The Atlanta Falcons spent a fortune on their offensive line, yet the run game has stalled hard. After averaging 181 yards per game early on, the unit dropped to just 88.5 yards as the team lost three of its last four contests. This collapse happened right after the team signed guard Matthew Bergeron to a massive four-year, $96 million deal. According to Blogging Dirty, this season the three top-earning linemen on the roster are collectively earning approximately $67 million. That is a lot of money for a group that got manhandled by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 16-0 shutout loss on Sunday.
Opponents figured out how to stop the rush, and the Falcons have no answer. “Teams, after those couple weeks, decided they were going to play us a certain way,” offensive coordinator Tommy Rees admitted. The solution for defenses has been simple: stack the box and clog the middle. This strategy forced the Falcons to their lowest yard-per-carry average, including a dismal 2.8 yards against the San Francisco 49ers. Rees knows the playbook needs work, stating, “We have to do a better job of getting back to who we are in the run game.” He also took responsibility, saying, “It starts with me in what we call and how we design it.”
The Price Tag for Poor Blocking
The financial commitment to the offensive line was supposed to guarantee dominance, but the results say otherwise. Blogging Dirty notes that only the Philadelphia Eagles pay more to their offensive line than the Falcons, who have invested over $84 million in the unit. Despite hiring Bill Callahan as their coach, the interior line has been hit or miss. Chris Lindstrom and Bergeron have struggled to create holes, even when Bijan Robinson tries to make something happen. The running back himself sees the gap between the early season success and the current reality. “Those numbers are a lot different,” Robinson said. “And it’s our job to get it back to what it needs to be.”
Missing Pieces and Upcoming Tests
The absence of powerback Brian Robinson Jr. has hurt the short-yardage attack, as he missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury. Thursday saw him return to practice, and he is now marked as questionable for the Week 9 game in Madrid. Without him, the offense lacks the punch needed to score touchdowns in the red zone. Atlanta has managed only eight total rushing touchdowns all season, a sharp drop from the five they scored in a single game against the New Orleans Saints. Rees noted that explosive runs are missing, which “really propelled us early in the season.”
The team faces a different challenge next Sunday when they host the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals allow 122.3 rushing yards per game, which is the 17th most in the league. This matchup offers a golden opportunity to fix the run game before it gets worse. If the offensive line cannot execute, the entire season could slip away. “Part of our challenge is finding ways to run the ball even when those boxes are loaded,” Rees said. “Because there are ways to do it.” The Falcons must prove they can find those ways or face another painful loss in Spain.
