The Atlanta Falcons will take on the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET, and while the oddsmakers favor the Seahawks in their home stadium by 2.5 points, this is probably a game to avoid if you’re hoping to make any money.
Falcons fans have had plenty to talk about through the first two weeks of the season, but the team is still looking for its first win. If Atlanta wants to avoid going winless in Seattle, these five players must step up.
6
LB Rashaan Evans
Mykal Walker has been the better inside linebacker for Atlanta thus far, but the team will need Evans to help stop the run early and force Seahawks QB Geno Smith into third-and-long situations. Pete Carroll’s team hasn’t had much success on the ground this season, but the old-school coach is committed to establishing the run. Russell Wilson wanted Seattle to become a more pass-heavy team, and he’s now in Denver.
5
CB A.J. Terrell
Terrell received plenty of well-deserved praise over the offseason, but even he would tell you this hasn’t been his best two-game stretch. Atlanta’s No. 1 cornerback has drawn another tough assignment in trying to stop DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in Week 3. Metcalf has yet to get going this season — 11 catches for 71 receiving yards — but, like Kyle Pitts, he’s a tremendous talent who’s overdue for a breakout game. Terrell needs to make sure that doesn’t happen on Sunday.
4
LB Troy Andersen
Falcons fans were a little unsure about the front office’s decision to pass on Georgia LB Nakobe Dean in favor of the lesser-known Troy Andersen in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft. Andersen has drawn consistent praise from the coaching staff and in Week 2, his blocked punt was returned for a touchdown. The rookie is still just a rotational player and special teams contributor, but as fans saw last week, you don’t have to be a starter to affect the game.
3
TE Kyle Pitts
Pitts has four catches for 38 yards after two games, and it’s caused some to wonder why the former No. 4 overall pick hasn’t been more involved. Falcons head coach Arthur Smith is adamant that Pitts is impacting the game even when he’s not getting the ball. With the team sitting at 0-2 and the season potentially on the line, though, expect Pitts to get a healthy amount of targets in Week 3.
2
RB Tyler Allgeier
After Allgeier was a surprise scratch in Week 1, Damien Williams’ injury opened the door for the fifth-round pick to make his NFL debut in Week 2. In terms of debuts, however, it wasn’t the most memorable. Allgeier rushed 10 times for 30 yards in a 50/50 split with Cordarrelle Patterson — who out-gained Allgeier with 10 rushes for 40 yards.
Can the rookie find more running room against a Seattle defense that has allowed 292 rushing yards after two games? You would think so.
