After a really dreadful performance against New Orleans the Steelers really came back in a big way against the Bengals. After a slow first quarter the offense picked up and put the Bengals away to let the Steelers control their own destiny in terms of winning the division.
The problem for the Steelers is that the Falcons are not a good team. I think we all know why that is a bad thing, because the Steelers seem to do a great job (so to speak) of playing down to competition. Look to further than games against Tampa Bay, New York, and Tennessee. The Falcons seem to have the talent but they never seem can put it together. The offense stacks up but the defense is just awful. The Steelers offense should feast on a defense like this but we have seen this story before.
The good news for the Steelers is that
Julio Jones might play. The Steelers defense hasn't good good this season and there really isn't any reason to think they are going to get any better. Against the past they are very vulnerable as they rank only 31st in the league against the pass with a DVOA of 26.5% and with Jones having an outside chance of breaking the single season receiving mark things could have been bad. I mean he still could play but for the Steelers sake here is hoping he decides to sit it out.
Anyways, lets look at the Falcons.
Here are the numbers for the Falcons offense:
The Falcons
offense ranks 9th in the league with an overall DVOA of 10.6% that includes a passing game that is ranked 7th in the league (28.3% DVOA) while the rushing game ranks 15th (-6.2% DVOA)
Passing
Matt Ryan
Completions: 330
Attempts: 504
Completion %: 65.5%
Yards: 3,802
YPA: 7.5
TD: 25
INT: 11
DVOA: 15.5% (9th)
DYAR: 903 (7th)
QBR: 67.1 (10th)
Rushing
Steven Jackson
Attempts: 175
Yards: 652
Average: 3.7
Touchdowns: 6
DVOA: 2.2% (19th)
DYAR: 83 (18th)
Success Rate: 52% (7th)
Receiving
Julio Jones
Receptions: 93
Targets: 132
Yards: 1,428
Average: 15.4
Touchdowns: 6
DVOA: 13.9% (18th)
DYAR: 294 (8th)
Catch Rate: 63%
Roddy White
Receptions: 59
Targets: 85
Yards: 704
Average: 11.9
Touchdowns: 6
DVOA: 5.1 (34th)
DYAR: 136 (26th)
Catch Rate: 63%
Devin Hester
Receptions: 27
Targets: 42
Yards: 362
Average: 13.4
Touchdowns: 1
DVOA: -16.6%
DYAR: -13
Catch Rate: 61%
Offensive Line
Adjusted Line Yards: 4.05 (12th)
Power Success: 73% (7th)
Stuffed %: 20% (18th)
Rushing Frequency:
Left End: 13% (3.02 ALY, 26th)
Left Tackle: 14% (4.56 ALY, 4th)
Middle/Guard: 44% (4.59 ALY, 2nd)
Right Tackle: 14% (4.33 ALY, 11th)
Right End: 14% (2.54 ALY, 29th)
Here is a look at the Falcons defense. They
rank 32nd overall in terms of DVOA at 16.2% while they rank 30th in pass defense (26.5%) and 31st in rushing defense (3.9%).
Here are some of the statistical leaders for the defense:
Paul Worrilow
Total Tackles: 116
Solo Tackles: 70
Sacks: 2.0
Passes Defended: 1
Interceptions: 0
Kemal Ishmael
Total Tackles: 78
Solo Tackles: 53
Sacks: 0.0
Passes Defended: 6
Interceptions: 4
Kroy Biermann
Total Tackles: 65
Solo Tackles: 39
Sacks: 3.5
Passes Defended: 3
Interceptions: 0
Desmond Trufant
Total Tackles: 49
Solo Tackles: 42
Sacks: 0.0
Passes Defended: 14
Interceptions: 2
Dwight Lowery
Total Tackles: 68
Solo Tackles: 51
Sacks: 0.0
Passes Defended: 5
Interceptions: 2
Here is a look at the Falcons special teams
Kicking
Matt Bryant
Field Goals Attempted: 26
Field Goals Made: 23
Long: 54
1-19: 0-0
20-29: 7-7
30-39: 3-3
40-49: 7-7
50+: 6-9
Extra Points: 35-35
Punting
Matt Bosher
Punts: 54
Yards: 2,452
Average: 45.4
Long: 66
Inside 20: 18
Touchback: 4
Fair Catch: 22
Average Return Against: 9.6
Returns
Devin Hester
Kick Return Attempts: 37
Kick Return Yards: 891
Kick Return Average: 24.1
Kick Return Long: 48
Kick Return TD: 0
Punt Return Attempts: 15
Punt Return Yards: 231
Punt Return Average: 15.4
Punt Return Long: 68
Punt Return TD: 1
Prediction: Steelers 31, Falcons 21
