ATLANTA — Raheem Morris, the coach of the Atlanta Falcons, is not interested in discussing how much yardage his team’s offense has been gaining. What he truly wants to see is a conversion of that yardage into points. Following their bye week, the Falcons are preparing to face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, seeking to revive their offense.
Before the break, Atlanta suffered two consecutive defeats, scoring just 23 points in those games. Their most disappointing showing came in a lopsided 38-6 loss to Denver on November 17, where they managed to score only two field goals. The week prior, the Falcons fell 20-17 to New Orleans despite accumulating 468 yards of offense, prompting Morris to voice his frustration over penalties and mistakes that stalled drives, particularly after moving into the opponent’s territory.
“Stats are for losers, right?” Morris expressed in a press conference. “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 need to get back to that.”
The offense, spearheaded by quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Bijan Robinson, has repeatedly seen drives come to an abrupt end over the past two losses. Atlanta currently leads the NFL in converting only 11.5% of their drives without getting a first down; however, despite ranking eighth in the league with an average of 361.5 yards per game, they sit in the mid-tier with 22.1 points per game.
“Awesome until you cross the 50,” Morris commented on their performance, acknowledging the self-inflicted setbacks.
On the other side, the Chargers (7-4) are also grappling with offensive challenges, particularly after running back J.K. Dobbins suffered a knee injury in their recent loss to the Baltimore Ravens. That defeat snapped a four-game winning streak for Los Angeles. The offense may shift towards more reliance on the air game, featuring quarterback Justin Herbert and rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who returns to his home state after a successful college career at the University of Georgia.
Herbert has thrown for 2,404 yards with 13 touchdowns and just one interception this season, while McConkey has recorded 49 receptions for 698 yards and four touchdowns. Morris speculates that Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman will adapt and create a robust running game even with Dobbins sidelined, as they have consistently done in their careers.
Dobbins’ injury is a significant blow, leaving the Chargers without one of their key offensive players. Prior to his injury, he was fourth in the AFC with 766 rushing yards and had 24 carries of over ten yards, ranking tied for third in that category. Gus Edwards, who missed four games due to an ankle issue, has returned with limited production, tallying 25 carries for 93 yards and one touchdown.
The Falcons’ defense will be familiar territory for the Chargers, as Morris employs several philosophies reminiscent of former coach Brandon Staley’s strategies during his time with the team. Harbaugh has expressed optimism about the remaining options, stating, “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.”
Despite back-to-back losses, the Falcons remain at the top of the NFC South with a record of 6-5. Their performance against division rivals has been notably strong, currently sitting at 4-1 against fellow South teams. The Chargers have also succeeded against NFC South opponents, having secured wins over Carolina and New Orleans, with a matchup against Tampa Bay still on the schedule.
Interestingly, the Falcons are the only leading team in the league with a negative points differential, having been outscored 274-244 throughout the season. In contrast, the Chargers’ defense, which was once among the tightest in the league, has slipped in performance recently. They have allowed passing touchdowns of at least 40 yards in three consecutive games and have surrendered 27 points in their last two outings after previously keeping opponents under 20 points in nine straight games.
The Falcons still control their divisional fate, as Cousins highlighted, “We’re in a position where we can control our destiny. If we can go out and execute and play at a high level, we can go where we want to go.” He reflected on previous seasons where his team struggled to remain in playoff contention around this time of year, emphasizing how much better it is to be in a competitive position.