Falcons vs. Giants: Which team has the advantage at each position?
The only thing worse than 0-2 is 0-3, and that’s what the loser of Sunday’s matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants will be. A win for the Falcons could prompt a favorable run of games where they can still potentially enter their Week 6 bye with a winning record.
Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of Atlanta and New York to see which team has the advantage in Week 3.
Quarterback - Falcons
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A lot of people have already jumped ship on Matt Ryan. On one hand, it's hard to blame them because the Falcons QB has yet to complete a pass over 20 yards downfield. In fact, Atlanta is the only team not to accomplish this. On the other hand, while people are quick to use this as an indictment into his arm strength, the lack of offensive protection is the primary reason Ryan's pass attempts are so close to the line of scrimmage. So, when looking at Ryan and Daniel Jones head-to-head, it's hard to say that Jones has the upper hand, even with his ability to extend plays vertically. Ryan still possesses the ability to put his team in a better spot to win games.
Running back - Giants
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
This one is easy. Despite not being fully healthy, Saquon Barkley is among the league's premier ball-carriers. Barkley amassed over 2,300 yards in his first two seasons before tearing his ACL, and also added another 1,100 receiving yards. The Falcons have a hole at running back that is temporarily being filled by Mike Davis and Cordarrelle Patterson. Will they succeed? It's too early to tell, but if the offensive line woes continue, the Falcons will continue to struggle.
Wide receiver - Giants
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Falcons WR Calvin Ridley is the best receiver on the field. However, when you look past Ridley, there's not a ton of other receivers desired. Russell Gage has already been declared out, which leaves Olamide Zaccheaus as the Falcons' second-best option at receiver. As for the Giants, their trio of Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, and Darius Slayton are a better overall threat. New York has the edge here.
Tight end - Falcons
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Just like how running back was easily in the Giants favor, the same can be said for the tight end position, this time in favor of the Falcons. The Giants do have Kyle Rudolph, however, he is no longer the premier tight end he was in Minnesota. His target totals have declined each year since 2016 and could see that trend continue this year. Rudolph has mainly been a fill-in for the injured Evan Engram, who could make his 2021 debut this weekend. Even so, the Falcons still have the advantage here with Kyle Pitts and Hayden Hurst. Both are top receiving options and should see plenty of targets now that Gage is ruled out.
Offensive line - Even
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
When looking at Pro Football Focus, the two teams are tied at 28th in the league in terms of pass protection. It doesn't get much better in run blocking as the Giants come in at 21st while the Falcons are three spots behind at 24th. Both teams have offensive lines that can be blown up and exploited as the game progresses. Matt Ryan has to endure pressure on 36.8 percent of dropbacks taken, ninth-worst in the league of all eligible quarterbacks. As for Daniel Jones, his pressure rate isn't much better at 34.6 percent. Another thing to consider is the injuries the Giants have sustained along the offensive front. New York has had to resort to placing two of their offensive linemen on the injured reserve list just this week -- Shane Lemieux and Nick Gates. With Billy Price starting at center, Grady Jarrett and the Falcons' defensive line should be able to provide some push.
Defensive line - Giants
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When looking at the defensive line, you have to consider both pass rush and ability to stop the run. It's easy to look at sacks when evaluating defensive line talent. However, smart teams pay for the hurries. and the Giants have been a force in this area. While their interior defense has yet to sack the QB, their presence has been felt by disrupting the play. Through the first two games, Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, and Austin Johnson have combined for 16 total QB pressures. As for the Falcons, they have only recorded four pressures from their top defensive linemen. As far as the run game goes, these two teams are about even. Both allowed for the opposing team to run the ball effectively whenever they wanted in Week 1 before improving in Week 2. It comes down to whoever shows up in Week 3.
Edge rushers - Even
(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Neither team has a pass rush to write home about. Falcons linebacker Dante Fowler and Giants rookie EDGE Azeez Ojulari have the highest win rates of their respective teams. Fowler comes in at 14.8 percent while Ojulari has a win rate of 14.3 percent. Fowler and Ojulari are also the only two edge rushers to get a sack for each team. Fowler sacked Tom Brady in Week 2 while Ojulari registered a sack in each of the first two games.
Inside linebackers - Falcons
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Deion Jones may not have been great thus far in pass coverage, but he has the ability to be and is stout as a run defender. The combo of Jones and Foye Oluokun provides a more stable force in the middle than the combo of Tae Crowder and Blake Martinez. However, Saquon Barkley presents a much more difficult task for the Falcons' defense than what Atlanta has to offer on offense.
Cornerback - Giants
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The last two are also very easy. With the Falcons now without A.J. Terrell, their pass defense has become even more of a liability. Atlanta must decide whether or not to keep Isaiah Oliver in the nickel, where he has flourished, or push him back outside where he struggled. All in all, the situation wasn't ideal to begin with and has now become even worse. The combination of Adoree Jackson and James Bradberry takes the nod as the best cornerback group this week. Jackson and Bradberry also are responsible for two forced incompletions each.
Safety - Giants
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As stated above, the Giants have an easy win here. The decision to sign Erik Harris and Duron Harmon came solely due to the low cap space the Falcons had at the start of the offseason. Had either player chosen to play elsewhere, they likely wouldn't be seeing the same amount of defensive snaps that they are in Atlanta. Both were clearly bridge signings. Jaylinn Hawkins' hard work has earned him extra reps on the field. The same cannot be said for rookie Richie Grant, who hasn't been able to pick up the defense which has kept him on the sidelines. The Giants may have Logan Ryan, an exceptional safety, and Jabrill Peppers, but both players can be attacked. No to mention, Xavier McKinney has also been involved in a healthy rotation with Peppers and Ryan. Until Hawkins gets true reps at safety, the Falcons will remain in a critical situation in the third level of the defense.
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