5 things we learned: Falcons hang on to beat Dolphins 30-28

Sunday afternoon, the Atlanta Falcons went to Dade County to instrumentality connected a Miami Dolphins squad presently mired successful a backmost contention and commercialized rumors. As the ‘Phins attempted to ellipse the wagons, it would beryllium the Dirty Birds that would permission with a 30-28 triumph arsenic kicker Younghoe Koo kicked a 36 gait tract extremity astatine the gun. Here are 5 things we’ve learned from today’s game.

1) Kyle Pitts dominated connected that field

The first-round enactment from Florida had 7 catches connected 10 targets for 163 yards and 1 touchdown. Notably, Fields made a one-handed drawback portion Dolphins cornerback Eric Rowe with 36 seconds remaining successful the 2nd quarter. The play went for 39 yards. Pitts bushed the much-ballyhooed cornerback Xavien Howard connected a 28 gait completion. The play began the two-minute crippled winning thrust for the Falcons. Overall, Pitts is realizing what it takes execute consistently successful the NFL and it appears the crippled is opening to dilatory down for him. Two large performances successful back-to-back weeks should person Falcons fans feeling optimistic.

“Kyle is simply a hellhole of a subordinate … He is simply a shot player. Tough guy. Girt. NFL is the champion of the best. That is wherefore he’s retired determination playing,” Dolphins information Jevon Holland said.

2) Matt Ryan had a cleanable pocket

It bears repeating for some: Matt Ryan needs a cleanable pouch successful bid to beryllium successful. On the afternoon, Ryan completed 25 retired of 40 passes for 336 yards. He threw 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Ryan had clip and was capable to find 9 antithetic receivers connected the day. However, helium mislaid a fumble wrong his ain territory which led to a go-ahead touchdown by the Dolphins.

3) Tua had a bully game; each things considered

Tua Tagovailoa finished the crippled completing 32 of 40 passes for 291 yards, throwing 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The interceptions weren’t needfully his fault. All week long, Tagovailoa has been facing commercialized rumors involving him, the Houston Texans and Deshaun Watson. However, the fortitude shown by Tua is greatly appreciated. The Falcons defence did sack him once.

“There is conscionable different things we’ve talked astir that I privation to support quiet,” Tua said station crippled regarding his speech with Dan Marino today. Tua said of the commercialized rumors, “I bash perceive it. I conscionable don’t perceive to it. That is that.”

4) Ridley needs to get active

Calvin Ridley had 4 catches for 26 yards connected the time and 1 touchdown. As the fans wonderment if Ridley tin proceed to the fig 1 receiver, the information remains Ridley faces the accent of antiaircraft sum packages. But, erstwhile you person Pitts playing up to his abilities and being a matchup nightmare for defenses, eventually, Ridley’s stats volition migrate toward the mean.

5) Arthur Smith is increasing arsenic a caput coach.

It was a substance of clip earlier Falcons caput manager Arthur Smith would find his groove arsenic a caput manager and play caller. On the crippled winning thrust with 2:27 remaining, the Falcons went 9 plays, 57 yards and was capable to tally down the timepiece and triumph the game. Meanwhile, his narration with Ryan has improved each week.

“You person the close mindset and person courage,” Falcons manager Arthur Smith said of Ryan. “He has it. He’s a peculiar player. I personally deliberation he’s been criminally underrated his if you look astatine his career.”

The Falcons volition look the Carolina Panthers astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium this upcoming Sunday. The Panthers are coming disconnected a fourth-straight loss, this clip losing 25-3 connected the roadworthy against the New York Giants. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM.