LISTEN: Are Falcons Making Progress Despite Loss vs. Bucs? (Seriously)

The Atlanta Falcons may have taken a step back in the standings with a 30-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but there were some solid moments.
The notable standout was wide receiver Russell Gage, who caught a career-high 11 passes for 130 yards. Second-year defensive lineman Marlon Davidson took his first career interception back for a touchdown. And both Cordarrelle Patterson and Mike Davis found success in the run game, combining for more than 100 yards.
There have definitely been uglier losses, and like the first meeting between the two teams, the Falcons had an opportunity to win. Unfortunately, moral victories don't show up in the standings and don't hold any value in the playoff race.
On this episode of "Locked On Falcons," host Aaron Freeman shares his takeaways from the Falcons’ 30-17 loss to the Buccaneers in Week 13.
He summarizes the highs and lows of the game, discussing the strong start and first-half finish for the Falcons, and whether play-calling is to blame for some of their second-half shortcomings.
He then hands out grades for the offense, defense and special teams, and talks about if this represents progress for the Falcons against an opponent like the Buccaneers.
Lastly, he discusses Arthur Smith’s coaching and if the loss is a step in the right direction or a step backward.
Aaron deals with all that and more on this episode of "Locked On Falcons." For more podcasts and information, join us here.

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.
Follow JeremyBrener