Image by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images With increased expectations come thinner margins for mistake. With difficult very early period stretches come fans and gamers anxious for a rapid beginning. With a loss to begin the period in those scenarios, you obtain fire and rumbling, as you Atlanta Falcons did not look all set for this video game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. You can pin that on preseason, a gameplan heavy on handgun snaps for a quarterback most comfy under center, bad protection on a few crucial plays Christian Roland-Wallace Jersey, poor blocking throughout the day, or simply very early season slowness from a franchise with a brand-new personnel and a new quarterback coming off a major Achilles injury. Wherever you blame, the outcome is similar: The Falcons losing 18-10 in your home to the Steelers on a day where Pittsburgh really did not even tease with obtaining into the end area. A lot of this can be pinned on the violation, which was anemic outside of a great goal drive and an opening basket drive. Kirk Cousins looked a bit lukewarm and slow, making numerous high-risk tosses and suffering 2 interceptions due to them. The offensive line simply couldn't keep Pittsburgh at bay, which brought about a number of running plays being exploded and numerous passing away plays ending in sacks and also strip sacks, though the latter were fortunately gotten rid of by penalties. The receiving corps, with all its helpful additions, took a backseat to an endless series of quick passes to Bijan Robinson. Atlanta's gameplan to try to offer Relatives more time to function unsuccessful badly, which is largely at the feet of new offending organizer Zac Robinson. There simply wasn't much to like on that side of the round, which should be triggering genuine alarm bells also in the very early going. The defense had its substantial gaps-- George Pickens killed every person covering him, yet particularly A.J. Terrell-- yet they also held Justin Fields under 4 lawns per carry and well under 200 backyards for the air and compelled an unlimited procession of area goals. Also against a crime anticipated to be pretty grim, that sufficed to win the day had actually the infraction been also a tick better than it was. Against better offenses, those lapses and a quiet pass thrill might well end up being significant liabilities, however that side of the ball is worthy of more credit scores than blame in this one. The end outcome is still an unbelievably frustrating loss, and not even if Arthur Smith will certainly go home pleased tonight after beating his previous group. We understood the protection would certainly be a little bit of a work in progression with all the items being included, and they will have their harsh stretches this season. The hope was that despite some rust to knock off for Kirk Cousins post-injury and a new mentoring staff, the infraction would certainly have the ability to do sufficient to endure those rough patches. Rather, the offense was the responsibility and the defense held up, a pattern line that would certainly ruin them versus their upcoming challengers offered their offensive ability. There's just not much to be encouraged concerning until we see them rebound, which we'll wish will take place in a country wide telecasted game versus the Eagles next Monday night. If you're looking for a positive note, it's that the talent on the offending side of the round is also solid for this team to look like this throughout the season. The question genuinely is exactly how lengthy it will take for the Falcons to locate their ground in the 2024 period, since a deep hole in the NFC South will be difficult to overcome despite having that division appearing like a tire fire in the making. A one week aberration is a problem and a stress, but it fades in contrast to what happens if this awkwardness stretches out over weeks or even months, as that will certainly nearly surely cost Atlanta a shot at the contention they long for so severely. We're always in risk of overreacting to Week 1, basically, but the Falcons have currently assembled numerous inept seasons in a row that it's impossible not to be worried after the very first video game went so really badly for them. Like the Falcons themselves, all we can actually do is drink this off and search for a far better Week 2, due to the fact that home on this is mosting likely to lead us down some dark, well-traveled roads we would certainly like to stay off of. On to the complete wrap-up, which need to take place. The GoodBijan Robinson's status as the offensive centerpiece was cemented on the very first drive, where he touched the sphere more frequently than any individual else and had numerous nice plays. He had 5 brings for 16 lawns-- and shed yardage on among those brings, on a play where he had no shot-- and caught a display pass for seven yards that would have been a rating otherwise for a brilliant private initiative by a Steelers protector. He finished the day with over 100 lawns from scrimmage, carrying the ball 18 times for 68 yards and drawing in five receptions for 43 lawns, leading the group in both hurrying efforts and receptions. In a week where the opposing defense is a little weak, those yardage total amounts must be improved, but regardless it's clear Robinson is important to this group's strategies. The most enjoyable single play in this one could have been Kirk Cousins turning out and discovering a vast open Kyle Pitts ultimately area, which is a testimony to Kirk reviewing the play well, Pitts for obtaining open, and brand-new play customer Zac Robinson having a strategy that ridiculously got the tallest receiving alternative on the field open in the end zone. That was a short, thrilling glimpse of what this violation can be if things obtain rolling, albeit simply a momentary one. The organizational faith in Ray-Ray McCloud as a qualified receiver made sense after the second quarter. First, McCloud captured a short pass and transformed it right into a nine lawn gain, after that he made an outstanding jumping grab in web traffic on a drifting Kirk Cousins pass, created by the quarterback absorbing a big hit. He was a favored target once more over the middle on a huge The after the catch ability is clearly there, as it always has actually been, yet the course running work and hands impressed me in those restricted looks. Grady Jarrett is still Grady Jarrett. On 3rd down on the Steelers' first drive of the 3rd quarter, Jarrett got loosened and chased down Justin Fields non-stop as he backpedaled to attempt to flee, ending in a big, drive-ending sack for the Falcons legend. He then split a sack with Matthew Judon late in the video game, finishing the day with 1.5 sacks and the all-time franchise mark for quarterback hits. If this team is mosting likely to be defensively proficient this year, it will be in large part because Jarrett enables it, as he revealed Sunday. It had not been a standout day for the pass rush, however Judon getting a fifty percent sack and showing well as a pass rush was motivating given what the Falcons require him to be. Ideally he's just developing the blades