ATLANTA (AP) — Losses in six of their past seven games have left the Atlanta Falcons needing a huge rally to avoid their eighth consecutive losing season.
“We still have five left,” said linebacker Kaden Ellis after Sunday’s last-second 27-24 loss at the New York Jets. “We’ve got to go play for pride and rattle off five in a row. Crazier things have happened.”
The Falcons (4-8) continue to make it difficult to imagine an unlikely turnaround. Despite their poor record, they’ve only been outscored 276-243 but continue to find ways to lose close games. The close losses are placing more heat on second-year coach Raheem Morris.
Atlanta suffered back-to-back overtime losses at the end of a five-game losing streak before losing quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to a season-ending knee injury. Kirk Cousins passed for two touchdowns in a 24-10 win over New Orleans on Nov. 23. Any hope generated by the win over the Saints faded quickly with Atlanta’s inability to beat the last-place Jets.
The Falcons were hurt by two devastating special teams breakdowns and late drops by a wide receivers group that looks thin with Drake London out with a knee injury.