FLOWERY BRANCH - The Atlanta Falcons started 1-3 a year ago and still made the playoffs, but that hardly seems likely this season especially with Michael Vick out at least two more games.
The Falcons (1-3) haven't won since their opener against Dallas, and in back-to-back losses to division rivals Tampa Bay and Carolina, they've scored only one touchdown.
The lone TD? A 1-yard run by Woodrow Dantzler that capped a 2-yard drive following a turnover against the Bucs.
The futility actually goes back a bit further. Since taking a 24-7 lead on Washington in Week 2, a game which the Redskins won 33-31, Atlanta has reached the end zone twice in 35 possessions.
``I know what we do works, we're just going to stay the course and we're going to try and get better execution,'' Falcons coach Dan Reeves said Monday.
Staying the course means sticking with quarterback Doug Johnson, at least for now. In a 23-3 loss to the Panthers on Sunday, he finished 14-of-23 for 152 yards with an interception, his fourth in the past two weeks.
But Reeves kept Johnson in the lineup instead of going to little-used backup Kurt Kittner or the versatile Dantzler, who's listed as a safety but has lined up at quarterback for a handful of plays the past two games.
``I thought our best chance of trying to move and get some execution was to keep Doug in there,'' Reeves said. ``I never thought about taking Doug out.''
Reeves did shake up the backfield, starting powerful T.J. Duckett at tailback instead of Warrick Dunn. Duckett responded with a career-best 100 yards rushing on only 14 carries, while Dunn ran just four times.
After the game, Dunn seemed surprised he didn't start, but Reeves said Monday that he met with Dunn last week to discuss the changes in the gameplan.
``I talked to him ... and told him exactly what we were going to do and that's exactly what we did during the game,'' Reeves said. ``So there shouldn't be any confusion.''
Dunn still wasn't happy about the loss of playing time.
``I've been around and the guys know what to expect from me,'' Dunn said. ``These guys here expect me to play and go out and be productive, and lead by example, not just by going rah-rah on the sidelines.''
Whoever plays could use some help from the passing game. Johnson was sacked six times against Carolina, and because of the lack of protection, Reeves was hesitant to open up the offense, even when the score got a bit out of hand.
The Panthers led 17-0 at the half, with Johnson throwing only nine passes.
``We're trying to move the ball, but when you get sacked six times, you want to stay out of those situations if you can,'' Reeves said. ``Guys were pinning their ears back and they know you have to throw the football.''
The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Falcons, who play the undefeated Minnesota Vikings this week. After that is a Monday night game at St. Louis, which has won two in a row. Vick might be back for that one.
``We don't get a break, eventually, until we play the Saints,'' Atlanta cornerback Ray Buchanan said. ``I'm just hoping everybody can get together and not throw in the towel.''
Tuesday
April 1st, 2025
4:16AM
