3 Winners and 3 Losers From Falcons' Dominant Win Over Colts

Some players on the Atlanta Falcons put on poor showing at a time they could least afford it

Here's what we learned from the latest Falcons preseason game | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Atlanta Falcons needed a response after a disappointing preseason opener and delivered one Saturday.

Atlanta dominated the Indianapolis Colts 34-6, showing considerably more energy and physicality after spending the week in Indianapolis for two joint practices. The victory also provided another important opportunity for players competing for roster spots to make their final impressions before cut day arrives.

With several position battles still unsettled, here are three winners and three losers from Atlanta's preseason victory.

Winners

1. Tyler Goodson

Goodson continues to make his case for a roster spot.

The running back was one of Atlanta's most explosive offensive players Saturday, breaking loose for a 49-yard touchdown and providing the type of big-play ability the Falcons have seen from him throughout training camp.

His performance is particularly important because Atlanta's running back room has become more competitive following Trey Sermon's placement on injured reserve.

Goodson has consistently shown the ability to create explosive plays, and Saturday was another reminder that he shouldn't be overlooked when Atlanta makes its final roster decisions.

The Falcons already know what they have in Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. The question is who will earn the next spot.

Goodson is making a strong argument that it should be him.

2. Jack Strand

Strand may have been the biggest winner of the afternoon.

The undrafted rookie quarterback put together another impressive performance, completing 12 of 17 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a 16-yard score. He also delivered several impressive throws downfield, including a 36-yard completion.

Strand's performance continues to make the QB3 competition much more interesting.

Cooper Rush entered camp with the experience advantage, but Strand has repeatedly shown poise and playmaking ability. He now has legitimate momentum heading into the final preseason game.

Atlanta's quarterback room could look very different depending on what happens over the next two weeks.

And Strand is making sure the Falcons have a difficult decision to make.

3. Kendal Daniels

Daniels continues to be one of the most intriguing young players on Atlanta's roster.

The rookie linebacker has been making plays throughout training camp and the joint practices, and Saturday gave him another opportunity to show that his development is translating to game action.

Daniels' emergence is especially important because Atlanta has been evaluating several players at linebacker while dealing with injuries elsewhere in the group.

He is giving the coaching staff a reason to consider getting him on the field sooner rather than later.

For a young player trying to earn a role, Daniels has done exactly what he needed to do during the preseason: make himself difficult to ignore.

Losers

1. Azeez Ojulari

Ojulari needed to stand out Saturday. Instead, he was relatively quiet.

That doesn't mean Ojulari played poorly, but in the current state of Atlanta's edge-rusher room, simply being solid isn't necessarily enough. The Falcons need someone to emerge after losing Jalon Walker for the season with a torn ACL and facing an eight-game suspension for James Pearce Jr.

Ojulari was expected to be one of the players capable of helping fill that void.

Saturday presented another opportunity to make that case, and he didn't consistently create the kind of impact that would separate him from the rest of the group.

That matters because players such as Keshawn Banks, Cameron Sample, Bralen Trice and others are trying to take advantage of the opportunities created by Atlanta's depleted edge room.

The Falcons recently added veteran Za'Darius Smith, further increasing the competition for snaps and roster spots.

Ojulari has the talent to be an important piece of this defense.

But with Walker out and Pearce unavailable for the first eight games, Atlanta needs its edge rushers to show they can create pressure.

The door is wide open. Someone needs to walk through it.

2. Tua Tagovailoa

Tagovailoa didn't play Saturday, but that doesn't mean the questions surrounding him disappeared.

If anything, the quarterback situation became more interesting.

Tagovailoa struggled in Atlanta's preseason opener and then had an uneven start during the Falcons' first joint practice against Indianapolis. He improved during the second practice, but the overall evaluation remains incomplete.

Meanwhile, Michael Penix Jr. continues working his way back from his knee injury.

Penix has now been cleared to return to 11 on 11 work and that will now add to the competition.

That creates a potentially fascinating QB1 situation.

Tagovailoa currently has the advantage because he's healthy and has been able to participate. But if Penix returns and performs well, the Falcons could suddenly have a much more serious decision on their hands.

Tagovailoa needed to take control of the job.

His recent performances haven't completely accomplished that.

The next time he takes the field, the pressure will be even greater.

3. Christian Harris

Harris wasn't necessarily a loser because of something he did Saturday.

He was a loser because of what happened around him.

The Falcons' projected starters weren't slated to play against Indianapolis, but Harris entered the game in the second quarter. That is notable because Harris has been working with the starting defense and is currently projected to be one of Atlanta's starting linebackers.

If Harris were firmly established as the unquestioned starter, there wouldn't be much reason to see him in a preseason game when most of the projected starters were being held out.

Instead, the Falcons gave him additional evaluation time.

And that's because the linebacker room is becoming much more competitive.

Daniels has continued to make plays throughout camp, while Harold Perkins Jr. has also shown flashes of the athleticism that made him such an intriguing addition to the Falcons' defense.

Harris still has the inside track to start.

But the gap may not be as wide as it appeared when training camp began.

The Falcons have young linebackers pushing for opportunities, and Harris now has to continue proving that he deserves to remain at the top of that competition.

One More Week to Make a Statement

The Falcons now have one more preseason game before the real roster decisions begin.

That game against Miami will be an important opportunity for the coaching staff to finish evaluating the roster and determine which players have done enough to earn a spot.

For players such as Goodson, Strand and Daniels, Saturday helped their cases.

For players such as Ojulari and the other edge rushers, there is still work to be done.

And then there are the bigger questions surrounding the quarterback room, where Penix's potential return could add another layer to the QB1 competition while Strand continues to push for QB3.

Next week represents one of the final opportunities for players to put something on tape before cut day is upon the Falcons.

At this point in the preseason, every snap matters.

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