 What's up everybody and welcome to another edition of the Falcons final whistle podcast I am Scott Bayer joined as always by Tori McElaney and Chris rim We are coming to you live from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York There is snow on the ground for a long time There was a big sign that said playoff bound because the Buffalo Bills clenched a playoff birth at the exact moment That the Atlanta Falcons were mathematically eliminated as clocks struck zero following a 29 to 15 Victory by the Bills. We are going to break this thing down in so many different ways as we always do on the final whistle Fodcat on the final whistle podcast if I can say that right tongue twister tongue twister It is so many F's and really we're gonna follow the same format that you guys always know and we're gonna address Four different topics over the course of five minutes each and we are gonna break down obviously that pit that pivotal fourth quarter Sequence of events involving Matt Ryan not getting into the end zone and then getting called for a taunting We are gonna talk about Kyle Pitts's day and his absence. We are gonna talk about the defensive takeaways that are really kind of skyrocketing right now and we're going to look forward to the season finale Against the New Orleans Saints before we start all that Tori McElaney biggest takeaway for you After the Falcons drop one to Buffalo outside of me not hating Buffalo question mark Actually, I okay. So the last time you heard me. I was incredibly distraught about coming to Buffalo, New York on January 1st However, now that we've been here for almost 48 hours. I don't hate it. We've had a really good trip We ate some bomb wings. We did at this place called Gabriel's gate. Chris would have loved Chris would have loved them and also got to see my first like snow game, which was really fun because Honestly, like I feel like that's a staple of coming to Buffalo, New York for a Buffalo Bills game So I was actually pretty pleased with the ambiance of all of this now the game itself, which is a Just pivotal downturn from where I was feeling coming into this game There were so many things that I kind of took away from this game. It's super difficult for me to pick just one I think it was just most and I know Chris wrote about this post game But to me the biggest takeaway was the fact that This offense didn't have its weapons and we really saw how important some of those weapons are IE cowl pits IE Hayden Hurst I would even go as far as to say this game could have potentially been different if Calvin Ridley's out there You take some of the pressure off of Cordero Patterson So that to me was I think my biggest takeaway for this game. Yeah, and what about for you Chris? Yeah, I would just say Missed opportunities. Well, miss missed opportunity Maybe the one that I'm thinking about that we'll talk about later But I thought that what Torrey said would also be a takeaway for me, but just to not do the same thing I think in addition to that, you know, you you don't have you lose so many weapons But you still have an opportunity to be in the game or a chance to potentially win the game So you can't miss out on opportunities when you have so many things pinned against you So that'll be my biggest takeaway just missed opportunity. Yeah, and it was It was a very entertaining game Obviously if you're not invested in the outcome and a Falcons fan You obviously don't like what the final score was but that first half was packed Oh, yeah There was plenty of drama in the fourth quarter as well a lot of things happened We are gonna break all of that down but before we do we have to give a big Thank you to our sponsor Microsoft Windows 11 the official operating system of the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons The all-new Windows 11 is here to bring you closer to what you love like this Falcons final whistle pod Learn all about the awesome new features of Windows 11 at windows.com And we're starting quarter number one talking about a sequence of events That's as strange as it gets and actually prompted Torrey and I to really examine the NFL rulebook And we're talking about what happened in the fourth quarter the the Falcons were down two scores. They were Mere inches really from cutting it to one score Matt Ryan Is is deemed to have given himself up just before the goal line and therefore Is left out of the end zone after being after the play being called on the field as a touchdown Then he talks some trash or says some things that the referee doesn't like gets a taunting flag Then it goes under review the touchdown or the touchdown is removed, but the penalty remains, right? so then they go from The one inch line to the 15-yard line because of that personal foul the Falcons try to get in twice on third and goal From the 15 can't do it can't do it on fourth and goal from the 15 And then the game was kind of over at that point Torrey you wrote about this extensively on the website Including what Matt Ryan had to say about the entire sequence of events the entire endeavor Yeah, and I'm gonna try my very very best to Talk this through in a way that's not as convoluted as what it actually is because it's a very convoluted honestly, like argument and then also Understanding the rule and I would definitely suggest to you that you go not to plug this But it's gonna be it'll be better if you read the story that I wrote post game Because I think it'll be better than me talking it through but what I'll essentially say is that in all honesty The officiating crew actually called this the right way. Yeah, like they got it, right? Yeah, they got it right per the rules And I think that's where you kind of get into the convolutedness and honestly the vagueness of the NFL rule itself because You know first off will call Call, you know the call short he his knee is obviously down. However There