NFL: Surprises And Disappointments In The First Half

Oct 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) congratulates Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) after making a catch in overtime as Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams (83) looks on in the game against the Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium. Dallas beat Houston 20-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

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NFL: International Series-Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons

Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Disappointment: Atlanta Falcons

Just two seasons ago, the Falcons were a play away from going to the Super Bowl. Last season, they were awful, but many gave them a pass because of injuries to key players on offense.

This season is more of the same of last season. The Falcons stand at 2-6, and things are not looking good for them.

Yes, their defense is really bad. Really, really bad. They could not catch a cold if they went out naked in a snowstorm. They rank 31st in yards allowed and 28th in points allowed. They cannot stop anyone.

What is surprising is the Atlanta offense. This is supposedly a high powered offense that should be scoring points in bunches. Looking at the numbers, however, the power has been cut.

The Falcons have no running game. They are 26th in the NFL in rushing, averaging just 95.6 yards per game. They are getting yards through the air, though, ranking 7th. In scoring, they are 14th in the league averaging 24 points per game, but that is a little bit misleading.

The Falcons have scored 192 points this season. Of that total, 56 of them came incredibly in one game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Those points represent 29 percent of their total scoring output. Take away those points, and they average 19.2 points per game, which would put them at 27th in scoring.

The Falcons are just waiting for the end of the season to come, and once it does, look for a coaching change to occur.

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