Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons: Complete Week 8 Preview for Atlanta
The Falcons and Lions are going head-to-head in London at 9.30 a.m. ET on Sunday. Atlanta needs a win, as they are just 2-5 right now. A win would allow Atlanta a real shot at the division, with Carolina looking like a mediocre team sitting there at 3-3-1.
Detroit, on 5-2, is sharing the lead its division with the Green Bay Packers. However, the Lions have been winning games in less-than-stellar fashion. Atlanta stands a chance to win this week, but it's not looking likely.
Atlanta Falcons Week 7 Recap
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Atlanta looked like it played its best defensive game of the season against the Baltimore Ravens. However, the Falcons were unable to score any points to complement this effort. The 29-7 defeat hurts their chances for a divisional title.
If their defense can play the same way it did against the Ravens every week, the Falcons could end up going on a great run to end the season. However, they would need their offensive line to magically turn things around.
Losing Peter Konz could destroy the offensive line, though. It's not like Konz was great, but a rookie, undrafted free-agent center probably isn't the guy to lead a team to a great future. James Stone will have to step up his game this week or the Falcons could spend the bye week finding someone better.
But if the Falcons can get their offensive line together, their running game will only get better. Their passing attack will have time to throw and score points. And their season could finally turn around with better overall play from the entire team.
News and Notes
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Osi Umenyiora's Second Homecoming of the Season
Osi Umenyiora was born in London, England. Due to playing with the Falcons this season, he's having a second homecoming of the season against the Detroit Lions in London; his first homecoming of the season came against the New York Giants. AtlantaFalcons.com's Reid Ferrin noted this in his latest article:
"Falcons-London Connection: No. 50, DE Osi Umenyiora was born in London and spent the first seven years of his life there, before his family moved to Nigeria from the ages of 7-14, and later to the United States. Umenyiora is in his second season with the Falcons and has played in 23 games for them, totaling 54 tackles, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three passes defensed, one interception and one touchdown.
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For someone like Osi, this week should see him step up. Atlanta needs it too for their pass rush. If Umenyiora can treat this homecoming week like the Giants game, Atlanta could wind up having two competent pass-rushers at Wembley.
Jonathan Massaquoi has looked like a young Umeyiora—the old Osi should play like a young Osi as well. If the Falcons can get both into a pass-rushing rhythm, they might have just their third multi-sack game of the season.
Julio Jones Takes Responsibility For Offensive Woes
Julio Jones says that the Falcons' offensive issues lie with him and the other receivers making plays. During an NFLAM interview (h/t NFL.com), Jones was quoted as saying the following:
"It starts with me. I got to go out there and make plays when they are presented to me. I got to go out there and catch the ball, be more of a deep threat. ... We are out there misreading or dropping balls. We have to fix that. It's nothing that the defense is doing, we have to fix that here.
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He continued:
"We know as playmakers we are going to have to get the ball out of Matt's hands quick and get it to the playmakers' hands and we just have to continue to move the chains and make big plays.
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This is where I disagree with Jones. While it would be nice for the wide receivers to start having superhuman abilities, they can only do so much with what the offense calls on them to do. If Atlanta wanted to put more pressure on Jones, Roddy White and Devin Hester, they'd start playing them in the slot more and trying to attack the middle of the field.
Levine Toilolo not stepping up at tight end hurts the team too. Atlanta isn't getting any intermediate and short route help in the middle of the field without Harry Douglas. If Douglas does end up playing, it could give Atlanta some more routes to attack. But they would still need the offensive line to step up.
Atlanta Starts Their 3rd Center of the Season: Undrafted Rookie James Stone
Matt Ryan better pray that someone other than his center is calling protections this week. Undrafted rookie James Stone is now in line to start for the Falcons at center after Peter Konz and Joe Hawley both found their way to the injured reserve list with ACL injuries.
Having an undrafted rookie isn't the way to go and looks like it could hurt the Falcons more than playing someone out of position would. D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted head coach Mike Smith about using the rookie center as this weeks starter:
"I think James is a very good young football player that understands the game. He impressed us early on with his ability to identify fronts and change protections. He’s an intelligent young guy, but he just doesn’t have any experience.
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Stone will have to show that intelligence this week against the Lions. The Falcons were unable to stop stunts against the Ravens due to inexperience at left tackle and center and poor play from their right tackle. If Stone does well enough this week, the Falcons should look much better than they have in pass protection.