was a lot of argument like oh, well, he's a runner like you have to be down by contact Not not necessarily for the rule further a quarterback. It's any part of his body down Then he's down. That was a rule that was updated in 2018 2018 yes, and so that in and of itself and then there was a no-call on a potential light hit that I Think just from my vantage point. I think that was what Matt Ryan was kind of mad about Was that there was that light hit in the end zone and he gets up and says something, you know Talking trash as somebody does and that's when he gets the taunting penalty and what's real like what you were saying What's really kind of the vagueness of the rule is that even though? Chances are Matt Ryan doesn't get called for taunting if he's down on the one yard lawn and then Like it's like the timing of it doesn't matter when it would have mattered in the live game scenario again This is a really really convoluted tough topic That's why I suggest you go read it because I do a better job of explaining it there But it's at the end of the day the rules are the rules and Matt Ryan was he was like it's very disappointing He was like I was very surprised that what I said Was called taunting this first taunting call ever yes first taunting call ever and he was like it honestly surprised me And I get that too because I don't know what you can say that hasn't already been said in like the heat of the moment on a football field Trust me. We've been around football players and coaches enough like we know what said like I don't know what Matt Ryan could have said in that end zone that Was big enough for him to be called for a taunting and that's exactly kind of what Matt was saying post game But at the end of the day he said it doesn't really matter what what's called was called. It's the rule. Yeah, Chris What was your takeaway? Just just just kind of watching this whole sequence unfold what it meant and what happened? Yeah, I think I think Well, I think Like Tori said the rule is the rule. He was down, but I did think the late hit I thought the late hit was what a lot of people pointed to if he was he was giving He was giving himself up and then he was hit after he gave himself up Then there should have been a different kind of flag there, but I thought that the taunting flag was was fair I think that that's how it's been called all year Over him a little bit Like toss the ball towards him a little bit. Yeah, I don't know what he it doesn't really matter what he said I'm sure I'm sure he didn't say anything You know, I don't only makes me like we know him, but we know We've talked to him enough to know that he probably did well actually we don't I Want us I would like to assume that he didn't say anything, you know super offensive I imagine he was just excited and he might have screamed or something like that But in general how they've called it this year is that you you can't Talk directly in front of someone or you can't, you know, whether it be you're yelling like we saw Chicago Bears player was you know half the field from the Steelers sideline He just looked in their direction and I and I think said something and he was penalized for So if that's a penalty then then what Matt did today has to be a penalty So I think I think the call was fair It was just just a tough time for it to happen and like you said the rule is so complicated And and just the situation was odd. Yeah, it was and going back to kind of that late hit call Like that's not something that you can review if it's not called on the field You can't go back and be like, oh, well, it was late hit like that's not something that's reviewable So that I think that also adds to it that it's like well dang like the whole sequence is just kind of so The timing of it at all. It's also weird Yeah, especially because there's no way that he taunts anyone if if they don't throw their hands up that it's a touchdown He's not taunting someone by a for landing at the one yard line So it's a sequence of events that Somebody decided to chop up the timeline edit it in like in essence and apply certain things and the gate other things I know there were over time here. I just think it's Chris. Do you have some? No, no, I'm saying yeah, I agree what you're saying my bet Yeah, no, and I just think that we don't know if the Falcons would have come back and won that game It didn't win or lose them that game Well, I guess it did sort of lose it be yeah because they were down two scores with not enough time to come all the way back But it was a very odd sequence Arthur Smith clearly not wanting to get fined really stayed away from it as much as possible I to be honest with you. I really would have liked to have heard his take I would do maybe we'll hear more about it on in his Monday presser But I it was a very strange sequence not something that you see every day again Go go back read Tori story about it a fascinating pivotal moment in this game That played out right in front of us and left a lot of fans and media members really scratch in their heads We're on to quarter number two and talking about the number four overall draft pick the record breaker the record setter Kyle Pitts who eclipsed a thousand yards It's four digits and Kyle even said last week He never really thought he thought that number was so big that that he would never get there He also set the Falcons franchise record for receiving yards by a rookie beating out Certain guy will probably wear a gold jacket one day named Julio Jones. So that's another big thing He had an amazing 61 yard catch and run down the sideline Pulled up with a hamstring issue later didn't play much at all was in the second half I think just the first series and then he wasn't able to continue. This is one of those things where in that great play Kyle Pitts shows what he can do and his value to the team and then once he's not able to continue