Atlanta Falcons
TheAtlanta Falcons dropped their second preseason game Friday night, falling 23-20 to theTennessee Titans inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. While the final score will be forgotten by September, the performance offered some important reminders (and raised fresh concerns) with roster cuts less than two weeks away.
The clearest problem? Atlanta’s offensive line depth continues to fall behind the rest of the roster, and it’s becoming harder to ignore. While other position groups have shown growth during camp, the offensive front keeps stalling drives with penalties and inconsistency.
Penalties Stall Momentum
Falcons Offensive Line
GettyBack to back penalties took the Falcons from the Titans 27 yard line to the 42 yard line.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris sat his projected starters leaving the second and third stringers to handle most of the work up front. The result was a sloppy outing filled with penalties that repeatedly undercut promising drives.
The most glaring example came after cornerbackNatrone Brooks delivered the Falcons first interception of the preseason, returning it 33 yards to set up the offense inside Tennessee’s 30 yard line. With momentum finally shifting Atlanta’s way, the offensive line committed back to back penalties that erased the field position. What should have been a golden scoring chance ended with a deflating field goal.
Those kinds of mistakes weren’t isolated. Whether it was false starts, holding, or missed assignments, the line struggled to provide stability. Outside of two splash plays (a 43 yard touchdown run by running backNathan Carter and a 52 yard touchdown grab by wide receiverChris Blair) the offense rarely sustained any rhythm.
Depth Concerns Exposed
Falcons RB
GettyOffensive line depth remains Atlanta’s biggest preseason question.
In fairness, the Falcons didn’t playJake Matthews,Chris Lindstrom,Kaleb McGary,Matthew Bergeron, orRyan Neuzil. But that only reinforced the point: without its starters, the offensive line has major question marks. Preseason is meant to test depth, and through two games, those reserves have failed to show they can be trusted.
That’s a problem that goes beyond August. Injuries are inevitable in the NFL. So if the backups can’t hold their own, the Falcons could find themselves scrambling when attrition hits in the regular season.
It also puts pressure on the front office. With the 53 man deadline arriving August 26, general manager Terry Fontenot and his staff may need to scour the waiver wire for veteran linemen capable of stepping in as reliable depth.
The wide receiver and running back rooms are beginning to settle, and a few defenders continue to push their way into the conversation. But the offensive line remains unsettled, and until it stabilizes, the Falcons roster puzzle won’t be complete.
The Falcons will close out their preseason slate next Friday against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. It will be the final audition before final cuts are made, and one more chance for the offensive line to prove it can avoid being the team’s weak spot heading into the regular season.