A pair of NFC teams trending in opposite directions will meet Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons host the Seattle Seahawks.
The Falcons (4-2) are riding a three-game winning streak, the team’s longest since winning the last four games of the 2019 season. Seattle (3-3) opened the season by winning its first three games before dropping three straight.
Atlanta is looking for its first winning season and playoff appearance since 2017, but thanks to a new-look roster that is loaded with offensive weapons, it is tied atop the NFC South. The Falcons are fresh off a three-game sweep of divisional opponents, most recently drubbing the host Carolina Panthers 38-20.
In the last two games, Atlanta has shown different facets of its potent offense.
Facing visiting Tampa Bay on Oct. 3, newcomer Kirk Cousins set the franchise’s single-game passing total with 509 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-30 win.
Then the run game took over against Carolina. Backup running back Tyler Allgeier led the team with 105 rushing yards and one score, while Bijan Robinson ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
First-year head coach Raheem Morris has been impressed with the work of offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who is also in his first year.
“It’s been great for me to have a front-row seat to watch Zac develop into what he’s doing,” Morris said. “I really love the maturation of Zac Robinson from a play-calling standpoint. Obviously, this being his first year, really watching him mesh with Kirk and the other guys. … It’s gone really well for us.”
Zac Robinson, who spent the last two seasons as the pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach with the Los Angeles Rams, has Atlanta averaging 24.8 points per game, up from 18.9 last season.
The Falcons will be facing a Seattle defense that has been gutted of late. The Seahawks defense allowed just 14.3 points per game through three weeks, but has surrendered just under 36 points per contest since then.
Most recently, Seattle fell at home to the San Francisco 49ers 36-24 on Oct. 10, and Mike Macdonald, who is in his first season as a head coach, wants his players to experience a sense of urgency.
“We’re six games into the season and there is a lot of football to be played,” said Macdonald, who is the youngest head coach in the league at age 37. “But just like the message was last week, we’ve got to get better in a hurry. We’re finding new ways to lose games right now, and that’s no good. But we’ve got the right guys for the job, guys that are in it.”
A problem through Seattle’s skid has been turnovers. The Seahawks have given the ball away six times, three to the 49ers, while forcing just one in the three games combined.
“When you play against good teams, well-coached teams, you can’t shoot yourself in the foot,” Seattle quarterback Geno Smith said. “Those are the things we’re doing right now. … Just getting in our own way. We’ve got to stop doing that.”
Smith’s inconsistency has been an issue. While his 1,778 passing yards lead the league, he has six interceptions, one shy of the NFL high.
Seattle’s run game hasn’t been of much help either; its 96.5 rushing yards per game are 29th of 32 teams.
The Falcons could be thin at linebacker on Sunday, with Troy Andersen (knee) and Lorenzo Carter (concussion) nonparticipants in practice on Wednesday. Matthew Judon (rest) and Nate Landman (calf) were limited in practice. Elsewhere, safety Justin Simmons did not practice, and Bijan Robinson (rest) and cornerback Antonio Hamilton (back) were limited participants.
For Seattle, defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins (hand) landed on injured reserve Wednesday. Jenkins hasn’t missed a defensive snap this year, although he did wear a club on his hand in the last two games.
