Arthur Smith, the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, appears to have the ideal opportunity in their Week 13 matchup with the New York Jets. The Jets are a great opponent for the Falcons as they currently stand. That is, if the Falcons club that plays on Sunday shows up.
This Jets offense is dreadfully, painfully restricted, regardless of who is at quarterback—Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian, Tim Boyle, or Aaron Rodgers. During its current four-game losing streak, New York has scored two touchdowns offensively. Rodgers (at least not this week) is not going through that door. Therefore, the game plan should be to play a conservative manner across the board and defy the Jets to overcome their fundamental problems.
Let’s introduce Smith and his favored playing style. Even after investing a significant amount of draft capital in TE Kyle Pitts and WR Drake London, Smith has demonstrated a tendency to lead the offensive line in rushes. That gut feeling turns out to be right in Week 13.
It is crucial for Atlanta to avoid mistakes this week as they could result in points for New York. Let the Jets offense stumble as it will, establish a strong run game, and take advantage of opportunities for scoring. Although it’s not a particularly attractive strategy, it works against this opponent.
So, is Atlanta able to make it work? Or will the Jets play with enough offensive skill to make this a competitive game? Here are some Falcons Week 13 predictions to help you explore.
Desmond Ridder had a slow day
Though fearsome, the Jets’ defense is also dangerously overworked. Even though the Jets were easily defeated 34–13 by the Miami Dolphins on Black Friday, they intercepted quarterback Tua Tagovailoa twice and returned one for a touchdown. Throughout the game, Sauce Gardner and the rest of the team were just expected to do too much.
Arthur Smith won’t provide quarterback Desmond Ridder with the same amount of opportunity to make mistakes.
This season, Ridder has started nine games. He tried more than thirty passes in five of them. He averaged 19 passes a game in the other four, including one against the Tennessee Titans in which he was potentially benched.
Expect the Falcons offense to use a ground-and-pound approach with a trio of running backs in Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, and Cordarrelle Patterson. For sixty minutes, gradually weaken Gang Green’s defenses and wait for the dam to burst.
Jets 0-line is welcomed to town by Falcons pass blitz
In 2023, the Falcons defense has found it difficult to pursue opposing quarterbacks. With 22 sacks so far, only four teams have collected fewer than Atlanta.
The offensive line of New York might be the cure-all. On the one hand, head coach Robert Saleh voiced some hope that players of the starting caliber may rejoin the team in Week 13. However, is implementing yet another new configuration up front actually guarantee success?
Only two of Atlanta’s games in 2023 have had four or more sacks, and one of those games was against the sack-monster quarterback for the Washington Commanders, Sam Howell. Let’s just say that on Sunday against the Jets quarterbacks, the defense scores four points once more.
The ground game of Atlanta gains more than 150 yards
Atlanta should prioritize keeping the ball on the ground and the clock moving, especially when Smith has the ideal opportunity to pound the rock. The Jets defense is excellent, but the offense doesn’t give it much respite or cushion. Thus, wait for Atlanta to gradually create the rush.and create…and create…
The Falcons should cross the 150-yard line on the ground by the end of the game for the second time in two games and for the fourth time this season. It was Robinson’s second consecutive week with 90+ yards rushing against the New Orleans Saints.
Robinson will be given to the Jets on a regular basis. Although Smith’s offense may have difficulties in the beginning, Tim Boyle isn’t offering C.J. Mosley and company much solace. In Week 13, the Falcons should dominate the ground game once again just by sheer volume.
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