anymore You really see yeah his value to the team, especially when Hayden Hurst is unavailable I'm very curious to see Lee Smith snap count. Yeah me too. We didn't see Lee Smith at all hard or hardly at all I don't really remember there was a lot of I'm very curious about that too. Yeah, we didn't see him a lot It was so it was it was the Parker Hess show Actually kind of the the last man standing a practice squad guy who was called up yesterday. Wow Yesterday, there's a lot going on there. Yeah for him, but nonetheless Chris, you know losing pits How much of an impact did that have? Yeah, well, I think Well, I think it has it has a big impact when you already look at the what they were coming into the game with without Hayden Calvin goes without saying but but and last week the game that he had it seems like I know I say this I think whenever someone has a good game, but it seemed like Matt was really going to him a lot last week And then the first play of this game they went to him and it was a design play to go to him so it seemed like They were going to go to Kyle today and then when he wasn't there you have to adjust and post game Matt kind of Made it seem like it wasn't a big thing Which which maybe it wasn't but I think you know, it still has some some effect on you when you're you're swapping out Kyle pits and it's not it's not Hayden, but it's it's Parker has who just got called up He didn't have an entire week to adjust to you know Maybe put in certain packages that he's comfortable with Which are making this big adjustment and then you're asking more from other guys like gauge and a lot of a and and they did step up But I think his absence played a big role and we saw that you know, even on that third and 16 That that's one of that's one of the reasons why he was drafted for to be that red zone guy Who can go up and get the ball like a basketball player in the in like a rebound in the end zone and He wasn't able to do that there So I think his presence was definitely missed his absence was a felt I absolutely agree and I also agree with kind of what you're saying about how Potentially I think and this is my opinion, but I think Arthur Smith and Matt Ryan incredibly downplayed When they were asked about Kyle pits absence and I say that because I asked I asked both Arthur and Matt Like how not having not just not having Kyle but not having Kyle not having Hayden not having Lee for some Reason or another how that impacted things because they run so many multiple tight end sets That's been a marker of this offense for this entire year. So to not have Multiple tight ends to go to I I mean I was just kind of curious like, you know How does that affect play calling what you kind of hung your hat on to a certain degree of having these guys even if they're not Making huge impacts in the receiving game They do have an impact on the field every single time that you throw out to sometimes even three tight ends out there So I was just very curious and and I know that you know when I asked him at that question He was just kind of like well like you can't really account for What Kyle pits brings to this offense you can't really replicate it because he's so special and different But he was like, you know our wide receivers stepped up and we've been able to move the ball down the field with our receivers And and we were running the ball pretty well and all of that was true I thought the Falcons ran the ball pretty well today But I also think that it wasn't one of those things that you could really I Just felt like there was a downplay of not having Kyle pits out there Yeah, I think what it comes down to is they don't want to seem like they're making excuses are saying Oh, we're heard or we're dealing with COVID situations or whatever the a case may be and therefore that's why we lost I think that's admirable, but I think that there's room within the answers To say yeah, that impacts the play calling that is a scientific fact that if you look at it And I'm not trying to Throw shade at the names that I'm about to say but on 4th and 15 Matt Ryan's throwing to Christian Blake. Yeah on a shot down the field down the sideline to try to get back into it He's throwing to Frank Darby. Yeah, that's different than Ridley Hurst pits Gauge the full compliment that you would want to have going into a gotta win it game And they didn't have it now. Is that a reason why they lost or not? No, like we're not gonna go down that road make excuses for them either But it's a factor it is it just is and when you're trying to keep up with a bill's offense That's run in the ball so well is scoring 29 points getting to getting to 29 points without that many skilled players It is very difficult, especially against a defensive unit that can scheme against Patterson Without pits in there pits value is immense. This kid is I mean you all have seen it He's he's incredible and they definitely need him on the field His hamstring injury will be something to watch as we move forward throughout the final week of this regular season We're starting quarter number three talking about the Falcons defense Which is really starting to take the ball away on a regular in a very odd Drive chart for the Buffalo Bills. They didn't punt a single time. They either scored a touchdown Or Josh Allen threw an interception is wild. That's a wild stat No, of course, I'm gonna say this other stat and then I'll get fact-checked down But I think Josh Allen threw three interceptions and like four or five passes. It was very quick. It was bang bang yeah, and Drone Harman got one in the end zone that led to a touchdown and then I'm blanking here AJ trail got one that led to a field goal And then foyer got one to start the second half that led to a three and out that I think in the grand scheme of things We'll get forgotten because it was in Bills territory the the Falcons came away