The New York Jets defeated the Atlanta Falcons 24-16 at Metlife Stadium, resulting in the Atlanta team’s return to the Peach State without a victory.
The Falcons had a 16-0 lead late in the first half, so this result didn’t seem likely at all. However, troubles in the second half plus a ton of penalties forced Atlanta to lose this game.
Fortunately for the Falcons, the most of the guys who dressed for the second half won’t be playing during the regular season. The first-string players utilized their time effectively in the first half.
Marcus Mariota’s laser throw to an unblocked Kyle Pitts for a 52-yard gain gave the Falcons a strong start to their first possession. The Falcons, on the other hand, struggled in the end zone and only scored three points on the drive.
The Falcons gained possession of the ball again and enjoyed further success after stopping the Jets on their opening drive.
Following a Jets secondary blunder, Mariota completed a pass to tight end Anthony Firkser for 39 yards as the Falcons advanced for a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.
In order to advance the ball earlier in the drive, free agency wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge caught a 13-yard pass after receiving two hard carries as a rookie running back for a total of five well-earned yards.
On third and nine, Mariota found Olamide Zaccheaus for a touchdown that was scored from 13 yards out, beating defender Bryce Hall.
On Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams, the defending Super Bowl champions, will visit Sofi Stadium to play the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons hope to win their debut game.
Dean Pees, the Falcons’ coordinator, on the team’s tactics in the Saints’ late-game defeat: “Whoever believes we… played soft coverage in the fourth quarter, I have no idea. The critic is completely ignorant of football.”
Damien Williams, the Atlanta Falcons’ backup running back, won’t take the field against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Could that imply that youngster Tyler Allgeier will get some carries or that Cordarrelle Patterson will get more work?
One more drive that Mariota directed ended in a three-and-out. 6-of-10 for 132 yards and a touchdown made up his final stat line.
Desmond Ridder entered the contest and seemed to carry on Mariota’s work. The Falcons drove all the way to the 1-yard line under his leadership on a 13-play, 75-yard drive, but a Jalen Mayfield false start on fourth-and-goal prompted Younghoe Koo to try another field goal, increasing the Falcons’ lead to 13-0.
The Falcons committed five significant fouls on Ridder’s final drive of the first half, but Jared Bernhardt’s two massive catches in Week 1 of the preseason helped the team move into field goal range, where Koo made another field goal.
The third and fourth quarters, though, belonged to the Jets in a tale of two halves.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Jets lead 17-16 thanks to two touchdown drives led by backup quarterback Chris Streveler. Feleipe Franks lost possession of the ball during a strip sack on the Falcons’ opening drive of the fourth quarter, and Jets defensive end Bradlee Anae recovered it, scoring to give his team an eight-point advantage.
The Jets were able to run out the clock and secure the comeback victory after the Falcons missed a chance to tie on 4th-and-goal.
The Falcons weren’t happy with the overall outcome, but the starters who participated looked strong, and there is a lot to build on. However, the Falcons’ defeat tonight highlighted a host of issues, particularly with penalties.
The Falcons lost tonight thanks to 13 penalties that cost them 121 yards in total. And before the games start to count, they need to clean that up.
The Falcons’ last preseason game is at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The game will start at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
