Lions Must Contend with Falcons' 'Airtight' Fourth-Quarter Defense
Jeremy Brener covers the Atlanta Falcons for Falcon Report. He answered five questions from All Lions to preview Sunday's matchup between Detroit and Atlanta.
1.) What has contributed to the Falcons' 2-0 start?
Jeremy Brener: The Falcons defense has been airtight in the fourth quarter. Last week, the Falcons trailed by 12 against the Packers but pulled out a win. They've been playing their game and it has paid off for them in a big way. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier have been dynamic as a 1-2 punch and the offensive line picked up where they left off a year ago.
2.) Bijan Robinson had a solid performance against Green Bay. What have you seen from the talented rookie?
Brener: Bijan can do it all. He can line up as a receiver and beat you in open space and he can also just bully defenses. He's everything the Falcons expected him to be when they drafted him at No. 8. If he stays healthy, I think the Falcons have a shot to go far this season.
3.) How has Desmond Ridder acclimated to the starting quarterback role?
Brener: Ridder is gonna be Ridder. He isn't going to turn into Patrick Mahomes, but he can be a consistent game manager. He threw his first pick last week in his career and it was his sixth start. His job is to set his playmakers up for success and keep the ball with the Falcons. So far, he's done a decent job fulfilling those duties.
4.) What are the key matchups you are watching for?
Brener: If Jeff Okudah plays, it would be intriguing to see him match up with Josh Reynolds or Amon-Ra St. Brown, because both of those guys have played well to start the year. Okudah would be playing his Falcons debut against the team that drafted him.
5.) How do you see this game against the Lions playing out?
Brener: The Lions will put on the points, and it's up to the Falcons to keep up. The Lions are gonna try to force the Falcons to play their game, and it will be a good test for Atlanta to see if it can play a different style of football.
