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Falcons’ lack of depth exposed in ugly loss to Patriots

AP photo by John Bazemore / Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is sacked by New England Patriots nose tackle Davon Godchaux during the second half of Thursday night's game in Atlanta.
AP photo by John Bazemore / Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is sacked by New England Patriots nose tackle Davon Godchaux during the second half of Thursday night's game in Atlanta. AP photo by John Bazemore / Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is sacked by New England Patriots nose tackle Davon Godchaux during the second half of Thursday night's game in Atlanta.

By The Associated Press 5 min read

ATLANTA – Talk about a painful reality check.

After reaching .500 eight games into the 2021 NFL season, the Atlanta Falcons have been held without a touchdown in consecutive lopsided losses to the Dallas Cowboys and the New England Patriots.

A 27-25 road win against the New Orleans Saints in NFC South Division play on Nov. 7 left the Falcons at 4-4 and hoping they might contend for a playoff berth. Thursday night’s 25-0 loss to the AFC’s Patriots left the Falcons (4-6) painfully aware of their shortcomings.

Atlanta’s first shutout loss in six years was all the more painful coming after Sunday’s ugly 43-3 road setback to Dallas.

It is the first time the franchise has been held without a touchdown in back-to-back games since 1987, when a team that wound up going 3-12 lost 38-0 to the Saints and 38-3 to the Cleveland Browns at midseason.