Atlanta Falcons: Studs and duds from another collapse in Week 7 vs. Lions

Atlanta Falcons Week 7 Stud: Strong answer in the first half

To begin the game on Sunday afternoon, the Falcons fell behind the Lions early but were able to climb back into things to round out the first half to take a lead into halftime. It was a positive to see Atlanta bounce back after trailing Detroit early, rather than digging itself into an early hole while trying to play catch-up in the second half.

After the Lions grabbed a 7-0 lead after the first quarter, the Falcons woke up and answered back with a strong second-quarter showing, holding a 14-3 advantage in the frame to take a 14-10 lead into halftime.

In the second quarter, where Atlanta scored all 14 of its first-half points, running back Todd Gurley began the scoring with a touchdown on the ground, with Matt Ryan finding Calvin Ridley in the endzone before halftime to put the Falcons up four going into the break.

Oftentimes this season, we have seen Atlanta get itself into a hole early on while not really answering back until it has to try and come up with something late in the game. But it was a bright spot to see the Falcons answer an early deficit in the opening half in Week 7.

Atlanta Falcons Week 7 Dud: Allowing Stafford to air it out

One thing the Falcons needed to work on going into the game on Sunday was holding Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford in check in the passing game to allow Atlanta’s offense to take things over on its end of the field.

For most of the game, the Falcons did a relatively decent job in accomplishing that and should have pulled ahead for the final time with just over a minute left in the contest, but Atlanta’s defense didn’t finish the job and lost track of Stafford under center during the final drive that gave Detroit the late-game victory.

Stafford marched the Lions down the field in the final seconds and aired the ball out throughout that drive to give Detroit a comeback victory. The veteran quarterback finished with 25 completions for 340 yards and one touchdown in the win, and the Falcons dropped the ball in finishing the job of keeping him in check in the game.