ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons lost to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium for their Week 8 game.
Final score: 34-10
Why it's important: The Falcons not only should have won this game but needed to. On paper, they were statistically the better team in multiple categories and held a stronger overall record. The Dolphins' sole win entering Sunday came against the one completely defeated team in the NFL, the New York Jets. Meanwhile, the Falcons are now 3-4 and drop below .500 for the second time this season. They remain third in the NFC South regardless of how the rest of the division plays Sunday.
Key takeaway: The Falcons' inability to consistently score touchdowns arose for the third time this season. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said earlier in Week 8 that the Falcons have had "two just clunker games." Sunday was a third.
Key moment: The Falcons reached the red zone for the first time with their second offensive drive in the third quarter thanks to a 39-yard defensive pass interference call and a 17-yard run by running back Bijan Robinson. The latter was the offense's longest play from scrimmage to that point. On the very next play, Robinson fumbled the ball at the 10-yard line. The Dolphins recovered, ruining the Falcons' first opportunity to score a touchdown.
- More: That was Robinson's first fumble since Week 15 of his 2023 rookie season when the Falcons lost to the Carolina Panthers. Robinson's 556 straight scrimmage touches without a lost fumble ties for second longest by a Falcons player since 1991.
Standout performance: Or lack thereof. The Falcons had many key players sidelined due to injuries who could have made a difference in the game. There were six starters inactive: inside linebacker Divine Deablo (injured reserve), quarterback Michael Penix Jr., wide receiver Drake London, edge rusher Jalon Walker, cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. and defensive lineman Zach Harrison. Falcons coaches and players alike will surely say this is no excuse, but it definitely was a factor in Sunday's loss.
Number to know: 1. The number of rushing yards the Falcons totaled in the first quarter.
Player milestones:
- Inside linebacker Kaden Elliss has now broken up a pass in back-to-back games, making this the first time in his career he has done so. He got a hand on Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's pass attempt to running back De'Von Achane in the second quarter on a third-and-7 play, forcing Miami to go for a field goal rather than a touchdown.
- Elliss also reached his 14th career game with at least 10 tackles as a Falcons player. That's the most by a Falcons player since 2023 and eighth most in by any NFL player over that span.
- Tight end Kyle Pitts Sr.'s nine receptions tied for his most in a game since 2021, when he had nine against the New York Jets in a Week 5 win. He is the third Falcons tight end ever to record nine or more receptions in multiple game.
- Running back Tyler Allgeier scored on a 6-yard run in the fourth quarter, giving him four rushing touchdowns this season. That ties for his single-season high from 2023.
Injury updates:
- Safety Jessie Bates III left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.
A quick tweet: Tori McElhaney and Terrin Waack share their gut reactions to Sunday's outcome in 280 characters or less.
- McElhaney: I don't know what was worse, the loss to Carolina or this one.
- Waack: I honestly don't know what to say or think anymore.
Setting the storylines:
- The biggest question heading into Sunday's game was whether Michael Penix Jr. or Kirk Cousins was going to be the Falcons' starting quarterback. It was answered when Penix was ruled inactive 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Cousins made his 15th start in Atlanta and 160th in his career.
- Inside linebacker Divine Deablo was placed on injured reserve Saturday due to a fractured forearm. JD Bertrand started in his spot alongside Kaden Elliss.
- The Falcons entered Sunday's game leading the NFL in pass defense.
- Atlanta has struggled to put points on the scoreboard, ranking 28th in points per game and tying for 29th in red-zone success prior to Week 8 action.
- All 14 of the NFL experts pulled each week predicted the Falcons would beat the Dolphins.
- Catch up on all the news that came out in the lead-up to Sunday's game in one spot here.
Looking forward: The Falcons have back-to-back road games on tap, first playing the New England Patriots next Sunday at Gillette Stadium and then the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 9 in Germany.