for larger and better in the weeks to come. Nate Landman and firm made one of the plays of the video game on a 4th and incredibly short, when Landman leaped over the pile to squash Justin Fields and guarantee the play was not converted. The Falcons have spoken a big game regarding obtaining Landman breaks, and it's vital that they do so on apparent run downs and short yardage scenarios, where his reactions and physicality genuinely beam. While the absolutely standout moments were few and far between, the Jessie Bates/Justin Simmons tandem were hostile and integrated for a great pass break up and some vital tackles. Once again, in a video game where the offense is capable of maintaining this group in the video game, those type of plays will matter a whole lot. Avery Williams looked ready for primetime on his punting returns, which was deeply encouraging provided how important area position numbers to be for this crime. Now the Falcons offense just needs to be able to make use of that. The UglyWhether he's sweating the hits, not completely healthy, or merely a bit rusty, this was a day of problems for Kirk Cousins, and the Falcons trying to avoid him from needing to relocate quite as much by kicking him further far from the line of skirmish did not aid Relatives to be a lot more productive. He threw a little bit late right into protection looking for Bijan Robinson and was virtually picked off on the video game's initial drive, and after that he threw late once again right into double coverage on the next drive and was picked off, putting the Falcons in a bad place. He would toss another backbreaking interception later on in this one, successfully securing off any courses to a win for Atlanta, and took as numerous hits as he completed passes in the 2nd fifty percent, per Daniel Flick. That's grim. I'm not at all stressed over Relatives over the long run-- he has the track record to recommend he'll settle in-- however that very early rust was worse than anticipated and elevates genuine concerns that the initial couple of weeks of the period can be awful while he finds his footing. The truth that the Falcons don't seem to have a good strategy for minimizing those battles which Relatives looks so unstable absolutely is not putting my mind at convenience. It was difficult to like the offensive gameplan. Tyler Allgeier looked excellent slicing with the center of the offensive line https://www.kansascitychiefsgear.com/collections/steven-nelson-jersey, but he barely touched the ball, with Robinson obtaining those inside the deal with reaches primarily average outcomes despite just how effective he was on his other touches. Having Cousins in the gun throughout the video game when the broadcast repetitively noted it is not his stamina is either a little negligence-- it did not keep the stress off him extremely properly-- or a reflection of the truth that he's not close enough to 100% to do or else, and either one is worrying. The fact that the Falcons could not discover a means to obtain Pitts and London the round more frequently, instead relying upon Ray-Ray McCloud and Robinson, was an all-too-familiar reflection of in 2014, when we grumbled regularly about the unlimited running back targets and Jonnu Smith showing up ahead of Pitts and London in the chain of command. Knowing the Falcons require to iron things out is something, yet being advised of the usually putrid 2023 infraction with what should be a clear upgrade at quarterback is a really worrying another. Certainly, some of that gameplan was predicated on the state of the offending line and the reality of the matchup, with the Pittsburgh pass enter general and T.J. Watt specifically confirming to be much way too much for this group to take care of. Kaleb McGary was smoked consistently, the line shed matches frequently sufficient that Relatives hardly ever obtained a clean look, and a line that was expected to be a group strength just looked line one in short stretches. The matchup was an especially tough one, however if that proceeds against the Eagles and Chiefs, we have actually got ourselves a real worry. The Falcons truly battled with George Pickens, who got a little splitting up apparently at will certainly and would have had a massive grab down the sideline functioning against A.J. Terrell if he had not been asked for a borderline offending pass disturbance on the play. Offered that Pickens is the receiver to cover up until someone else actions up, it's beyond frustrating that he was able to work his method totally free so frequently. That's specifically real when a lot of came versus Terrell, that requires to be the group's leading cornerback and dip into a high level for this defense to actually grow. The mistakes felt too familiar, from the mistimed interceptions to the snap that bounced off Ross Dwelley, that was in movement far too late on the play and could only enjoy as T.J. Watt scooped up the loosened ball. They likewise had a protective holding phone call and a gamer voluntarily out of bounds on a punt return, the kind of small but careless errors that start adding up to larger problems. The Kyle Pitts illegal development charge after Kirk Cousins attempted to get him lined up appropriately and he still didn't get up to the line of skirmish in the fourth quarter on an absolutely critical drive was the maddening icing on the cake. Raheem Morris has vowed that he will not play starters in preseason, which's a technique that has helped other trainers. In order for that not to be something that is looked at and criticized, the Falcons need to obtain off to a quick begin to the period. After the sloppiness and sluggishness in this one, lots of fans will be taking goal at the complete lack of breaks for a new squad in the summer, and it's hard responsible them. Losing to your previous head instructor harms, also if his infraction had to choose 6 area goals, and shedding yet once more to a Pittsburgh team that has constantly had this franchise business's number injures too. Eventually I would love to stand and proudly declare the Falcons have actually transformed a corner and are not the usual team that falls brief in acquainted situations and in matchups that are ripe for letdowns, yet that day is not today. The WrapupGame MVP You could provide it to Bijan Robinson for his strong day, but I'm commending Grady Jarrett for silently and not-so-quietly leading this defense to a quite solid day. It's one more feather in his cap, and an especially significant one considered that he was coming back from a significant injury. One TakeawayIf this is what the infraction has to provide on an once a week basis, the Falcons are deeply screwed. Next WeekA primetime match versus the Philadelphia Eagles, who looked mistaken yet formidable in their Week 1 video game versus the Packers. Have A Look At Blood Loss Green Country for extra on the week's opponent. Final WordUgly. In This Stream Falcons - Steelers Week 1 protection The Kirk Cousins/Michael Penix dilemma: A Falcoholic conversation Falcons vs. Steelers recap: A slow motion beginning ends in loss Falcons' Week 1 tactical plan elevates fresh questions about Kirk Cousins' healthView all 49 stories