Falcons Looking for Scoring Revival and an End to 2-Game Skid When They Face Herbert-Led Chargers
ATLANTA (AP) — Raheem Morris is eager to see his Atlanta Falcons’ offense step up. The head coach is focused on turning yardage into points. The Falcons are seeking an offensive revival after their bye week as they prepare to face Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) this Sunday.
Before their break, the Falcons (6-5) struggled to put points on the board, managing a total of just 23 in consecutive losses to New Orleans and Denver. Their most disappointing performance came in a 38-6 defeat against the Broncos, where they could only muster two field goals.
In the previous week, the Falcons lost 20-17 to New Orleans despite accumulating 468 yards of offense. Morris has expressed frustration over penalties and mistakes that have hindered drives, especially after crossing midfield. “Stats are for losers, right? You’ve got to score points, man. You can’t kill yourself and stop drives and do those things. … You’ve got to get out there and score touchdowns. We’ve got to get back to doing that,” he stated.
The Atlanta offense, guided by quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Bijan Robinson, struggled to sustain drives during their two-game skid. The Falcons have the highest rate in the league, with only 11.5% of their drives ending without a first down, and average 361.5 yards per game, ranking eighth. However, they are only 16th in scoring, averaging 22.1 points per game. “Awesome until you cross the 50,” Morris reflected. “That’s when we’ve had self-inflicted wounds.”
On the other hand, the Chargers (7-4) are also facing offensive challenges, particularly after running back J.K. Dobbins suffered a knee injury during their recent 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, which snapped a four-game winning streak for Los Angeles. With Dobbins sidelined, the Chargers may lean more heavily on their passing game, with Herbert supported by rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who returns to Georgia, where he had significant success in college.
Herbert has thrown for 2,404 yards, with 13 touchdowns and just one interception. McConkey leads the team with 49 receptions for 698 yards and four touchdowns. Morris anticipates that Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman will adapt and find ways to generate rushing yardage, as that has been a hallmark of their coaching careers.
The absence of Dobbins removes a key offensive asset for the Chargers. He ranks fourth in the AFC with 766 rushing yards and has recorded 24 carries of at least 10 yards, tying for third in the conference. Meanwhile, Gus Edwards, who has been recovering from an ankle injury, has made a return with 25 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown over the last three games.
Hassan Haskins has primarily contributed on short yardage and special teams, while rookie Kimani Vidal has seen little action, being inactive for three straight games. The Chargers will face a Falcons defense they recognize, as Morris incorporates several strategies from former defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who held the position for nearly three seasons.
“I like them a lot. Gus is heating back up, Hassan is playing spectacular on special teams and pass protection, and I’m excited to see Kimani as well,” Harbaugh commented.
Despite their two-game losing streak, the Falcons continue to lead the NFC South, sitting just one game above the .500 mark. They have an impressive record of 4-1 against division opponents. The Chargers have also performed well against NFC South teams, recently overcoming Carolina and New Orleans, with a matchup against Tampa Bay still to come in December.
Remarkably, the Falcons are the only first-place team in the league with a negative points differential, having been outscored 274-244 this season. The Chargers began the season with one of the league’s strongest defenses but have struggled in recent weeks, allowing high-scoring games. They suffered from three straight games conceding passing touchdowns of at least 40 yards and have given up 27 points in their last two contests after starting the season by limiting opponents to 20 points or fewer during the first nine games.
As the Falcons lead their division, Cousins expressed optimism about their position, noting, “We’re in a place where we can control our destiny and, you know, if we can go out and execute and play at a high level, that we can go where we want to go.” He added, “It’s a good feeling to be there, because I’ve been on teams where early in my career, you really weren’t in the hunt around Thanksgiving, and that’s a tough place to be.”
Kickoff for the game is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with the game being televised on CBS.
