The Atlanta Falcons are off to a rough start this season.
With both Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa out to start the season — Tagovailoa suffered an injury in practice days before the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers — Atlanta was forced to turn to veteran Cooper Rush to start the year.
The results were not pretty.
Rush completed 12-of-22 passes for just 143 yards and one touchdown, along with a pair of interceptions, in Atlanta’s Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Atlanta losing just 20-13, the second interception proved to be a pick-six.
Also, the pick-six is a serious look when it comes to running flat on an easy swing path.
Things didn’t get any better for Atlanta in Week 2. Although Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers was far from over, the visiting Panthers opened up a 20-3 halftime lead.
And Atlanta’s offense once again struggled against the rush in the game, managing just 162 yards in the first half and converting just 2-of-7 third-down opportunities.
As for Rush himself, he finished the first half completing 9-of-15 passes for just 80 yards.
This happened when the Falcons had their second offensive possession of the game.
Here’s how their debut ended:
And yes, that in the first game came from a slur in this game.
Now for the real bad news.
You’ll be seeing a lot of this Falcons team over the next few weeks.
All three of Atlanta’s upcoming games are in the preseason. The Falcons begin Week 3 with a visit to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers Thursday night football. They then head to New Orleans to play the Atlanta Saints in Week 4. Monday night football.
The slate then wraps up Sunday in Week 5 with the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Saints. Sunday night football.
Three games, all in prime time, for a national audience.
If it’s any consolation, Pennix is reportedly “closer to a return” and “could be back for Week 3.” In this report.
There is a key word…can.
