Skip to main content

Things haven’t exactly worked out according to plan for the 2019 Atlanta Falcons.

Despite recording their first losing season since 2014, the organization went into this year believing a few changes in the coaching staff and an improved offensive line would return them to the top of the NFC. Now after a 1-6 start, the talk in Atlanta is dominated by trade rumors and speculation that coach Dan Quinn may not make survive past the team's bye week. The former Seahawks assistant coach got off to a hot start after taking over the Falcons in 2015, but has now gone just 8-15 over his team’s last 23 games.

Making matters worse, the Falcons enter this game with questions at the quarterback position after Matt Ryan left last week’s game against the Rams with an ankle injury. He hasn’t practiced this week and his status for Sunday is uncertain. If he can’t answer the bell, 38-year old veteran Matt Schaub will get the call under center.

Here’s a closer look at the Seahawks upcoming opponent, including series history, additions/departures, key numbers, and Carroll’s evaluation of the Falcons:

SERIES HISTORY

--17th regular season meeting. The Seahawks lead the all-time series 10-8, but have lost both playoff games to the Falcons.

This will be the Seahawks first trip to Atlanta since the Falcons moved into Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2017. They were the second-to-last opponent to visit the old Georgia Dome in a 36-20 playoff loss. The Falcons won the last meeting between the two franchises, narrowly escaping with a 34-31 decision at CenturyLink Field as Seahawks kicker Blair Walsh came up short on a potential game-tying 52-yard field goal attempt with seven second to play.

WHAT’S NEW?

Departures: Due to their lofty expectations, the Falcons largely kept their player roster intact during the offseason, focusing instead on making changes in their coaching staff they believed could take them to the next level. They fired both coordinators, each of whom has ties to the northwest, parting ways with offensive coordinator and former University of Washington coach Steve Sarkesian and defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel, a former Seahawk.

On the field, the team let long time kicker and the franchise's all-time leading scorer Matt Bryant go as well as veteran cornerback Robert Alford, but they did bring Bryant back before the start of the season. Their biggest loss may have been running back Tevin Coleman, who signed with the 49ers and reunited with former Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan on a two-year, $10 million deal. His departure left Devonta Freeman alone as the primary rushing threat in Atlanta.

Now, however, the Falcons are reportedly in heavy sell mode after their disastrous start to the season and are looking to trade a number of veterans. The potential fire sale started this week with the team shipping receiver Mohamed Sanu to New England for a second-round draft pick.

Additions: Attempting to address their biggest weakness, the team narrowed in on the offensive line as a free agency need, adding veteran guards Jamon Brown and former Seahawk James Carpenter to a pair of contracts totaling nearly $40 million. That duo will start at the two guard spots on Sunday. Other key additions were made via the draft with former Washington Husky star Kaleb McGary now starting at right tackle after overcoming a procedure for a heart condition prior to his rookie season. McGary and Boston College guard Chris Lindstrom were both selected in the first round by the Falcons, although Lindstrom landed on injured reserve with a foot injury and has yet to return to practice despite being eligible to return.

As if there aren’t already enough northwest player ties to this Falcons roster, the team also drafted Washington defensive back Jordan Miller in the fifth round. He’s currently listed as a third stringer on the team’s official depth chart.

BY THE NUMBERS

299: Passing yards per game for the Falcons, second in the NFL.

16: Passing attempts for Matt Schaub over the last three seasons, with six of those coming in relief of Ryan after he was injured last Sunday.

68.4: Rushing yards per game by the Falcons, forth-lowest in the league.

44.4: Third-down conversion rate for Atlanta offensively, 10th-best in the league.

18.6: Percentage of Atlanta's defensive drives that result in a three-and-out, worst among 32 NFL teams.

387.7: Yards per game allowed by Atlanta’s defense, sixth-worst in the league.

4: Number of consecutive games in which the Falcons have failed to register a quarterback sack and total number of sacks as a team for the entire season.

CARROLL’S THOUGHTS

--Carroll was asked repeatedly Wednesday if he’s taking the Falcons lightly in any way because of the team’s struggles this year, and he did his best to downplay such logic.

“Anybody can win sometimes. Anybody can go out and have a good day,” Carroll said. “They’re playing really fast. They’re explosive on offense. They got highlight players that we recognize and know.”

--On the subject of whether or not Ryan is able to play for Atlanta, Carroll was equally cautious and knows Schaub has prior starting experience.

“Matt Schaub is a renowned backup quarterback that has come off the bench for teams for years. He’s got a winning record if he’s the one that plays,” Carroll said.

Schaub previously started for the Texans, with his best season coming in 2009 when the threw for a league-best 4,770 yards and 29 touchdowns. But he hasn't started since 2015 when he was a backup for the Ravens.

--The issue of familiarity is an obvious one with these two teams, as Quinn served a total of four years under Carroll in various roles over two separate stints. He was the team’s defensive coordinator during back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 2013 and 2014 before getting the Atlanta job.

“That always makes it interesting when you’re trying to game plan and all that,” Carroll said. “They know us and we know them. It makes for a really good, interesting preparation. We’ve got to play good. Danny [Quinn] coaching the defense and Bob Sutton, a friend of ours that we know for years from KC and all that and years beyond. I have a lot of respect for what’s going on. I know, just watching the film and watching what we’re up against, they’re going to cause problems for us. We’ve got to get ready to go.”