The Atlanta Falcons just snagged a 17-12 road win against the Miami Dolphins in their final preseason game, but let’s be real, preseason wins are just for bragging rights for the Ravens. For everyone else, it is about figuring out who belongs on that 53-man roster and, more importantly, what the heck is going on with the team’s form. And if you watched this one, the biggest takeaway has got to be the absolute mess that is the Falcons’ run game.
Offense: Turnovers and No Rush
Look, Tua Tagovailoa got booed by the Dolphins crowd early, which is never a good look, but he did quiet them down. He hit Jahan Dotson for 11 yards and then found Kyle Pitts for a huge 37-yard gain, which led to an early Falcons touchdown. But after that, things got ugly fast. Tua was on the field for just a couple more drives, both ending in turnovers. First, backup center Corey Levin fumbled a snap and it got tacked onto Tua’s record, then Brian Robinson Jr. fumbled on a rush. That is not the start you want, even if the Falcons did manage a 7-3 lead when Tua left the game at the end of the first quarter.
Cooper Rush came in next and he carved up Miami’s backups, going 13 for 18 for 106 yards, throwing one touchdown, and posting a 105.3 passer rating. He set up a field goal that put Atlanta up 17-6 by halftime. While the passing game had its moments, the run game was basically non-existent. Brian Robinson Jr. managed a pathetic 15 yards on five carries, and as a team, they averaged a dismal 1.8 yards per carry in the first half, totaling just 20 yards on 11 attempts. The Falcons ended the whole outing with a miserable 41 rushing yards on 24 attempts. Rookie Jack Strand barely saw the field in the third quarter after coming in at quarterback, finishing 6 for 7 for 43 yards with no touchdowns. He did throw one interception, but it was off a deflection so we can cut him some slack. That run game, though? Seriously worrying.
Defense: They Came to Play
On the flip side, the Falcons’ defense looked absolutely dominant. They played their starting unit against Miami’s backups to kick things off, and it went exactly how you’d hope. Cam Miller and the Dolphins offense went nowhere, getting shut down with a three-and-out thanks to some serious bullying up front from Brandon Dorlus and Samson Ebukam. Atlanta’s defense kept pushing the Dolphins around right up until halftime. Cameron Thomas and rookie linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. both notched sacks against Miller, and they stuffed Miami’s run game, holding their backs to just 21 rushing yards and 2.6 yards per attempt in the first half. Even when Miami’s run game picked up a little steam in the third quarter, Atlanta’s defense held strong, keeping them out of the end zone and maintaining that 17-9 lead. Overall, they racked up five sacks, eight QB hits, and seven tackles for a loss, limiting the Dolphins to just 236 total yards. Talk about making a statement.
Special Teams Stepped Up
The special teams unit also delivered. Punt returners Dylan Drummond and Zachariah Branch both broke off 18-yard returns on their best attempts, which is solid. Rookie Vinny Anthony II had the biggest play in this phase, blasting a 52-yard kickoff return late in the game. That kind of spark can be a game-changer when the regular season kicks off.
So, while the defense and special teams looked sharp, the glaring issue for Atlanta as the regular season looms is that run game. Forty-one total rushing yards is just not going to cut it. They have to get that figured out, and fast, if they want to avoid some serious headaches in the early weeks of the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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