The Falcons brought in Nick Folk to steady the kicking game, and for one night in Pittsburgh, that plan didn’t hold up.
Atlanta’s 20-13 loss to the Steelers came with the same familiar frustration that haunted the team last season: missed kicks at the wrong time. Folk, who signed a three-year, $9 million deal in free agency, was supposed to be the answer after the Falcons cycled through Younghoe Koo, Parker Romo and Zane Gonzalez without finding stability.
Instead, Folk’s first game in a Falcons uniform ended with two misses on four field-goal tries. He was off from 45 yards and 54 yards before later connecting from 51 and 43. That’s already more misses in one game than he had all of last season with the New York Jets, when he finished 28-of-29 on field goals.
The timing made it sting even more. If those early kicks go through, Atlanta has a real shot to shape the game differently, even with Cooper Rush starting. The two makes the Falcons did get would have cut the deficit to one in Pittsburgh, but the misses left them chasing instead.
And it all felt a little too familiar for this team. Last year, Koo missed a chance to tie the Bucs in Week 1, a kick that would have sent that game to overtime.
Romo also missed a tying extra point against the reigning AFC Champion New England Patriots. So when Folk came up short twice, it reopened a wound the Falcons thought they had addressed.
For now, no one is ready to write off the 41-year-old. He’s still one of the most reliable kickers in the league, and Week 1 has a way of turning everything into a bigger story than it needs to be. But this was not the debut Atlanta had in mind for the player Craig Aukerman handpicked to fix the problem.
In Other News...
Falcons QB Mess Could Create A Surprising Week 2 Red Zone Role
The Falcons quarterback situation has already forced the team into an unusual Week 2 setup, with Cooper Rush expected to start because of injuries to Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa. It is the kind of shuffle that can change how an offense operates near the goal line, especially when a coaching staff is trying to protect a patchwork depth chart and find any edge in tight spaces.
One intriguing wrinkle is the idea that backup Jack Strand could be worked into short-yardage snaps as a sneak option. ESPNs Ben Solak floated the possibility that Strands size could make him a natural fit for that kind of specialist job, which would give Atlanta a very different red zone look if the Falcons decide to get creative. It is still just a projection, not a confirmed plan, but it is the sort of detail that makes this quarterback situation worth watching beyond the obvious starter question. [Read more 🡒]
Bijan Robinson Could Own Falcons Home Opener For One Big Reason
Bijan Robinson was already a central figure in the Falcons season opener, piling up 21 carries for 83 yards and adding eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown as Atlanta leaned on him heavily to move the offense. A big share of the teams production flowed through him, and that kind of usage is exactly why he is worth watching as the Falcons turn from their road opener to their first game in Atlanta.
The matchup only adds to the intrigue. Carolinas run defense struggled badly in its opener, giving up nearly 300 rushing yards, which gives Atlanta a clear path to keep feeding Robinson if the game unfolds the way the Falcons want. If Atlanta can control the line of scrimmage early, Robinson could be set up for another featured role in front of the home crowd. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Need Nick Folk To Steady One Early Concern Fast
Nick Folks first Sunday in a Falcons uniform came with a mixed bag, and for a team that left Pittsburgh with plenty to sort through, the kicking game jumped out early. In Week 1 against the Steelers, Folk missed two field goals to open the game, an unusual start for a veteran brought in to provide stability, before settling in and drilling two long-range kicks later on. Special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman called the misses uncharacteristic and said Folk kept his confidence intact, which at least gives Atlanta reason to believe the rough opening was more blip than trend.
Still, the Falcons do not have much room to let an early concern linger, especially with another division matchup coming against the Carolina Panthers. In a season where every point matters and special teams can swing close games, Atlanta needs Folk to look like the steady presence the club expected when it trusted him with the job. The next chance arrives quickly, and the Falcons will be watching closely to see whether the first-half hiccups are put behind them just as fast. [Read more 🡒]