Oct 20, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the sideline against the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Raheem Morris takes ownership of Falcons’ ‘flat’ loss to Seahawks

As exciting as the Atlanta Falcons’ three-game winning streak was entering Week 7, Sunday was a reminder that it’s easy to be humbled in the NFL.

Atlanta (4-3) had won three in a row over NFC South foes before a lackluster showing in a 34-14 home defeat to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The Falcons’ offense, which was averaging 33.3 points over their longest win streak in five years, turned the ball over three times in the fourth quarter, while being held scoreless the final 22:43 of the loss.

“We came out flat,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Monday. “When I say that, I’m talking about myself. I didn’t prepare them well enough to come out the right way.”

First-year quarterback Kirk Cousins had his worst game as a Falcon, as his two interceptions and fumble in the fourth quarter sealed Atlanta’s fate.

Still very much in the thick of the divisional race, the Falcons will look to put Sunday’s ugly game behind them. Ahead of Monday night’s Tampa Bay-Baltimore game, Atlanta trailed the Buccaneers by a half-game, while leading the New Orleans Saints by two games and the Carolina Panthers by three.

The Falcons, who own the head-to-head tiebreaker over all three NFC South teams, will face Tampa Bay for the second time in less than a month next Sunday, following their 36-30 overtime win over the Buccaneers on Oct. 3.

“With it being Tampa, you know each other so well,” Morris said. “I think it’s almost an advantage for them on a short week. But it’s the National Football League schedule. This is why we all love it. It’s fun, it’s enjoyable. I can’t wait to get back out and get a chance to play again. I know our guys can’t either.”

While the offense has carried the load for the Falcons for much of the year, the Atlanta defense has had a “bend but don’t break” mentality. On Sunday, however, the unit’s inefficiency showed, as it recorded just one sack.

It’s been a common theme for the franchise, whose six sacks rank last in the NFL. Atlanta also ranked last in 2021 and second-to-last in 2022 before seeing a bump last season.

A missing piece for the Atlanta defense the last three weeks has been linebacker Troy Andersen. The 2022 second-round pick had a career day on Sep. 29 against the Saints, recording a team-high 10 tackles while returning an interception for his first career touchdown.

Andersen has been out since that game with a knee injury, and Morris and the Falcons are hopeful to see his return this week.

“Troy is going to practice for us on Wednesday,” Morris said. “We’ll get him out there, get him moving a little bit, see where he is. Troy is a Ferrari, so to speak. His game is based off being able to move fast and vicious. What makes Troy special … is his ability to run and be as healthy as possible.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 29, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons linebacker Troy Andersen (44) tackles New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons rule out LBs Troy Andersen, Lorenzo Carter

The Atlanta Falcons will travel to Seattle on Sunday seeking their fourth consecutive win, but will do so without the services of starting inside linebacker Troy Andersen.

The team’s co-leader in tackles this season is dealing with a knee injury, and was ruled out on Friday for the third consecutive week despite being listed as a limited participant in practice. Fellow linebacker Lorenzo Carter also was ruled out with a concussion, while safety Justin Simmons (hamstring) and cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. (back) are questionable to face the Seahawks.

The good news is that pass rusher Matthew Judon returned to practice following a rest day, as did linebacker Nate Landman, who is dealing with calf and quad injuries. They were not listed on the final injury report.

Andersen, a 2022 second-round pick, is tied with Kaden Elliss with 44 tackles through Atlanta’s 4-2 start. He also has one of the Falcons’ five interceptions, which he returned 47 yards for a touchdown against New Orleans on Nov. 29 en route to earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He hasn’t played since.

Landman, who has 14 tackles this season, is in line for increased snaps along with Elliss and rookie JD Bertrand. James Smith-Williams, who has 18 tackles to Carter’s 15, is expected to step in to a starting role, with Arnold Ebiketie seeing more time as well.

Simmons, one of the team’s key offseason acquisitions, has 23 tackles and an interception. If he is unable to go Sunday, 2021 second-round pick Richie Grant likely would start alongside Jessie Bates III.

Seattle enters Sunday’s game 29th in the NFL, averaging only 96.5 rushing yards per game. That includes quarterback Geno Smith contributing 146 of the team’s 579 yards through six games.

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) stiff arms Carolina Panthers linebacker Chandler Wooten (57) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Raheem Morris praises Tyler Allgeier after Falcons’ third straight win

Six games into the Raheem Morris era in Atlanta, the Falcons’ high-powered offense has helped put them in the driver’s seat of the NFC South.

