 Speaker 1: I think that is what is has a lot of 491 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: Falcons fans kind of pulling their hair out right now. 492 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 2: I'm pulling my hair out. 493 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 1: No, you're not. Your hair looks great. 494 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 2: Oh thank you. 495 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 1: I pulled my hair out, though. My hair's anybody who 496 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: saw the YouTube video of a Friday flight out, well, 497 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:21,760 Speaker 1: and that's what I told you, is that I cut it. 498 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 2: Fourth quarter. 499 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 3: Man, we're ending on this note. I mean we got to, 500 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 3: we have to. But what are the Falcons playoff chances now? 501 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:36,720 Speaker 3: And where does this team go from here? 502 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:43,360 Speaker 1: Wolf playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs? Playoffs? Yeah, we got 503 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:45,160 Speaker 1: to talk about New Orleans, you know like that. That's 504 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 1: the thing is is it this point? Now? Ee wee? 505 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 3: You and I need to talk about the playoffs. The 506 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:52,919 Speaker 3: players cannot talk about the playoffs. They need a focus 507 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 3: game at one game at a time. 508 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:56,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, that was my Jim More impression. 509 00:23:56,440 --> 00:24:01,439 Speaker 2: We can talk about the playoffs. It's they're not great chances. 510 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 3: They're not according to the New York Times simulator, less 511 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 3: than a one percent chance. 512 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:08,360 Speaker 1: Not good. 513 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:11,119 Speaker 2: Can I still say so you're saying there's a chance. 514 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: Or it you can't. Don't think they're living I mean technically, Yeah, 515 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:18,440 Speaker 1: But losing this game, especially to. 516 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:20,400 Speaker 2: The Panthers, you're own three in the division. 517 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:23,359 Speaker 1: You're owned three in the division, and those come to 518 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 1: the two teams ahead of you, right, it helps. The 519 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 1: Tampa also lost today, but again at this point in time, it's. 520 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 3: Like it barely helps. It just makes the Panthers closer 521 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 3: to the Buccaneers. 522 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, and right now, kind of going into New Orleans, 523 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:37,959 Speaker 1: you got a road game, you may be down, Like 524 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 1: there's injuries that are now really kind of becoming a 525 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:44,199 Speaker 1: factor for those team. It's in New Orleans, always a 526 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:48,200 Speaker 1: really tough place to play rivalry games. So yeah, it's 527 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: not looking good at all. And again at this point 528 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,439 Speaker 1: in time, like I feel like the playoffs, we can 529 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 1: kind of table that part of the discussion. And when 530 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 1: you look full circle, big picture, where this team was 531 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 1: in training camp kind of coming into the year, how 532 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 1: they finished last year and Michael Pennick junior stepping in 533 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 1: and kind of the Okay, if the offense really can 534 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,440 Speaker 1: sustain this level and we get the defense turned around, 535 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 1: and then you kind of see the start that the 536 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:17,239 Speaker 1: defense had and thinking back to that Buffalo game, Washington game, like, 537 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 1: there have been moments this team looks as good as 538 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:23,679 Speaker 1: a playoff team out there and capable of doing it. 539 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 2: Yeah. 540 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 3: I think back to Week three and how afterward the 541 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:31,120 Speaker 3: immediate word was it's an anomaly. The thirty to zero 542 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 3: loss was an anomaly. Now that we're done with Week eleven, 543 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 3: I think the Bills game might have been the anomaly. 544 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 1: It does I think a really strong case. I think 545 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:42,440 Speaker 1: it's a great point. I think a really strong case 546 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,439 Speaker 1: could be made the yeah, you know that was the 547 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: team clearly was up for that game. I thought Mercedes 548 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:51,680 Speaker 1: Been Stadium was as loud and raucous as I've heard 549 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:53,440 Speaker 1: it in a long long time. 550 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 2: So and that's with a bunch of Bills fans in attendance, 551 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 2: I remember. 