However, it's a lot of burden to put on an undrafted free agent who didn't look like a draftable player coming out of college. Atlanta will have to hope that he puts forth a Paul Worrilow or Joplo Bartu-type effort as a rookie.
Injury Report
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| Pos. | Name | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Game Status |
| WR | Harry Douglas | Foot | DNP | LP | LP | Questionable |
| WR | Julio Jones | Ankle | LP | FP | FP | Probable |
| OG | Justin Blalock | Back | LP | FP | FP | Probable |
| DT | Jonathan Babineaux | Foot | DNP | DNP | DNP | Questionable |
| LB | Prince Shembo | Knee | LP | LP | FP | Probable |
All injury information comes from the Atlanta Falcons official website.
#: Will be updated with more information
DNP: Did not practice
LP: Limited in practice
FP: Full participation in practice
Harry Douglas looks like he's on track to come back this week. If Douglas winds up playing, the Falcons could have him attack the intermediate routes that he was supposed to after Tony Gonzalez retired. Atlanta needed him during the early part of the year and would have been better with him in the slot.
Jonathan Babineaux being out would hurt the Falcons' pass rush, as he's their best interior pass-rusher. However, it could be a blessing in disguise as it would allow Corey Peters to play more snaps, and he deserves to be on the field much more than he has been. Malliciah Goodman could also see more snaps with Babineaux out.
Prince Shembo, Julio Jones and Justin Blalock look like they are finally starting to get healthy. If they can avoid injury this week, they might not be on the injury report after the upcoming bye.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Julio Jones, Devin Hester and Roddy White vs. Detroit's Secondary
The Lions' secondary is talented on the surface, but the Falcons have one of the best pairings of wide receivers in the league. Julio Jones has the ability to dominate any of the Lions corners, while Devin Hester should be able to burn them deep.
If Roddy White is able to run the intermediate routes properly, the Falcons could use him to create positive yardage over the middle of the field. The biggest victory Atlanta could have in this matchup comes on screens. Hester is great with the ball in his hands, so if Jones and White block effectively for him, there could be some massive gains.
Atlanta's Offensive Line vs. Detroit's Dominant Pass Rush
Atlanta's preseason offensive line was originally going to be a combination of Sam Baker, Justin Blalock, Joe Hawley, Jon Asamoah and Jake Matthews from left to right. Now, Matthews is at left tackle and the Falcons are on their third-string center and right tackle.
On the flip side, Detroit's pass rush is the best in the NFC. The Lions have a pair of defensive tackles who dominate the point of attack against the run and pass and are potential All-Pros in Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. They also have Ziggy Ansah, a tough and talented defensive end.
Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford vs. Golden Tate and Calvin Johnson
Calvin Johnson is fighting an injury and might not play this week. However, if he's on the field, Atlanta needs to see if Desmond Trufant can be the man to handle him. It's obvious Robert Alford isn't that guy, given he is more of a playmaker on the ball.
Golden Tate is no slouch either, but Trufant should be able to neutralize him pretty well one-on-one throughout the game. If Johnson is healthy, Atlanta will have to put Alford on him, which will hurt the pass defense tremendously.
Falcons' X-Factor of the Week: DE/OLB Jonathan Massaquoi
After posting one of the best games of his short career as a pass-rusher, Jonathan Massaquoi should be in line for another great game with the Lions' offensive line not performing at its best. He's got the speed to beat Riley Reiff off the edge and has learned a lot from Osi Umenyiora in terms of pass-rushing moves.
Massaquoi has shown that he's a true long-term option as a pass-rusher for the Falcons. But it's time for the Falcons to start unleashing him even more than they have. If he can get to Matt Stafford more than once or twice for sacks, it could change the game completely.
Prediction
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The biggest thing about this game is how one team will likely jump out to an early lead because both teams are going to be fighting the time change and playing this game at essentially 9.30 a.m. Fluky things happen in these London games.
The Falcons have the tools to jump out to a quick lead—especially if they can determine how to have the best possible protections schemed early in the game. It would be even more helpful if the Falcons magically got a good game from Levine Toilolo as well.
However, the fact that Atlanta can't play a full four quarters of a game means that Detroit will eventually come back. And with Detroit's pass rush, Atlanta will wind up getting destroyed up front pretty quickly. Once Atlanta loses up front, it's only a matter of time before they lose the game. It will be close, but Atlanta won't win this one.
Prediction: Lions 24, Falcons 17
All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats (subscription required), ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro day info is courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac and Rotoworld.
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