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NFL Notebook, Week 11: Browns-Steelers incident, Tua injury, awards and more

By Zach Cohen

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 14: Defensive end Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns hits Quarterback Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers over the head with his helmet during the second half in the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 14: Defensive end Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns hits Quarterback Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers over the head with his helmet during the second half in the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 17: Desmond Trufant #21 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter of their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 17: Desmond Trufant #21 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter of their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Adjusting on the Fly

Talk about a turnaround. After going 1-7 before their bye, the Falcons defeated the Saints, 26-9, and the Panthers, 29-3. Needless to say, this is a very different team from the first half of the season.

Atlanta’s disappointing year has been a major storyline. Three seasons removed from a Super Bowl run, the Falcons were one of the NFL’s worst teams through eight weeks. Head coach Dan Quinn was on the hot seat and notable veterans were rumored to be on the trading block. What changed? Quinn rearranged his assistants.

Former Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris switched his role as the wide receivers coach to the defensive backs coach while taking defensive play-calling duties from Quinn. Linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich also shared play-calling duties with Morris. The result has been a unit that hasn’t allowed a touchdown in 22 days.

I don’t know why Morris was coaching the receivers for the first time in his 17-year NFL coaching career. Regardless, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. By no means is the rest of Atlanta’s schedule a walk in the park; their opponents combine for a 29-21 record. That includes matchups against the Saints and 49ers.

With seven losses already, the postseason is mostly out of reach for the Falcons. Since 2013, eight teams with seven or more losses clinched a playoff berth. The odds are not impossible, but they are lofty if the 3-7 Falcons wish to play January football.

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