Falcons 27, Seahawks 23: Defenseless

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    NFL: Atlanta Falcons at <a href=Seattle Seahawks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6969Qv6AqIwWE0MAx1yQSiEZf00=/0x0:3876x2180/1920x1080/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71413929/usa_today_19117798.5.jpg" />
    Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

    The Seattle Seahawks (1-2) offense played much better, but the Atlanta Falcons (1-2) have their first win of the season.

    An atrocious defensive effort saw the Falcons rack up 386 yards of offense on only 54 plays. Atlanta had just one punt, and Cordarrelle Patterson racked up over 140 yards on just 17 carries, scoring a touchdown in the process. Geno Smith threw for over 320 yards, two touchdowns, but took two costly sacks on the team’s final drive.

    Hard to imagine there are too many NFL defenses worse than the Seahawks. They were atrocious from start to finish and the only highlights were Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen getting a sack and interception, respectively. I guess Uchenna Nwosu’s fumble recovery was also cool but this is a group that is way worse than imagined.


    1st Quarter

    The Seahawks started the game on offense, and they established Rashaad Penny right away with effective runs into Atlanta territory. He gained 35 yards on his first three attempts. Geno Smith threw a dime to DK Metcalf on the outside to get Seattle close to the red zone. Geno’s lofted 3rd down pass into the end zone for Metcalf was knocked away by AJ Terrell, so Jason Myers came on and made a short field goal. 3-0 Seahawks.

    Atlanta’s response was to use their star tight end Kyle Pitts early and often, and the Seahawks defense was fortunate not to give up a touchdown (or at least a big run) on Marcus Mariota’s first pass, which was overthrown. Pitts made a 3rd down conversion and also had a screen pass to the 3-yard line to set up a goal-to-go situation. Jackson held Pitts in the end zone to move the ball to the 1-yard line, and Mariota ran it in on the next play. 7-3 Falcons.

    Geno Smith hit a couple of first down throws to DK Metcalf and Colby Parkinson, the latter of which was a 30+ yard catch-and-run on a well-disguised play-action fake on 3rd and 1. Atlanta bought run and they got caught out. Smith’s next throw was a beautiful 18-yard touchdown over the middle to Will Dissly to give Seattle the lead back. 10-7 Seahawks.

    Mariota continued to find his receiving targets as the Seahawks defense was just unable to generate a pass rush or uh... do much of anything. Kyle Pitts made a great catch on Josh Jones to create another red zone possession for the Falcons. Thankfully, the Falcons committed a slew of penalties and Coby Bryant also got his first career sack on a punishing nickel corner blitz to force Atlanta into a field goal attempt, which Younghoe Koo converted. 10-10.

    2nd Quarter

    The Seahawks began the 2nd quarter with a three-and-out. Not ideal. Also not ideal? Getting a sack for a loss of nine yards (courtesy of Quinton Jefferson) and then still allowing a 3rd and 19 conversion to Olamide Zaccheaus for 26 yards. Kyle Pitts converted another 3rd down and then Cordarrelle Patterson rumbled through for an easy touchdown. 17-10 Falcons.

    Geno Smith led a 9-play, 75-yard response that included a 4th down conversion to Marquise Goodwin for 23 yards. His next pass was a dart to DK Metcalf for the tying touchdown, as DK high-pointed the ball for the score. 17-17.

    For the first time all season, the Seahawks defense forced a three-and-out. I almost shed a tear of joy. Then a scare came for Seahawks fans when Tyler Lockett took a huge hit from Atlanta safety Richard Grant that jarred a pass incomplete. He got up under his own power and went to the medical tent. Geno extended the drive with a 3rd down completion to Colby Parkinson. Smith led a very good two-minute drill that ended in a Jason Myers field goal. 20-17 Seahawks.

    Oh yeah, Tariq Woolen picked off Marcus Mariota! That was cool.

    3rd Quarter

    The Falcons benefited from an iffy roughing the passer call on Quandre Diggs, who lightly shoved Mariota just after the ball was thrown. They got into field goal range but a false start penalty and a strip sack by Darrell Taylor put Younghoe Koo in the difficult position of making a 54-yard kick, but he was up to the challenge. 20-20.

    For the first time this season, the Seahawks offense scored in the 2nd half. Geno Smith engineered a 13-play, 68-yard drive that saw a mixture of good, in-rhythm passes to a wide variety of targets. Kenneth Walker III had a 21-yard run on a jet sweep that saw him reverse field and gain more that way. Ultimately the drive stalled inside the 10 and Jason Myers was brought on to give the Seahawks the lead again. 23-20 Seahawks.

    Cordarrelle Patterson ripped up the Seahawks run defense for 40 yards into Seattle territory. He got another 18 to put the Falcons in the red zone. Josh Jones was shaken out of his boots by rookie Drake London to put the Falcons back on top. 27-23 Falcons.

    4th Quarter

    A promising Seahawks drive was blown up by a holding penalty on Damien Lewis. 1st and 10 in Atlanta territory turned into a 4th and 20 punt, with Geno Smith fortunate not to be intercepted on his 2nd and 20 throw.

    The Falcons kept marching down the field with their rushing attack, only interrupted by a drone that delayed the game for a few minutes. In a sudden change, a bad exchange by Marcus Mariota and Tyler Allegier resulted in a fumble and a Seahawks recovery! Uchenna Nwosu on the spot.

    Geno took a sack on the ensuing play, putting them behind the sticks. They got all those yards back and a little more to set up 3rd and 7, then a Noah Fant catch created 4th and inches, which Rashaad Penny converted. Geno launched a beauty to Tyler Lockett for 20 yards. A throwback screen to Penny saw him break a tackle and get to the 10, but a hold on Damien Lewis brought it back. Geno Smith then took a sack by Grady Jarrett on 3rd and 7, setting up 4th and 18. Smith was intercepted on a desperation pass. 27-23 Falcons Final.


    Scoring Summary

    1st Quarter: 32-yard field goal by Jason Myers - SEA 3, ATL 0

    1st Quarter: 1-yard touchdown run by Marcus Mariota - SEA 3, ATL 7

    1st Quarter: 18-yard touchdown pass to Will Dissly by Geno Smith - SEA 10, ATL 7

    1st Quarter: 41-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo - SEA 10, ATL 10

    2nd Quarter: 17-yard touchdown run by Cordarrelle Patterson - SEA 10, ATL 17

    2nd Quarter: 18-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf by Geno Smith - SEA 17, ATL 17

    2nd Quarter: 31-yard field goal by Jason Myers - SEA 20, ATL 17

    3rd Quarter: 54-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo - SEA 20, ATL 20

    3rd Quarter: 25-yard field goal by Jason Myers - SEA 23, ATL 20

    3rd Quarter: 14-yard touchdown pass to Drake London by Marcus Mariota - SEA 23, ATL 27


    Seahawks Injury Report

    RB Travis Homer left the game in the 1st quarter with a rib injury. He did not return.

    Next Week’s Opponent

    The Seahawks are on the road for the next two weeks, starting with a trip to the Motor City to take on the Detroit Lions (1-2) on Sunday, October 2nd at 10 AM PT on FOX.