Atlanta Falcons

5 Reasons why the Falcons lost to the Chargers

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:56 p.m. ET

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Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Chargers inside linebacker Denzel Perryman (52) and outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) and outside linebacker Kyle Emanuel (51) celebrate after a fourth down stop as Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) looks on in overtime at the Georgia Dome. The Chargers defeated the Falcons 33-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Falcons let a very winnable game slip away at home against the Chargers. They may have been Back in Black, but their bad habits were back as well.

Oof.

What a disappointing game from the Falcons on Sunday afternoon. After jumping out to an impressive 27-10 lead in the second quarter, Atlanta faded fast and lost to San Diego 33-30 in overtime. The same problems kept popping up over and over again. Missed tackles, dumb penalties and poor coverage on running backs kept the Falcons from bouncing back from last week’s loss.

There were few positives from this game, as it was the worst we’ve seen of this team since Week 1 against Tampa Bay. Julio Jones continued to show why he is the best receiver in the league with a stellar 9 catch, 174 yard performance. Other bright spots included Vic Beasley’s 2 sacks and forced fumble. But besides those moments, the Falcons looked tired and did not execute today to the best of their abilities.

You have to give some credit to the Chargers, however. They are a much better team then their record reflects and that showed today in their resiliency. Atlanta will need to pick themselves up after this one quickly with Green Bay coming to town next week.

Without further ado, let’s move to our weekly 5 reasons why this game played out the way it did.

5. Penalties

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin (12) runs against Atlanta Falcons middle linebacker Deion Jones (45) during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Chargers defeated the Falcons 33-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

There were too many bone-headed penalties today for the Falcons. Too many times drives were killed or stalled due to a hold or a false start. It’s frustrating because these are simple mistakes that should not be made. Atlanta has got to clean up the penalties if they want to stay in the playoff hunt throughout the season.

If the Falcons want to avoid another collapse similar to the one they had last season, they have to be more disciplined. It’s clear this is a better team than last year, but if you can’t cut out the mistakes, it’s tough to win. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

4. Poor Pass Defense

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) passes against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Chargers defeated the Falcons 33-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

We knew it would take the Atlanta defense some time before they completely gelled. It is also clear that young players such as Keanu Neal, Deion Jones and Vic Beasley are getting better by the week. But still, this defense concedes way too many yards through the air.

This problem was on full display, once again, on Sunday afternoon. Philip Rivers and his receivers compiled 371 yards on 27 completions. There were too many occasions where our linebackers were out of position and allowed big chunk gains to San Diego’s running backs and tight ends. It is amazing to me why this is still such a prevalent problem for Dan Quinn’s defense.

They need to clean up that mess and get ready for the coming weeks ahead. It doesn’t get any easier with Aaron Rodgers and his dink & dunk offense invading the Georgia Dome next weekend.

3. Melvin Gordon

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (28) eludes the tackle of Atlanta Falcons middle linebacker Deion Jones (45) in the fourth quarter of their game at the Georgia Dome. The Chargers won 33-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

In the previous slide I mentioned the Falcons lack of coverage on the Chargers running backs. Every time Melvin Gordon slipped out of the backfield, it seemed he would catch and run for at least a first down. Much to the dismay of Atlanta’s defense, he carved them up through the air AND the ground.

His stats won’t jump out from the box score but it isn’t ideal to allow someone to compile 121 yards and 3 touchdowns on 28 touches. Gordon has had a bounce-back season and he continued that again today in Atlanta. The Falcons can’t afford to let one player dictate how they play on defense. Going forward, they will need to double down on stopping talented running backs such as Gordon in order to win games.

2. Lack of Offensive Rhythm

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) passes over San Diego Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa (99) during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Chargers defeated the Falcons 33-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

So far this season Atlanta has enjoyed an offense that has seemed to score almost at will. Well, on Sunday this wasn’t quite the case. Now I know all offenses go through lulls and this was probably just a hiccup from the Falcons this season, but it was still disappointing.

After Tevin Coleman went down with a hamstring injury, the offense never had a good flow to it. Drives seemed to stall and penalties bogged down the mojo of the #1 offense in the league. Kyle Shanahan’s scheme begs for rhythm and flow. When there isn’t any of that going on, points become more hard to come by.

I think the Falcons will be fine. They have too many weapons and Matt Ryan is playing too well this season for the offense to under perform like this for the rest of the season. But they have to bounce-back and prove that they can rebound from a tough loss.

1. Untimely Events

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Chargers cornerback Trevor Williams (42) reacts after Atlanta Falcons kicker Matt Bryant (3) missed a field goal in the fourth quarter of their game at the Georgia Dome. Bryant missed the field goal to send the game into overtime. The Chargers won 33-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Being a Falcons fan is tough. As I mentioned in a previous article, everything seems to go against them somehow. Anything that can go wrong, would go wrong.

I wouldn’t call the game on Sunday an example of Murphy’s law, but there were some untimely things that lead to the Falcons demise. Starting with the aforementioned penalties. Most notably, the consecutive false starts that lead to a Matt Ryan interception. An interception that was an untimely event itself, allowing the Chargers to tie the game late in the 4th quarter.

But I think one play sums up the Falcons efforts today. The last play of regulation, Matt Bryant had a chance to win the game with a 58-yard field goal. After looking promising off his foot, it slightly grazed the upright and landed just a tad wide. So close, yet so far away.