Not much about the Atlanta Falcons’ 20-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday went as expected.
Atlanta entered the rivalry game undefeated against NFC South opponents, and had won five of six overall. The Saints had lost seven in a row and were playing their first game following the firing of head coach Dennis Allen.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was the way Atlanta lost.
Despite outgaining the Saints 468-365, the Falcons scored on just three of their 11 drives, and usually reliable kicker Younghoe Koo missed three field goals.
Koo, whose 58-yard field goal with seconds to spare beat the Saints on Sep. 29, missed from 53 and 35 yards out in the second quarter, before hitting the upright on what would have been a game-tying 46 yarder with 6:43 left in the fourth.
Although kickers are known to have short leashes in the NFL, Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris’ belief in Koo remains strong.
“When you talk about Younghoe Koo, you’re talking about the guy who hit a 52-yard field goal to send a game to overtime against Tampa, you’re talking about a guy who won the game last time we played New Orleans with a walk-off,” Morris said in Monday’s press conference. “You’re talking about a guy that’s been clutch for us over the last couple of years in big moments.
“There’s going to be times that you don’t have the success that you want to have. We still have a lot of football to play, so those percentages will go back up, I believe, because of who he is, what he is and what he’s all about.”
Atlanta (6-4) still has a two-game lead on the Buccaneers for control of the NFC South. The Falcons now prepare for another playoff hopeful as they travel to Denver for the first time since 2016 to take on the 5-5 Broncos.
Denver had the 8-0 Kansas City Chiefs on the ropes Sunday, but Wil Lutz had his 35-yard field goal blocked as time expired, and the Broncos fell 16-14.
The 20-point mark has been the key for Atlanta’s offense, as the Falcons are 6-0 when reaching that total and 0-4 when they don’t. Morris is confident that the unit can replicate its success this week, despite Denver’s stingy defense.
“I’ve got so much respect for (Denver defensive coordinator) Vance Joseph and what they’ve been able to do on defense. It’s been really fun to watch,” Morris said. “But I’ve got so many expectations for our offense, and our ability to execute at a high level. From Darnell Mooney to Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, to Kyle Pitts, Drake London, we’ve all seen them do things at the highest level. … Along with our coaches and being able to orchestrate a game plan to go out there and attack any weaknesses they have in Denver. I’ve got a lot of confidence going out there.”
On the injury front, Morris said cornerback Mike Hughes (neck) has been cleared after leaving Sunday’s game with the injury and undergoing an MRI Monday. The Falcons are more worried about defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham, who suffered a pectoral muscle injury and did not return.
Meanwhile, linebacker Troy Andersen (knee) made his long-awaited return from a five-game injury absence but Morris revealed that Andersen reaggravated the injury during the Saints game.
“But we’ll get the chance to re-evaluate him today and tomorrow,” Morris said, “do some of the things of that nature.”