with nothing there Yeah, and I think that that was a big swing They were taking advantage of these takeaways the defense has been doing good things getting the ball back for their offense And for the offense to not turn that one around in the game like this I think was costly, but Yeah, defense has been better Create and turnovers. It's been big and it's been impactful. No, you're absolutely right that it has and something that I was very interested in is they Were so impactful in these turnovers that it really made Buffalo reevaluate what they were doing offensively It did that was something that I thought was really really interesting is that you saw in that first half You saw Josh Allen slinging the ball left and right and then the Falcons come up with these three picks And they're tipping balls and they're kind of getting in Josh Allen's throwing lanes and kind of just essentially creating reeking havoc in a way that I thought was really impressive for this defense to do but then you get into the second half and Like a good team does Buffalo adjusted and they go to the run and they're just running the ball I think they ended the I'm looking at this. They ended the game with 233 rushing yards. Wow That is how many attempts how many attempts 44 and an average of 5.3 That's the difference is like the Falcons past defense. I thought it was as good as maybe we've seen them all year I think despite being down several guys. Yeah, despite Jalen Hawkins not being out there Fabian Moreau not being out there I mean, they were really piecing it together and the fact that they were able to do what they did in the first half and In cause Buffalo to re-evaluate what they're doing and go go away from the past in order to be effective Just offensively. I thought was really good, but it's like when they make that turn there needed to be an adjustment Defensively as well to account for how much they were running the ball, right? This defense I do think though Chris. I'm curious if you agree with me I think that they've really made some significant strides down the stretch Defense is really in impacting games a lot more than they were earlier in the year Yeah, yeah for sure. I think you saw that today in terms. They make they I think they confused Josh Allen today Yeah, I saw that with in the red zone. He the one play he threw He was running to his right and he just threw into like a sea of Falcons defenders But I thought I thought they adjusted today early on too because early on digs Was getting open often and it was it seemed pretty easy and it and and then they adjusted and then he wasn't But then in the second half the bulk of those yards from the bills came from Josh Allen Yeah, so I really know how well not the bulk of them the bulk of them came from single Terry at 110 But Josh Allen had 82 yards and your quarterback is getting 82 yards When you QB throws for 120 yards and three interceptions I think it's QBR was like a 15 or 17 like on paper. That's a good day But if the guy has two touchdowns on the ground, I believe yeah 80 on the ground That's difficult and I feel like it was It's so because the way it looked it looked like the field It looked like no one could grip the ground on the field the field was icy and then you just have this huge 6-5 Dude running at you in the cold and he's just Chunking away yards chucking away ours and killing killing you're killing you on the inside Like I thought it's a third down and he's coming down He's chunks of yards and running you over when you've done everything in coverage to make sure that doesn't happen So I thought that was really the difference on defense today and figuring out a way It kind of reminded me of what same Donald did when they played the Panthers except they're running people over part Just a scrambling. Yeah, and I'm glad you brought up third down too because that was also I feel like with this with this defense they're having a hard time getting off the field on third down They were even on third and long even on third and long There were seven for 12, which I realized it's 58 percent. They're just over half But there was a point in time where it was like there were five for six on third down it would in it that to me was Really tough in it and a lot of it I do attribute to Josh Allen Running the ball that the way he did he was getting big chunks when he took off. Yeah, and I think One thing that the Falcons are gonna have to improve on moving forward is dealing with mobile quarterbacks Now sometimes they scramble and cause problems Sometimes there are design runs and they cause problems but going back to Jalen Hertz in week one that was identified early on as a Problematic issue they got better in in some games and in some instances, but clearly not good enough Over the course of this season got to wrap that up mobile quarterbacks are not going away They are coming in more and more often you got to shore that up And we're going to quarter number four Trying to play this thing forward and take a look at what this game means in the context of the season and What the Falcons have to do to kind of rebound from it or continue on from it Well, there's only one game left season finale next week against the rival New Orleans Saints They're coming off of a victory against the Panthers Now it's about the response right that now that they've been Mathematically eliminated from playoff contention and you can say what you want you can fire Jim more gifts at us all day about their worthiness for being in the playoffs an Undisputed fact is that this team was motivated by the postseason Yeah, they just were yeah, they were playing meaningful games in December and now January Yeah, and you can't it doesn't matter how they got there. They were in the conversation There's no denying that yeah And and I think that that is an important thing now how they rebound with less to play for