Atlanta Falcons fourth-quarter defense remains a glaring issue

The Atlanta Falcons defense tried their best to give away a fourth-quarter lead in  Week 9.

Up 34-13 with just over nine minutes remaining, there was a feeling of deja vu all over again. Did anybody really have faith that the Atlanta Falcons defense would be able to hold the lead in NFL Week 9 against the Broncos? Well, they managed to, but just barely. With the Falcons playoff hopes still on life support somehow, things got a little hairy late in the game.

The Falcons defense was stingy for most of the game. They held the Broncos and Drew Lock in check by giving up only two field goals for a total of six points. Then, it seemed to become the same old story that we are all used to this season; blowing big leads and letting opposing teams come back late is getting very old, very fast.

There is never any comfort level with this defense until the clock actually hits zero. Another in the fourth quarter that came close to the brink of disaster. Poor cornerback play and very little to no pass rush from the defensive line is the common theme week in and week out.

It’s tough to trust this Atlanta Falcons defense even a little bit late in games.

Although the Falcons’ two starting defensive ends were out due to injury, nobody on the defensive front is able to generate any pressure on the quarterback other than Grady Jarrett. The only sack recorded today was from linebacker Foye Oluokun, who had another stellar game. He is quickly turning into a beast of a player and is so fun to watch.

Deion Jones also played another great game and came close to having a quarterback sack or two today. He should have been credited with a sack in the last few minutes of the game but the refs ruled that Drew Lock’s arm was coming forward on a pass, which it clearly wasn’t.

Regardless, the Falcons had one measly sack again on Sunday. Their linebacking corps continues to play consistent and produce weekly. The second level is clearly the only strong suit of the defense. There is a major problem when only your linebackers can generate pressure and get to the quarterback.

Let’s be honest here. Even if and when Takk McKinley plays, it’s inevitable that he’ll get hurt. Overall, he’s been a huge bust and is a major head case. Dante Fowler has two sacks this season and has been a huge disappointment. Lack of depth continues to haunt the Atlanta Falcons defense.

Whether it’s coaching, play-calling or a lack of talent and depth, fans have to be getting sick and tired of watching these late-game collapses almost every week. Sunday’s 34-27 win should not have even been close to the final score, nor did the game feel that close other than in the last nine minutes.

The bottom line is that a win is a win and that’s all that really matters. Just wait until the Falcons play high-octane offenses like the Saints twice, the Buccaneers twice and the Chiefs in the remaining seven games of the season. Things could get even uglier for this defense and the lack of penetration and pass rush, among other things such as offensive play-calling. But that’s another issue for another day.