552 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: I think they certainly added to it. It kind of 553 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: felt like a college game, like a rivalry game, like 554 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: a Georgia Florida game where you got both of the 555 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,320 Speaker 1: fan bases there and there's just cheering all of the time. 556 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:09,440 Speaker 1: So yeah, like that that was right now the high 557 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 1: of the season. That that was the peak of your season. 558 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,119 Speaker 3: But you can't peak that early, No, And you can't 559 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:15,920 Speaker 3: only peak once. 560 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:20,400 Speaker 1: No, you cannot. And so that's where like I kind 561 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: of want to get into with you, just like what 562 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: next do we We got to keep covering this team, Taren, Like, 563 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:28,159 Speaker 1: we got jobs to do. We're professionals, We're going to 564 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 1: do it to the best of our ability. But where 565 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: does your focus shift? What what should we be focused 566 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,919 Speaker 1: on now? Kind of given the way that this season 567 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 1: has come out. 568 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 2: Maybe I take a paternity leave. You had yours, Maybe 569 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 2: it's my turn. 570 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:47,439 Speaker 1: I don't know if it quite works that way. Go 571 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, am I a puppy? 572 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 2: Does that count? 573 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:55,160 Speaker 1: You know? We can we can talk about it off, Mike, But. 574 00:26:56,160 --> 00:27:00,399 Speaker 3: Because it is tough, it's tough like that, it's a 575 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 3: five game losing streak. I don't even know the numbers 576 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 3: right now. I will tell all of you too. I 577 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 3: am a little doolulu. I ran a marathon yesterday and 578 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:09,159 Speaker 3: the exhaustion is kicking in. 579 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 1: But we're midway through the fourth quarter, Tarance, I know, 580 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 1: I know, okay, I. 581 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:17,159 Speaker 2: Will step up in rally. But it's talking in the 582 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 2: locker room. 583 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,359 Speaker 3: I think you're starting to kind of get different vibes 584 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:26,440 Speaker 3: from different people you had today, at least as in Sunday. 585 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 3: But John Robinson was talking about keeping everyone off social media. 586 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 3: He called it the devil. You have Chris lynch trom 587 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 3: saying he's not on social media and this locker room 588 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 3: is as close as ever that it's not. 589 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 2: Even a worry. 590 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:44,119 Speaker 3: You have Raheem Morris talking about like not doubting this 591 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,959 Speaker 3: team being able to come together and stay together, and 592 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 3: so that's all good and great, but it's not enough apparently, 593 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 3: like sure, me and my besties could be really close, 594 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:57,400 Speaker 3: but I'm not gonna go win a football game with them. 595 00:27:57,560 --> 00:28:00,120 Speaker 3: Like I don't need you to all be buddy buddy. 596 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,359 Speaker 3: I need you to win. They the fans need you 597 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:07,160 Speaker 3: to win. Arthur Blank needs you to win. Raheem Moores 598 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 3: needs you to win. And that starts with having a 599 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:14,720 Speaker 3: good camaraderie. I'm sure. But people are starting to ask, 600 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:18,160 Speaker 3: is there gonna be a player's only meeting? Are y'all 601 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:23,200 Speaker 3: gonna start having conversations to turn things around. 602 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 2: I don't know what that means. 603 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:28,719 Speaker 3: I don't know what they're doing behind closed doors as 604 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 3: much as people think I do, which I'm flattered. It's 605 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 3: tough because you can tell everyone genuinely cares about each 606 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:42,360 Speaker 3: other and they're fighting to not let frustrations like steep 607 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 3: in or what not sleep No, sep seep. 608 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 2: There's not an extra letter in there. 609 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: Steep so hard we could go with creep. I would 610 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 1: also accept that. 611 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 3: That word was said, don't let the negativity creep in. 612 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 3: And I that was something that stood out to me 613 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 3: a lot in this post game locker room because before, 614 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 3: in the past four losses, it was never mentioned. And 615 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 3: so now I understand probably because playoff chances are negative 616 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 3: or not negative, less than one percent. 617 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 2: And so maybe you start thinking that way. But it's 618 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 2: something feels different. 