LANDOVER, Md. — Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris mentioned calling a timeout after a key first-down catch late within the fourth quarter with the rating tied Sunday evening “may have” been a greater choice than working a hurry-up play.
The Falcons needed to accept a 56-yard area objective try from Riley Patterson, who is barely in his second week with the staff. Patterson’s kick with two seconds left got here up quick, the sport went to additional time and the Commanders received, 30-24, on a game-ending Jayden Daniels 2-yard landing go to Zach Ertz.
“In hindsight, it may have been a very good choice or a greater choice to take that timeout, however I needed to have the chance to maneuver up there,” Morris mentioned. “You all the time second-guess these issues, you may all the time second-guess these motives. You can all the time return and have a look at it and see if you will get it snapped somewhat bit faster.”
On the Falcons’ last drive in regulation, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. related with vast receiver Darnell Mooney for a 25-yard first right down to the Falcons’ 44-yard line with round 34 seconds left. Rather than calling a timeout — and Atlanta had two left — Morris stored the clock working. On the following play, Penix threw an incomplete go to Mooney with 17 seconds left.
Morris mentioned he “most likely may have” stopped the clock after the Penix completion to Mooney, however hoped to “save that timeout.”
“I assumed we may get to the road of scrimmage and run our operation somewhat sooner there,” Morris mentioned.
Penix then threw incomplete to vast receiver Drake London and Mooney, and Patterson missed the lengthy area objective try. Patterson’s profession lengthy was 53 yards. He has been with the Falcons since Week 16 when Younghoe Koo went on injured reserve as a consequence of a hip harm.
“You can say, we are able to name a timeout proper there, however you may say I catch the ball, go down the sideline and go rating,” Mooney mentioned. “Either approach. Whenever one thing destructive occurs, you look again and be like, ‘Oh, we should always have hit this.’ You can simply have a destructive with any state of affairs.”
Penix mentioned the gamers will all the time “lean on” what Morris decides in these conditions.
“He calls the timeout every time he feels match and he trusted us to get a play off and make the following play,” Penix mentioned. “So, all of us belief Coach’s judgment on that.”
With the loss, the Falcons fall to 8-8 and now need assistance to get into the playoffs. If the Falcons beat the Carolina Panthers subsequent week and the New Orleans Saints beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then the Falcons would win the NFC South and earn a postseason dwelling sport. However, in the event that they lose to the Panthers or the Bucs beat the Saints, the Falcons’ season is over.
“We put ourselves within the state of affairs,” Falcons veteran defensive lineman Grady Jarrett mentioned. “We was this near controlling our future and we let it slip. And that is the truth of it. We obtained to let it damage. We obtained to let it burn.”
