Falcons Have Hope Entering Bye Week Under New Coach Arthur Smith

October 14, 2021

Rick Nyman,

ATLANTA (AP) — Five weeks into Arthur Smith’s regime, the Atlanta Falcons are back where they ended last season.

They’re last in the NFC South.

There’s a difference, however. There are small signs of improvement that provide reason for encouragement.

The Falcons are 2-3, but they’ve won two of their last three games as they enter their bye week.

For a team coming off a 4-12 finish in 2020 for its third consecutive losing season, prompting a makeover that included hiring Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot, even small signs of progress are big news.

Atlanta has an opportunity to even its record when it plays at Miami on Oct. 24. It has looked more like a .500 team the last three weeks, thanks to progress on a young offensive line, in the running game and on defense.

If the Falcons had not blown an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter of a 34-30 loss to Washington on Oct. 3, they would have a three-game winning streak.

Smith said there has been growth since Atlanta’s season-opening 32-6 loss to Philadelphia and its preseason opener against Tennessee.

“We’ve evolved,” Smith said Monday. “We’re a lot different than we were.

“I think there’s been a natural evolution and it’s starting to pay off. We just hope to keep going so we don’t have any setbacks when we come back and get ready to play Miami.”

Matt Ryan has led Atlanta’s recovery from its 0-2 start. He has passed for eight touchdowns with no interceptions in the last three games.

Smith said he expected “a natural evolution” with Ryan and his offense “because it’s like a new marriage, so to speak. So, really pleased with how Matt’s playing.”

The Falcons were without top wideouts Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage in Sunday’s 27-20 win over the New York Jets in London. Ridley missed the game for personal reasons and Gage was held out with an ankle injury.

Smith said Monday he had no update on Ridley’s status, which he called “day to day.”

As a result, Ryan featured his tight ends, including rookie Kyle Pitts, who had nine catches for 119 yards. Pitts scored his first touchdown and had his first 100-yard game in his much-anticipated breakout game.

“I would say it’s a relief just to be able to start there, know that it can go higher from here,” Pitts said. “Reset next weekend, go to Miami and have a better game.”