Atlanta Falcons @ Tennessee Titans
Final Score: Titans 28, Falcons 23
Writer: Myles Nelson (@MylesNelsonPL on Twitter)
When I initially signed up to watch and write up this game, I had forgotten about Ryan Tannehill‘s injury and was weirdly excited to watch him and Desmond Ridder compete to be the most conservative, least-exciting quarterback in this game. And while I knew by the time the game started that rookie Will Levis was likely to get most of the snaps, I was pleasantly surprised when Taylor Heinicke came out on to the field to start the second half for the Falcons, and all of a sudden I had dynamic passing play on both sides of this game! The Falcons offense was still fairly conservative and I’d like to see them get more creative with how they use their three recent top-10 draft picks, but for the first time I feel at least an inkling of hope for both of these teams’ offenses moving forward. Levis pushed the ball downfield, giving the Titans an element of the offense they have sorely lacked, and Heinicke was much more aggressive with his throws, forcing a few questionable passes into tight spaces, but overall, I think both teams can be hopeful that things can start looking a little better with two new QBs under center.
Three Up
- Will Levis – Throwing four touchdown passes in your first career start will definitely get you noticed, and with the Titans on a short week, I expect Levis to get to start again.
- Titans Offense – I was going to specifically mention DeAndre Hopkins and Derrick Henry, but with Levis being willing to push the ball downfield and looking as poised as he did today, I think this could really help the Titans offense as a whole. They’ve been very predictable all season long, but today they really showed a new element and opened up the field quite a bit.
- Drake London – This only applies if he is indeed healthy, as he did leave the game after a very hard hit that was then labeled as a groin injury, and if Taylor Heinicke remains the starter, as Heinicke looked for London often and was a much more dynamic quarterback than Desmond Ridder has ever looked
Three Down
- Tyler Allgeier – After averaging 17 carries over his last three games, Allgeier only logged 8 carries in this one. The Falcons were playing from behind, only rushing the ball 26 times compared to an average of 35 carries per game in that aforementioned stretch of games, but it still showed a marked decrease in work. Maybe Arthur Smith realized during last week’s game how much he actually likes Bijan Robinson?
- Falcons Pass Rush – Levis had all day and a half to throw the ball on just about every play. DL Grady Jarrett injured his knee in this game, and the Falcons pass rush was non-existent afterward. Teams should be able to pick apart this Falcons defense much like Levis did if Jarrett misses an extended period of time
- Jonnu Smith – If Heinicke is the starter, then it looks like Smith won’t be heavily involved in the offense (hopefully)
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Taylor Heinicke: 12/21, 175 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT | 2 carries, 14 yards
While I would love to say that Arthur Smith finally made the switch to Taylor Heinicke due to performance reasons, it was actually that Desmond Ridder needed to come out of the game to be evaluated for a concussion after his 5th sack in the first half. However, Ridder apparently did clear the concussion check, but he never came back in the game, and I’m not sure how much of that was being cautious after Ridder had already taken so many hits, and how much of it was evaluating if Heinicke was indeed the better quarterback. After the game, Smith did say that he’ll be cautious and conservative when it comes to player health, but this might be something worth monitoring this week in practice.
Notes
- One of the things that won’t show up in the box score: how much more daring some of Heinecke’s throws were. He squeezed some passes into tight coverage that Ridder would have never dreamed of throwing.
- Maybe that’s a good sign for London and Pitts, if Heinicke is a little more willing to look to them as leaders in this offense, rather than following a paint-by-numbers approach that the Falcons seem to have employed for most of the season?
- If you have any doubt in your mind as to whether Heinicke is indeed the better QB for this offense, just go take a look at any of the threads in the Atlanta Falcons subreddit. The entire place looks like a Taylor Heinicke fan club at this point.
Desmond Ridder: 8/12, 71 yards, 5 sacks | 3 carries, 26 yards
Honestly, I just really felt bad for Ridder in this game. He stood no chance as rushers came quickly and often, and I cringed on a few of the sacks that he was forced to take. With that said, I was definitely happy to see Heinicke out there to start the second half, because I just couldn’t watch Ridder be terrified to throw any pass with any modicum of risk attached to it.
