The Atlanta Falcons haven’t had much success since their stint in Super Bowl LI.
They did make the playoffs again the following year but lost in the Divisional Round to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Since then, their postseason drought has stretched for four seasons, and they haven’t had a winning record in each of those campaigns.
The worst came in 2020 when they won only four games.
The Falcons hope to compete this year and return to the playoffs.
But this troubling statistic makes it difficult to see that outcome happening.
Fewest sacks in the NFL last season
Falcons 18
Eagles 29
Lions 30 pic.twitter.com/uBUNuspTlA— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 1, 2022
NFL on CBS revealed that the Falcons generated only a league-worst 18 sacks last season.
That’s an average of just a little over one per regular season game.
It’s not even close because the Philadelphia Eagles are second-worst with 29 while the Detroit Lions had 30.
Without the pass rush, their opponents can easily find a way to defeat them.
Opposing quarterbacks will have enough time to execute plays, often leading to gains.
They are not even threatened that the heat is coming because there’s no need to fear at all.
Falcons Failed To Address This Concern
Dante Fowler Jr. led the team in sacks last year with 4.5.
That’s a low number for someone who leads a team in sacks.
Worst yet, Fowler is now with the Dallas Cowboys.
They could have answered the troubling trend through the 2022 NFL Draft, but their picks suggest otherwise.
Five of their eight picks were on offense, including wide receiver Drake London, quarterback Desmond Ridder, and running back Tyler Allgeier.
All of the defense players they drafted were linebackers: Troy Andersen, Arnold Ebiketie, and DeAngelo Malone.
Those players might not be enough to add more sacks to their total.
