You can make a pretty solid case that the offense’s ineptitude cost the Falcons the game against the Browns, at least just as much as the defense’s did. But you can also make a solid case that the defense’s ongoing inability to do much of anything, outside of those outlier performances against the NFC East, is what has doomed the season.
While Damontae Kazee has five picks—an impressive total for anyone, but especially a second year safety pressed into a starting role—the rest of the defense hasn’t been able to pick up turnovers. That means the Falcons have had to play disciplined, high-level football on defense to make up for that, and they really haven’t been able to do that much of the season.