Notes
- The only note I have is that this offense looked so much better once Ridder was no longer under center
Running Back
Bijan Robinson: 11 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD | 5 targets, 0 receptions
Oh, how we missed you, Bijan Robinson. Now, please Arthur Smith, just let this man run the football so we can watch actual explosive running back play, and not whatever Tyler Allgeier seems to be doing most of the time.
Notes
- It’s never a question of talent, but of opportunity. Robinson runs hard, he is dynamic, and I just want to see him do that more.
- When the Falcons made it to the red zone for the first time in the second half, Robinson got consecutive carries from the 15-yard line and the 13-yard line, the latter leading to his TD. Their only other red zone plays in the second half came towards the end of the game, and on both plays Robinson was in the game and ran routes.
Missed Opportunities
- Robinson’s 5 targets were a checkdown that was batted down at the LOS, a curl route that Ridder threw too early, another short curl route that was broken up by the CB, a wheel route where no player in the world was going to catch the pass that was thrown, and something that might have been a designed play action into a screen pass, but the pass rush got to Heinicke so fast that I honestly am not sure what exactly that play was supposed to be
- So in all, am I glad that Robinson got 5 targets? Sure. But these weren’t exactly high-value or creative targets, and only one (maybe) designed screen pass. I just wish the Falcons would use their best offensive player in at least some sort of creative ways in the passing game.
Tyler Allgeier: 8 carries, 31 yards
Notes
- Bijan is the most explosive running back in this backfield and it isn’t even close. I know Allgeier was productive last year, but he was wholly uninspiring today
- Good news, only one of Allgeier’s carries came inside the red zone. So maybe the Falcons are realizing who their better running back is after all
Missed Opportunities
- The only missed opportunities are that Robinson didn’t get these 8 carries
Cordarrelle Patterson: 2 carries, 7 yards
Missed Opportunities
- Or these 2 carries either, for that matter.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Drake London: 7 targets, 5 receptions, 55 yards
What could have been a much bigger day for London was unfortunately cut short as he left the game midway through the third quarter with a groin injury. He was up and about on the sideline, and did look like he was warming up a few different times, but never actually came back into the game. We’ll definitely need to keep a close eye on his status throughout the week.
Notes
- London was the target on two of Heinicke’s first six pass attempts, so I would definitely feel encouraged about his prospects next week if Heinicke is indeed named the starter
Missed Opportunities
- I am so curious as to what his stat line could have looked like if he wasn’t forced out of the game due to injury shortly after Heinicke entered
Kyle Pitts: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 35 yards
Notes
- I am concerned that Pitts was only targeted twice in the second half, and just once after London left the game. Playing from behind, this would have been the perfect time for Heinicke to lean on Pitts.
- Most Pitts managers are probably still not starting him, so I’d hold for one more week if Heinicke is named the starter. He targeted his tight ends plenty in Washington, although that’s an offense that has always loved utilizing their tight ends. We’ll see if that can carry over here.
Van Jefferson: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 24 yards
Notes
- Received all five of his targets after Heinicke entered the game, and four of them after London exited the game. Make of that what you will.
- I actually am taking that as a good sign for London, as Jefferson was operating in similar spaces to where London was targeted prior to him exiting the game. Heinicke was looking for his wide receivers when dropping back.
KhaDarel Hodge: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 75 yards
Notes
- Got most of his yardage on one play, a 52-yard reception where 33 of those yards came after the catch and an atrocious display of tackling by the Titans’ secondary
Mack Hollins: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 27 yards
Jonnu Smith: 1 targets, 1 receptions, 13 yards
Notes
- Smith seemed to be out on the field about as much as he normally has been, Heinicke just never looked his way
Scott Miller: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 14 yards, 1 TD
Notes
- When did he start going by Scott instead of Scotty?