619 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, I mean when we were going into this game, 620 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 1: I had numerous conversations about like, all right, if Falcons 621 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 1: are going to turn it around, it starts Sunday, and 622 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: really it extends to these next three games, the three 623 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:33,880 Speaker 1: game stretch of Carolina, New Orleans, New York Jets. It 624 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: felt like those are your three most winnable games remaining 625 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:38,480 Speaker 1: on the schedule, but it's got to start on Sunday 626 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 1: and it didn't and it didn't, So now now what 627 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:44,120 Speaker 1: now it's like, okay again is less? 628 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 2: Well what do we do? 629 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:48,719 Speaker 1: Yeah? I wish I knew. If I knew, I wouldn't 630 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 1: have a microphone in front of my face. 631 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:52,560 Speaker 2: You would, but you'd be on the sideline. 632 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 1: Very true, I'd be. I'd be raising it and lowering 633 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 1: and raising it, lowering it as I called the players 634 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 1: of the play call in front of my sheet. I 635 00:29:58,280 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 1: think for me, I'm going to be looking at especially 636 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:01,959 Speaker 1: at a lot of the young guys. How do they 637 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:04,520 Speaker 1: handle this? How do they keep progressing? How do they mature? 638 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: And really just the ability to control the locker room 639 00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: from the coaching staff, right, can they keep these guys 640 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 1: locked in? Because the moment that that frustration sets in, 641 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: that is really when I think everybody it kind of 642 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 1: really spirals downwards. 643 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 2: No spiraling, no spiraling spiral. 644 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: This podcast is the only spiraling that is allowed? 645 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 2: Or is it just me? Man? But yeah? 646 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:32,040 Speaker 3: The next trip is to New Orleans, so another NFC 647 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:35,520 Speaker 3: South match up. The Falcons hope to get a win 648 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:38,760 Speaker 3: on that divisional record, because otherwise they're three and seven 649 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 3: and oh and three. That's just the reality of the situation. 650 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:46,720 Speaker 3: And there's a lot of football left. There's seven games, 651 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 3: And I never thought I would use that cliche. 652 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 1: There's there's a lot of football left. But today was 653 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 1: a big one. Today was a very important one, and 654 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:00,719 Speaker 1: you know it, you let it kind of slip. And 655 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 1: what really stings I think the most about these last 656 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 1: couple is that you had the lead late in the 657 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 1: fourth quarter, you were kind of leaning on what has 658 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:11,920 Speaker 1: become the strength and identity of this team, which is 659 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:14,600 Speaker 1: the defense. Are we in a weirdly well, we're with 660 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 1: Today's game went overtime. I think we can stretch a 661 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 1: little bit and overtime, so to bear with us. But yeah, 662 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 1: it just this was a really tough one. 663 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 2: You fought too of and nail with the Patriots and 664 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:24,440 Speaker 2: the Colts. 665 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 1: Yep. Yeah, and now this and now this, So. 666 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:31,160 Speaker 2: That's our overtime drive. 667 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're gonna we're gonna wrap it up there, I 668 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 1: guess on a little bit of a bummer note. 669 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 2: But hey, there's seven games left to win. 670 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:41,239 Speaker 1: Sure, there definitely are seven games left to win, and 671 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: if the Falcons win them, all, then we will revisit 672 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 1: this playoff conversation, probably midway through that journey. I mean, look, 673 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:50,880 Speaker 1: if they're being the Seahawks and the Rams, that will, hey. 674 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 2: One game my time. Let's not look ahead. 675 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:54,400 Speaker 1: We will be looking back and wondering how they lost 676 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 1: twice to the Panthers. But they have and that is 677 00:31:57,160 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 1: where we stand. 678 00:31:58,000 --> 00:31:59,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I guess it's Mike you. 679 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:04,440 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to this episode of the Final Whistle. 680 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 3: Make sure you're looking at Atlanta Falcons dot com for 681 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 3: all the latest and greatest content as Week. 682 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:14,000 Speaker 2: Twelve hits this week. We'll see you next week in 683 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 2: New Orleans. 684 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:15,560 Speaker 3: Later. 685 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 2: Bye,