Atlanta Falcons: Winners and Losers at the Season's Quarter Mark

The Atlanta Falcons are 2-2 after the first quarter of the 2011 season, and things could be a lot worse. 

The team that was predicted by many to contend for a Super Bowl appearance has struggled in several aspects over the first four weeks. 

They could easily be 0-4 right now. If Michael Vick had stayed in the game on Monday night he very well could have led the Eagles to victory. And if Steven Hauschka had a better leg or had been just a bit closer, he could have tacked on three points and given the Seahawks a win.

Now don't think that I am giving up on this team. Despite some close wins, they are 2-2. It's easy to sit here and say they could have done this, or they could have lost here. They made it out of the first quarter with an .500 record, thankfully.

For all the negatives that can be pointed out so far, the Falcons have had quite a few bright spots in the beginning of this season. Matt Ryan continues to prove that he is a capable leader of the offense, and Julio Jones is starting to shine, like many fans hoped for.

Here are your winners and losers from the first quarter.

Winner: Matt Ryan

It pleases me to say that Matt Ryan has continued to step up in 2011. He constructed a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter against the Eagles, and continued to lead the way in the Falcons' victory against Seattle.

Despite all the scrambling and desperation he has been through in four games, Ryan has still done a solid job. He is on pace to throw for a career high in passing yards. Imagine what he could accomplish with a bit more blocking.

Loser: Offensive Line

I've badmouthed the Falcon's offensive line before—along with the majority of the city of Atlanta—so this shouldn't be much of a surprise.

They have allowed Matt Ryan to be sacked 13 times in the first four games, sixth worst in the league. This past Sunday helped that ranking, as the Seahawks failed to sack him at all. Most of that was due to designed roll outs and Ryan scrambling everywhere, but it was a slight improvement. 

The line has not done any favors for the other facets of the offense either. Michael Turner has not had much room to run so far. Even on screen plays there are problems. Julio Jones caught a quick pass against the Seahawks only to be tackled immediately as Sam Baker missed his assignment.

Let's hope things continue to improve after the win against Seattle. The Falcons will need this line to step up if they want to make the playoffs.

Winner: Julio Jones

Atlanta gave up a lot to acquire Julio Jones. A lot. Fans expected a lot out of him for this reason.

Well, it looks like he might be paying off. Jones has now put up back-to-back 100-yard receiving games, and caught a career-high 11 catches for 127 yards against Seattle. 

The Seahawks put single coverage on Jones often, and he made them pay. This is a huge step for the future of their pass game. Roddy White continues to see plenty of double teams, but with Jones on the opposite side he is getting great looks. 

Teams can't double both of these guys. We may not agree with the trade they made for him, but I am glad we have Julio right now.

Loser: Pass Rush

Ray Edwards was supposed to bring some needed help to the Falcons' pass rush this season. So far, he's yet to be spotted doing the job he's here for.

The Falcons only have five sacks this year on defense, putting them tied for 28th worst in the NFL. They failed to record a single sack against a Seattle O-line that allowed 14 in the first three games. 

You're not going to win a lot of games with the opposing quarterback sitting back comfortably in the pocket. Tarvaris Jackson was picking their zone defense apart this past Sunday, as he had plenty of time to find an open man.

Receivers are going to get open eventually. The Falcons need to change things up. Send more pressure. I promise you Aaron Rodgers is going to destroy the secondary if he isn't pressured this week.

Winner: Matt Bryant

Matt Bryant is money. He is 7-7 on field goals so far. The Falcons can always count on him to put three points on the board. There's not much else to say about this guy, he's the most dependable player they have right now.

Winner/Loser: Michael Turner

Michael Turner gets placed in the winner and loser category. He has 68 carries for 304 yards and three touchdowns in four games, but he hasn't been able to find room at times. 

Despite their blocking woes, Turner has still managed to bust some runs open for big gains. He gets the winner label because he does have two 100-yard games. Yes, several huge runs have made up most of his yardage, but who says he won't continue this trend?

Turner gets the loser label as well because sometimes the run just hasn't worked for this team. They gave him 26 touches against the Seahawks and he only managed 70 yards.

The Burner can still be clutch around the goal line, but they need to improve on running the ball consistently.