The team’s 4-2 start is the best for the franchise since 2016, the year Atlanta reached Super Bowl LI. The Falcons are fresh off three straight wins over divisional foes following Sunday’s 38-20 road victory against the Carolina Panthers. Atlanta’s 38 points were its most since Nov. 29, 2020 in a 43-6 home win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Much of the reason for the offensive explosion on Sunday was the Falcons’ running game. Tyler Allgeier, who has performed well in the backup role this season, rushed for 105 yards and a score, while starter Bijan Robinson ran for 95 yards and a pair of scores on the ground.

Morris, the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator the last three seasons, was well aware of Allgeier’s physical style of running before landing the head job in Atlanta.

“Tyler was a pain in my neck his rookie season,” Morris said of matching up against Allgeier in Los Angeles in 2022. “Being a defensive coordinator against him and trying to figure out who he was. I remember telling our guys in the meeting, ‘This guy runs hard.’ … This guy is certainly a heavy back and runs with great intent. He has great vision. I love the combination of him (and Bijan) and how they work together and how they cheer for each other. It’s the definition of great teammates, those two guys.”

Atlanta swept the critical three-game stretch of NFC South opponents, topping New Orleans and Tampa Bay before Sunday’s victory over the Panthers. The Falcons hold the first-place tiebreaker over the Buccaneers for now, but they’ll meet again in Week 8 in Tampa.

Before that, the Falcons will host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, a team reeling from a three-game losing streak.

Morris — who’s coaching his 66th game as an NFL head coach this Sunday (25-40 overall with Tampa Bay in 2009-11 and Atlanta in 2020, 2024) — knows not to overlook Seattle, regardless of its recent woes.

“Geno (Smith) has been playing great these past couple of years in kind of his bounce-back for his whole career,” Morris said of the Seahawks’ quarterback. “Obviously D.K. Metcalf has been a physical force in the league for a while, and Tyler Lockett has been a pain in my neck forever. … We’ve got our hands full.”

On the injury docket for Atlanta, special teamer Micah Abernathy went down with a knee injury Sunday, and will likely miss “a significant amount of time,” Morris said.

Linebacker Troy Andersen missed Sunday’s game with a knee injury, but Morris told reporters that Atlanta will continue to evaluate the injury as the week progresses.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons linebacker Troy Andersen (44) tackles Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons place LB Troy Andersen (shoulder/pec) on IR

The Atlanta Falcons placed inside linebacker Troy Andersen on injured reserve on Tuesday due to a shoulder/pectoral injury.

Andersen, 24, suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions.

In his second year in the league, Andersen started two games this season and was inactive for Week 2’s win over the Green Bay Packers while in concussion protocol. He recorded half a sack in the season-opening win over the Carolina Panthers and had 19 tackles through two games.

In a corresponding roster move, the Falcons signed offensive lineman Storm Thornton off the division-rival New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.

Norton, 29, has played in 36 career NFL games (18 starts) with the Minnesota Vikings (2018) and Los Angeles Chargers (2020-22).

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2018; Albuquerque, NM, USA; Utah State Aggies interim coach Frank Maile is doused with water after the game against the North Texas Mean Green of the New Mexico Bowl at Dreamstyle Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Maile finishing season as Utah State’s interim coach

Frank Maile has been appointed Utah State’s interim head coach for the rest of the season.

Maile, who had titles of assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator, replaces Gary Andersen, who was relieved of his duties on Saturday.

The 38-year-old Maile is in his fifth season of his second stint on the Aggies’ coaching staff. He previously had a five-year stint from 2009-13 before taking a position at Vanderbilt for two seasons before returning to the campus in Logan, Utah.

Maile served as interim coach when Utah State routed North Texas 52-13 in the 2018 New Mexico Bowl. He guided the team after Matt Wells left to take the Texas Tech gig.

Maile also played in 42 games (21 starts) for Utah State from 2004-07 and was a team captain as a senior. He had 71 tackles, including 19 for loss, during his career.

Utah State (0-3) was outscored 114-29 this season before the school parted ways with Andersen, who was in his second season of his second stint at the school. Andersen also was Aggies head coach from 2009-12, leaving to become the head coach at Wisconsin. He was also the head coach at Oregon State, going 59-63-0 in his career over 11 seasons.

Utah State athletic director John Hartwell said the school will conduct a national search to identify its next head coach.

–Field Level Media