Atlanta Falcons safety Ricardo Allen leaves last Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints with an injury, later diagnosed as a torn Achilles’ tendon that ended his season.ATLANTA – Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel’s familiar refrain in recent weeks has been a sad one for his team and its fans.
When safety Ricardo Allen sustained a torn Achilles’ tendon early in overtime of last week’s 43-37 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Manuel described it as “another devastating blow” to the defense.
Unfortunately for the Falcons (1-2), Manuel has made similar comments too often in the first month of the season. Every week, it seems, the Atlanta defense has to adjust to another jarring injury.
After already placing four players on injured reserve, including three top starters on defense, the Falcons will attempt to regroup Sunday when they face quarterback Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals (2-1).
The Falcons gave up 32 first downs and 534 yards to the Saints as veteran quarterback Drew Brees took advantage of a depleted unit that already has lost safety Keanu Neal for the season and linebacker Deion Jones for at least eight weeks.
Defensive ends Takkarist McKinley and Derrick Shelby also were held out against New Orleans with groin injuries. McKinley is expected to play against Cincinnati.
Players and coaches often recite “next man up” statements of hope, but that jargon carries little weight when that next man doesn’t play like the starter he replaced. The Falcons’ defense ranks 27th overall, one spot ahead of the Bengals.
“This time the next man has got to be ready to tackle,” Manuel said. “We all saw that. It was nowhere near our standard a week ago.”
The defensive woes have overshadowed Atlanta’s offensive revival. The Falcons lost last week despite Matt Ryan’s first NFL game with five touchdown passes, including three to rookie Calvin Ridley.