Falcons’ Mismanaged Clock Costs Them Playoff Hopes
Falcons’ Coach Raheem Morris’ Decision to Leave Five Unused Timeouts May Haunt Team
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Raheem Morris and the Atlanta Falcons left five timeouts unused, and they may have an extended chance to linger over those mistakes.
Mismanaged Clock Costs Falcons Playoff Hopes
The Falcons have run out of time to control their own path to the playoffs after mismanaging the clock multiple times in a 30-24 overtime loss to the Washington Commanders. They needed a victory to set up a win-and-get-in situation in the regular-season finale, and now Tampa Bay is in the driver’s seat for the NFC South title.
Coach’s Decision to Use or Not to Use Timeouts
Morris declined to use all three of his timeouts at the end of the first half before settling for a field goal. He had two left in the waning minutes of regulation before Riley Patterson tried a 56-yard field goal attempt with two seconds left that fell short.
The first-year coach acknowledged he “probably could have” taken one after Michael Penix Jr. connected with Darnell Mooney on a 25-yard completion with 40 seconds left. Instead, the clock wound down to 17 seconds because he was “trying to save that timeout.”
In Hindsight, Coach Regrets Decision to Not Use Timeouts
“In hindsight, it could have been a better decision to take that timeout, but I wanted to have the opportunity to move up there so you can always second-guess those things," Morris said after his team’s defeat that punched the Commanders’ ticket to the playoffs. "Can always second-guess those motives. Can always go back and look at it to see if you could have snapped it a little quicker. But I really believe we can get our operation time a little faster and to save that timeout.”
Running Game Abandoned
Questionable coaching came back to bite the Falcons, including a near-total abandonment of the running game that was picking Washington apart for much of the first half. Bijan Robinson had 13 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns until there was one minute left before halftime, and he was handed the ball just four more times for 8 yards the rest of the way.
Quarterback’s Perspective
Penix, the rookie quarterback taken with the eighth pick and making his second NFL start, pointed to a three-and-out in the third quarter as the culprit behind Atlanta becoming unbalanced. The Commanders had the ball for 12:53 and the Falcons for just 2:07 in the third.
"We didn’t really have the ball much," said Penix, who was 19 of 35 for 223 yards, a touchdown pass to Kyle Pitts and an interception. “I believe we ran three plays. We just got to sustain drives. We can’t go three-and-out. Our mindset each and every time we step on the field is to get points. Whenever we have the opportunity based on that, it could have made us go one way or the other passing or running the ball.”
Conclusion
The Falcons must now lean on New Orleans to beat Tampa Bay. After five losses in seven games, they need that and a victory against Carolina to reach the playoffs.
FAQs
Q: Why did Coach Morris decline to use his timeouts?
A: Coach Morris wanted to save his timeouts and not leave Jayden Daniels and Co. the chance to get the ball back.
Q: Why did the Falcons abandon their running game?
A: The coach’s decision to abandon the running game was questioned, and it ultimately cost the team their chances of winning.
Q: What is the Falcons’ current playoff standing?
A: The Falcons are no longer in control of their own playoff destiny.
Q: What do they need to do to make the playoffs?
A: The Falcons need New Orleans to beat Tampa Bay and for themselves to defeat Carolina in their regular-season finale.
