Divisional games on short weeks are rarely high-scoring. But every once in a while you get a game like last night, where both teams moved up and down the field from the word go. But probably a lot of higher-scoring players on benches, and lower-scoring ones in lineups.
QUARTERBACKS
What a difference a few weeks makes to a guy coming off an Achilles injury. In Week 1, Kirk Cousins looked like he was getting fitted for a clipboard to watch rookie backup Michael Penix lead the offense. But there he was last night completing 42 of 58 for 509 yards and 4 touchdowns. Cousins essentially didn't miss in the first half, going touchdown drive, missed field goal, touchdown drive, field goal, drive that ended with a sack just short of field goal range.
More of the same in the second half, and with Cousins having some ridiculously good fortune late. Down 3 points with 2 minutes left, facing a 4th and 15 at his own 20, Cousins forced a throw into double-coverage and was picked off. Game over, right? Falcons fans thought so and a lot of them left. But the Bucs not only couldn't move the ball but committed a holding penalty to knock them out of field goal range, and Atlanta got the ball back. They then completed a pass in the middle of the field with 7 seconds left and no timeouts, but were able to get to the line and spike it with a second on the clock. If I were a Bucs fan, well, I'd have a hard time with that one. Falcons win the toss, Cousins completes a couple of short throws, and the Bucs miss a tackle so one of them goes for a 45-yard touchdown. Crazy.
Baker Mayfield has been on my bench behind Patrick Mahomes all season. I might need to start rethinking that one. He did enough to win this game. There was one missed opportunity that would have been a touchdown, and Mayfield's yards weren't great. But 3 TDs and some unexpected rushing production from your quarterback (42 yards) -- he deserved better.
RUNNING BACKS
In a 36-30 game, you'd think one of these guys would have been a nice fantasy option, right? Not the case. Welcome to the world of committee backfields. Bijan Robinson was a lot more effective with his chances than Tyler Allgeier last night. But it didn't actually look quite as lopsided as the final numbers (12 for 61 versus 6 for 12, with Allgeier getting stuffed on a couple of late carries), plus they each caught 3 passes, with Allgeier oddly playing as much or more on third downs. And neither one scored, making both quite disappointing. It feels like Allgeier can't be used but Robinson can't be counted on, not a great feeling for those who used a top-5 pick on the guy.
The Bucs backfield is even more frustrating. Rachaad White and Bucky Irving split time and touches pretty evenly. White (10 for 72 on the ground) looks good until you note that 56 yards came on one carry through a huge hole and a couple of poor attempts at tackles. And the fact that his 3 catches went for minus-6 yards (his "long" reception, hilariously, was -2).
Irving's 9 carries went for 44 yards, though one of those was a costly late fumble after a first-down run where the Bucs could have run out the clock. But even with that the Bucs still should have won, and at least Irving's 2 catches went for positive yards. White got his ankle twisted late, so that will need to be monitored this week. But whatever: it's a committee on a pretty lousy rushing team and I don't think it's necessarily going to change, barring injury. I have both backs on multiple teams and don't really want to have to use either.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Nothing much to say beyond the obvious here. Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Mike Evans were all outstanding for you last night. We were in on Mooney from when the Falcons signed him, cooling a little when Cousins looked washed/injured the first game or two. But he's the clear No. 2 in what looks like a pretty good passing offense. Not many started him last night, perhaps (we ranked him 31st in PPR, so a starter in most leagues but not a slam dunk), but going forward he'll be in a lot more lineups. The first touchdown was a pretty remarkable throw and catch in a crowded end zone. London had his best game, but one note: he took a shot to the ribs on his final catch and seemed to be in some pain, so keep an eye on that one. Evans was weirdly wide open for one of his touchdowns (might want to cover him down there) and could have easily caught a third if Mayfield had seen him.
Quiet game for Chris Godwin, but that will happen sometimes. Evans was open a lot, and Mayfield didn't actually pass that much (19 of 24, with the Bucs running a lot and the Falcons having the ball more).
Sterling Shepard caught a touchdown for the Bucs, but just 2 targets, and he was only even on the roster because both Trey Palmer and Jalen McMillan were injured. KhaDarel Hodge caught the winning touchdown in overtime, a shortish throw over the middle and some shoddy tackling contributing. He’s just the No. 4 wide receiver (No. 3 Ray-Ray McCloud had a nice PPR game, with 6 grabs) in the offense, and probably the 6th or 7th target. Cousins presumably won’t drop back 60-plus times most weeks.
TIGHT ENDS
I truly do not understand how Kyle Pitts goes from being invisible one week to catching 7 for 88 on everyone's bench the next. Is it coaching? Is it Pitts himself not being overly invested in the proceedings most weeks, then deciding to play ball? There was a pregame report last night that the offense was going to try to get him more involved. And they did. That's great, but why does that thought crop up in Week 5 and not Week 2? I guess Pitts is now a starting option at a weak position, but I can't shake the feeling we just saw his best game all year.
Cade Otton is becoming more of a factor in the passing game. Sixteen catches for 143 yards the past three weeks. And Mayfield didn't even throw much last night, either.
MISCELLANEOUS
Another week, another clutch field goal in the final seconds for Younghoe Koo. He missed a shorter one (twice, thanks to a penalty) and had another blocked, but he made the game-tying one look routine. ... The Bucs Defense had some nice production, but that will happen when the opposing quarterback attempts 58 passes. The Atlanta Defense has just 5 sacks in five games.
Both teams are now 3-2, and Atlanta's record is crazy. They could very, very easily be 0-5, with the Eagles, Saints and now Bucs letting them off the hook. Feel good if you're an Atlanta fan I guess, but you wonder how long that good fortune can continue.
