If Baker Mayfield beats Atlanta on Thursday night, the Falcons may have only themselves to blame in more than the traditional sense.
“Sean McVay and those guys got him going,” Falcons safety Jesse Bates III said this week about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback.
“Those guys” include Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zach Robinson. They were with the Rams when Mayfield joined the team in December 2022. At the time, it looked like the quarterback’s career was coming to an end. The Carolina Panthers just released him, making him the second team the former No. 1 pick has shown opening doors in his career.
When Los Angeles signed him two days before a Thursday night game against the Raiders, it felt like insurance. Mayfield started in his place and threw for 230 yards, leading the Rams to a 17-16 victory.
“It’s obviously been a whirlwind,” said Robinson, who was the Rams’ quarterbacks coach at the time. “That game was the best ever for a player to come on short notice and perform like that in a two-minute situation (on the game-winning drive). That’s certainly a game he’ll always remember. I think we as coaches will remember it because it was a really great experience.”
On Thursday night, the Falcons (2-2) will face Mayfield at quarterback for the Bucs, but he’s a different quarterback than he was then. Mayfield’s passer rating (95.2 vs. 86.5), EPA per dropback (.04 vs. .01), and touchdown-to-interception ratio (2.9 vs. 1.7) all improved from the day he joined the Rams.
“I have a lot of respect for Baker since we brought him to Los Angeles, and he’s had a chance to regain a little bit of what he lost. And we’ve had a chance to see the energy and passion with which he plays. I got it,’” Morris said. “I think Baker is going to do whatever it takes to win football games, and now he’s found a great formula to get the ball out of his hands.”
Mayfield has been playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the league this season. He ranks second in the NFL with eight passing touchdowns, only two interceptions and is fourth in passer rating (106.9) while leading the NFC South with the Buccaneers (3-1).
“He’s always been a very talented guy and a very, very gritty guy,” Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “They really chase him there. He’s a super competitor and I think that’s what makes him special.”
The secret to Mayfield’s success this season is clear. His air yards per attempt (5.5) is the lowest in the NFL, and his average pitch time (2.68 seconds) is the fourth-shortest. The balls come out fast and short.
“We’ve got to go out there and try to take away what’s been given to him and be a little tougher on him,” Morris said.
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“I haven’t scored enough points.”
The Falcons rank 10th in the league in yards per play (5.8) but only 22nd in points scored (18.75 ppg). Meanwhile, the Buccaneers rank 17th in yards per play (5.4) but 11th in points scored (24.25). That disparity keeps offensive coordinators up at night.
“Yeah, it’s tough because the biggest thing you have to do in this league is score points and we just don’t get enough points,” Robinson said.
The Falcons aren’t getting to the red zone enough or making enough plays when they get there. According to TruMedia, they rank 29th in both red zone trips (38) and red zone touchdown percentage (40 percent).
“We’re not connected in some ways as much as I think, execution-wise, we’re just going to get used to each other and continue to build new groups with continuity,” Robinson said. “We have a lot of trust. Of course, it starts with us as coaches. Just making sure everything is clear with them so they can execute.”
Peyton Turner is coming in hot 😤 #Saints | 📺:FOX pic.twitter.com/wdvMaaBLoi
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 29, 2024
Quick turnaround suits Falcons
Jarrett said the biggest challenge in the short week before Thursday night’s game was not physical but mental.
“When the game comes, we’ll all be on the same playing field,” he said. “If you have an anytime, anywhere, any situation mindset, you’ll do well. You have to cram everything into a few days, but it’s cool and it’s a good challenge. Everyone in the league is up to it. We need to go through it because we have to go through it.”
The Falcons did not practice Monday and only held a walkthrough on Tuesday to allow players to recover. Defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake said he left the house at 3:30 a.m. every morning this week.
“A lot of my staff are early risers, and some of them are late. It’s still early,” Lake said. “But it went really, really smoothly.”
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Matt Ryan’s moment in the sun
Twelve days after owner Arthur Blank joined the team’s Ring of Honor, former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will join him at halftime of Thursday night’s game. Ryan, Atlanta’s first-round pick in 2008, owns every significant passing record in team history and ranks seventh in NFL history with 62,792 passing yards.
The Falcons, who traded Ryan to the Colts after the 2021 season, feature Ryan in their in-stadium pregame hype video.
“Matt was a player I watched in high school and then played with him for years and went to the Super Bowl with him and watching him win MVP was special,” Jarrett said. “I have the utmost respect for him and am grateful to have spent time with him. He showed up every time, did what he was supposed to do, and never complained. I’m so excited for him. There’s no one more deserving of that award.”
How will the rookie fill in for Troy Andersen?
Inside linebacker Troy Andersen, who was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday, will not play Thursday night against the Bucs after injuring his knee late in the game against the Saints. That means rookie linebacker J.D. Bertrand, who has played just nine defensive snaps this season, is expected to start, according to Pro Football Reference.
“JD was playing really well in training camp and preseason games all the way back in the spring,” Lake said. “He sees (the game) really well. That’s why we drafted him. We can see and feel his football instincts. Once he gets here, those All the traits showed up in practice. He got some reps last Sunday and played really well. We as coaches expect no dropouts. I have a lot of trust in them.”
The Falcons signed veteran linebacker Rashaan Evans to the practice squad this week with the possibility of promoting him to the active roster for the game. Evans, a first-round pick of the Titans in 2018, started 17 games for the Falcons in 2022 and one game for the Cowboys last season.
(Photo: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
