This has been a deeply grim week-plus for Falcons fans. Having such a long layoff normally would be fine, but when it comes on the heels of a lousy season-opening loss and is filled with terrible injury news, it’s not hard for the mood to sour and turn dour.
Some of that has been justified. The Falcons didn’t look good in Week 1, which would breed fear and anxiety even if they hadn’t also lost Keanu Neal, Deion Jones and now Devonta Freeman for a while. But it’s also true that the Falcons are at home today against an opponent with its own injury issues, and that they still have a talented roster despite the attrition.