BALTIMORE (AP) 鈥 In a season filled with narrow losses, the Atlanta Falcons saw their slim playoff hopes end by virtue of a chilling defeat that featured a familiar slow start and ended with coach Arthur Smith again talking about the team's need to show progress.
In between the opening kickoff and final whistle of their 17-9 setback against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, the Falcons were plagued by untimely penalties, a costly turnover and poor execution in the red zone.
The loss eliminated Atlanta (5-10) from playoff contention, a fate that seemed inevitable after the team nosedived following a 3-3 start. Sure, the Falcons have dropped eight games by eight points or fewer, but that hasn't made their current four-game skid any easier to take.
鈥淯ltimately, it鈥檚 about winning,鈥 Smith said. 鈥淵ou can look at the progress that鈥檚 being made. But we鈥檝e got to find ways to play with a lead. We鈥檝e got to find a way to get over that hump.鈥
With rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder making his second NFL start, the Falcons went three-and-out on each of their first two possessions and had only 12 yards in offence during a first quarter played in frosty 17-degree weather. Baltimore built a 14-3 lead at halftime and cruised to the finish while keeping Atlanta out of the end zone.
The refs didn't help. In the final minute of the first half, an intentional grounding call against Ridder while he was seemingly being hit turned a first-and-goal at the one into a hasty field goal as time expired.
Smith furiously objected to the call from the sideline, but afterward opted to keep his comments 鈥 and potential fine money for criticizing the officials 鈥 to himself.
鈥淚'd rather give that money to people in Atlanta,鈥 Smith said. 鈥淚f they鈥檙e going to fine me a lot of money, I鈥檇 rather give it to people who need it.鈥
Atlanta was also burned by a holding call on a third-quarter touchdown run that would have cut the deficit to 14-9, pending the conversion. And there was a fumble by star receiver Drake London in the second quarter, which turned out to be the only turnover of the game.
Overall, the Falcons converted only five of 14 third-down tried, went 0-for-4 on fourth down and failed to score a touchdown during four trips to the red zone.
鈥淪ituation football,鈥 Ridder said. 鈥淎t the end of the day, we go back and look at red zone, third down and turnovers, making sure we win all those things. Obviously, situational football wasn鈥檛 our best today. That鈥檚 something we鈥檒l look at and try to get better at.鈥
Afterward, Smith talked about looking to show improvement in the final two weeks at home against Arizona and Tampa Bay.
鈥淲e're looking to win and progress. Then, I鈥檒l stop coming up here and sounding like a broken record,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e need to win at home, win for our fans and finish this thing out right.鈥
Ridder, who went 22 for 33 for 218 yards, knows exactly how his coach feels.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been on a bumpy road up and down this entire year,鈥 the rookie said. 鈥淲e wanted to get over that hump today. Obviously we didn鈥檛. Now it鈥檚 about going to get the next one.鈥
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