That will be something of interest against the Saints fans will care a ton about that game Especially with the Saints having a possibility of making the postseason on the Falcons home field The rivalry is always felt more in the stands than on the field But nonetheless that's something that the Falcons are going that they will want to do and the Falcons fans will will really care about Yeah, I actually think that this upcoming game is gonna be pretty intense Yeah, just because you think if you're the Falcons coming into it's like what do we have to lose? Like let's just throw the kitchen sink at them and you know try and ruin something for them If that's your it's your rival and I know that that's how fans probably feel about it too And honestly, there are a lot of guys on contract years, you know who have to prove You know have one one final chance to prove that they deserve a good chunk of a paycheck in 2022, you know like that's also I feel like you know, even though the playoff motivation isn't there There are some guys who are playing for their jobs Sure And I absolutely think that that Along with it being the Saints at home with the Saints having something to play for a postseason to potentially play for I think all of that kind of meshes together to create this environment that could potentially be pretty intense I hope it's I hope it's intense. That's what good rivalries are. Yeah, and I I ultimately think that it will now now Let's let's let's let's ready Let's expand it beyond Sunday, right that again carry over between January and July or August. Oh gosh, yeah, right like that seems crazy to try to assume that but I would say That for as much as we've lauded the Falcons for their performance in one-score games They're seven and two they were two and eight a year ago That's been key to them being in contention late, right? Their inability to get over the hump I think has a lot to do with their performance against top teams Yep, they have every team that they've played this season the Bucks twice 49ers Cowboys Patriots and these bills and the Eagles Who currently occupy a playoff seed? They lost two by double digits yep all of them every single one Ofer over the course of the season. They have no wins against teams with with winning records right now And that has to get better now the way That's a here. That's kind of like a two-way thing, right that the Falcons need to do better against top top competition they've also checked the box of taking care of teams below them so if they can increase their talent level and I think with the good coaching that they have that they can compete with with better teams if they get more talent It's gonna be a major offseason. I think for the Falcons to achieve that aim And that's an area where they're gonna have to get better. Yeah Chris I mean When you try to look at what they've done this season and what they need to do Maybe you know to reach the playoffs next year or just to take that next step in the evolution Are there any kind of keys that you've seen from this game or from this team in general about how they can take those next steps? Yeah, well, I think I know you said that I know you said that You know January how is January going to help you for August and next year and things like that But I do think there's value in the way players respond on Sunday the way not only players But the way coaches respond and also That builds trust between a player and a coach or a coach and a player You know depending on how Arthur Smith approach this approaches this week or DMPs or whoever you name it The players will recognize that the players who will be here recognize that you know How serious is the coach taking this or they taking stuff off and then vice versa How serious are these players taking this are they you know and that'll lead into next year But also I think what what better party to ruin than the Saints party on Sunday You know that if I think even without the playoffs and like we say we knew that the that the That they were playing for the playoffs and that this team really believed that they were going to get in and you could tell that by How defeated they sounded after losses like I just have that image of Doron Harmon at the podium in Sanford Like he was like he was defeated like he like so this team really believed that they had a chance at the playoffs But the great now they have a chance to ruin somebody else's fun And and it's the Saints and I think that matters a divisional matchup a rival It's something to play for and I do think wow, it's not momentum you can build off But the way that the players and the coaches approach I think this week and this game can have a lasting impact while it might be Over five months however much my math's not right. I'm not good with Matthew there. It's fine I think it can have some impact all be it so so long from January. Yes I think it's gonna be as as Torrey said, it's gonna be intense. I hope so I think that that is a good term for it. I know Falcons fans are going to want the home team To to a beat their rival and we are gonna break that game down in the season finale It's gonna be the last of the fight of the Falcon's schedule and of the Falcons finals podcast Coming up next week, but before we get there you should Say we got to something special for that. I don't know what we have to do Maybe we're good. We should play a game Yeah game we could get fans involved. Who knows yeah, we'll figure something out So we'll figure something special up for you guys and definitely let you know Before we get to that pod do what we Always like you to do which is give us a five-star rating and a review Be sure to do the same thing for Falcons audible with Dave Archer DJ Rackley and DJ Shockley subscribe and of course Stay tuned next Sunday for another drop of the Falcons final whistle and we will talk to you then talk to you next week