Defense has to get off the field on third down.
Lets start with the obvious. Injuries or no injuries, the Falcons’ defense has to find a way to get 5-7 stops a game. They simply have to be better.
The Falcons do not need the defensive replacements to be superstars, just be serviceable, NFL players who play well for four quarters.
Last week, the Cincinnati Bengals went 7-12 on third down and 2-2 on fourth down. The week before, the Saints went 7-14 on third down and 1-1 on fourth down. The Falcons have one of the worst third-down defenses in the league at the moment.