- Got both of his targets in the fourth quarter, in 3-WR sets and after London had come out of the game
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Will Levis: 19/29, 238 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT | 7 carries, 11 yards
When the Titans announced that Ryan Tannehill was going to miss this week due to the ankle injury he sustained in Week 6, it initially appeared as though the Titans were going to play both second-year man Malik Willis in addition to rookie Will Levis. There wasn’t any clear information throughout the week as to which would be the starter, or if they would play both as they have very different playstyles, but Levis absolutely took full control of the role early on. Willis lost a fumbled snap (wasn’t really his fault), Levis threw a 47-yard touchdown pass two drives later, and Levis was entrenched as the QB for the rest of the game.
Notes
- Levis was not afraid to throw deep, as that 47-yard TD pass was his 7th attempt of the game, and also threw a 61-yard TD and a 33-yard TD
- That 61-yard TD throw was gorgeous, but even better was the little shoulder fake that Levis used to get the safety to bite on Hopkins’ double move
- While it’s just his first start, Levis showed a considerable amount of poise, patience, and a willingness to push the ball downfield that could potentially lead to a rejuvenated Titans offense
- Obviously, not every game will be like this one, but it was definitely promising and looked more like a good QB playing well, than a mirage that got lucky
Missed Opportunities
- Connected with Treylon Burks on another deep pass, but the ball was placed just a little too far outside and Burks couldn’t keep it inbounds
Running Back
Derrick Henry: 22 carries, 101 yards | 4 targets, 4 receptions, 21 yards
This is now three of his last four games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage, and this one seemed to look easier and easier for him as the game went on.
Notes
- Always nice to see Henry involved in the passing game, as he had a few designed screens called for him this game
- If Levis can continue to push the ball downfield and do so successfully, Henry might find himself with a lot more room to run moving forward
Missed Opportunities
- Because Levis threw for so many deep TDs, the Titans never actually ran a play inside the Falcons’ 16-yard line, so no real scoring opportunities for Henry today.
Tyjae Spears: 3 carries, 27 yards | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 9 yards
Notes
- Spears pretty much is what he is at this point, and remains a very high-end handcuff
Wide Receiver/Tight End
DeAndre Hopkins: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 128 yards, 3 TDs
Before anyone says it, yes, he committed offense pass interference on his 47-yard TD catch.
Notes
- Hopkins was Levis’s first look pretty much always, and it was so refreshing to see someone connect him with on deep balls.
- Gorgeous double move on the 61-yard TD
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 2 targets, 1 reception, 33 yards, 1 TD
Notes
- What an odd game from someone who hasn’t been getting targeted very deep this season, with an ADOT on the season of 8.2 yards, far behind Burks (18.1) and Hopkins (13.2). His only two targets were the 33-yard TD and a 60-yard bomb toward the end of the first half
Missed Opportunities
- That 60-yard bomb landed in the end zone, Levis overthrew Westbrook-Ikhine by a few yards. There were two defenders there so far from a sure thing of course
Treylon Burks: 2 targets, 0 receptions, 0 yards
Notes
- I think this was a combination of a first game back from injury, and Levis just having that instant connection with Hopkins. Levis hardly looked Burks way when he was in the game
Missed Opportunities
- Burks did almost haul in a long pass from Levis (about 30 yards) that was just a little too far outside the lines
- He did actually catch a pass, it was a 3-yard out route that was called back due to offensive pass interference on Hopkins. So Burks could have had a 1.3 point day in full PPR
Chigoziem Okonkwo: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 23 yards | 1 carry, 4 yards
Notes
- That 1 carry for 4 yards may have caught your attention, and it was a pretty fun play to watch. 3rd and 1, Henry in the backfield so everyone expects him to get the touch. Then they actually sent Tyjae Spears on a jet sweep, so now the attention was on him, and Levis just turned to the other side to give to Okonkwo to run right up the gut and convert for the first down. Pretty nifty play design there as the perfect tendency-breaker
- Other than that, he was kind of just there. Mostly seemed to be Levis’s favorite checkdown target.
Kyle Phillips: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 24 yards