FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons' offense as of late looks a lot different than it did a month ago.
No stat shows this better than the notable decrease in the unit's success rate within the red zone.
From Weeks 1-9, the offense scored a touchdown on 16 of their 28 red-zone drives. That's a 57.1% success rate, which ranked 13th in the NFL. The Falcons went 6-3 during this period.
From Weeks 10-13, the offense scored a touchdown on two of their eight red-zone drives. That's a 25% success rate, which ranked 31st in the league. The Falcons went 0-3 during this stretch, which included the bye week.
Of course, the coaching staff is trying to figure out why that stat – or better yet, the offense's efficiency, as a whole – fell off.
"There's definitely things that we'll always continue to look at in terms of where we can be better as coaches, providing the right answers, execution, all those things that go into it," Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said. "But to pinpoint just one simple thing would be kind of out of turn. We're going to continue to just do the best we can because, really, that's situational football."
| SEASON | WEEKS 1-9 | WEEKS 10-13 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOAL TO GO | 56.3% (9/16) | 63.6% (7/11) | 40% (2/5) |
| RED ZONE | 50% (18/36) | 57.1% (16/28) | 25% (2/8) |
In the last three games, running back Bijan Robinson was responsible for the team's two red-zone touchdowns. He scored on a fourth-down run from a yard out against New Orleans and on a second-down run from 2 yards out against Los Angeles.
Otherwise, the Falcons' trips into the red zone have resulted in five field-goal attempts. Three were good. One was blocked. Another was missed.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins also threw an interception.
Here's quick look at how and when each of those drives played out:
- @ NOR: Q2 | 4 plays in RZ | 1-yard TD run by Robinson
- @ NOR: Q2 | 3 plays in RZ | 35-yard FG blocked
- @ NOR: Q3 | 3 plays in RZ | 27-yard FG good
- @ DEN: Q1 | 1 play in RZ | 41-yard FG good
- vs. LAC: Q1 | 1 play in RZ | 35-yard FG missed
- vs. LAC: Q1 | 3 plays in RZ | 2-yard TD run by Robinson
- vs. LAC: Q3 | 3 plays in RZ | 26-yard FG
- vs. LAC: Q4 | 6 plays in RZ | interception
Clearly, more times than not, the Falcons had multiples chances to finish the job in the red zone.
"I just think trying to make something happen can sometimes get you in trouble," Cousins said. "I think that happened certainly on Sunday (against the Chargers). You have to let the game come to you and let the plays happen as they present themselves. That's important, and I think I learned that again, as I have many times."
Speaking of trouble, penalties have been flagged as a reason behind the Falcon's red-zone struggles.
The 24-play count above includes one penalty, a 15-yard setback for a low block on the same drive as the 27-yard field goal against the Saints. The Falcons have also had four pre-snap penalties inside of the red zone in their last three games. Two of those penalties actually pushed the Falcons back beyond the 20-yard line. They settled for a field goal in both cases — the same 27-yarder against the Saints and then the 41-yarder against the Broncos.
"(We're) just taking it game by game and going into it trying to fix our mental mistakes that we may have had previously and not having them this week," Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts said.
This Sunday, the Falcons have the Minnesota Vikings. The Week 14 game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Vikings, who are 10-2, currently have the 18th-ranked red-zone defense, allowing a 56.3% success rate.
For the full season, the Falcons' red-zone offense has a 50% success rate, which is tied for 25th. Much like with their 6-6 record, the Falcons' performance Sunday dictates whether the even split tips in a positive or negative way moving forward.
"It's just being more efficient," Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger said. "When we do cross that 20-yard line, just changing our mentality and just playing clean football. That's what it boils down to."
