Stud: Calvin Ridley
Before kickoff on Sunday, Atlanta found out it would be without star wide receiver Julio Jones in the game, which meant Calvin Ridley would have to step up into the top wideout slot against Chicago.
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In the game Sunday afternoon, Ridley stepped up to the occasion to help fill that void, finishing the game with five catches on 12 total targets to compile a total of 110 yards through the air.
Ridley has been a key component to this Falcons offense once again here in 2020. And he will have to continue riding that solid production even when Jones returns to the field as soon as Week 4.
Dud: Fourth quarter production
This one is obvious. The Falcons have been awful in late-game execution this season, especially in the fourth quarter. A week after Atlanta blew a 20-point lead against the Dallas Cowboys, the Falcons led by as much as 16 points in the game on Sunday and ended up once again losing the game.
It’s one thing to have that type of performance happen once during the regular season, but for it to happen twice — and especially two weeks in a row — is an incredibly concerning trend.
Moving forward, Atlanta will not be able to beat another team if it can not avoid defeating itself week-in and week-out.