All season long, this loomed as one of the most interesting matchups on the Falcons’ schedule. Baltimore’s tough defense and the prospect of Lamar Jackson starting by this point in the season made them one of the rougher opponents for Atlanta, all told, and when this was still a potential playoff year it seemed like it might be one that could help catapult the Falcons to the postseason.
Now? The playoffs are all but a distant dream—I know many of you aren’t ready to give up on that and respect that—and the Falcons aren’t the team we thought they’d be back in July and August.