Falcons still have work to do to challenge for a spot among the NFL's elite teams

ATLANTA (AP) — A three-game winning streak had the Atlanta Falcons looking like a team that might be ready to challenge for a spot among the NFL's elite.

A sobering loss to the Seattle Seahawks showed they still haven't figured out how to succeed on a consistent basis — a familiar refrain throughout the franchise's nearly six-decade history.

Looking totally flat when they had every reason to be riding high, the Falcons (4-3) were blown out at home 34-14 by a Seattle team mired in a three-game losing streak.

It was a discouraging performance, to say the least.

“You can’t really put a finger on it,” first-year coach Raheem Morris. “We did not come out with the energy that was required to win a football game.”

Atlanta never led against the Seahawks, who blew the game open by coming up with three turnovers in the fourth quarter — including a scoop-and-score touchdown off a fumble by quarterback by Kirk Cousins that sealed the victory.

“It is hard to win a game in the National Football League, let alone three,” Morris said. “So, to be able to go out there to go out and win four (in a row), it’s definitely something good teams do. We’ve got to figure out how to do it.”

One of the biggest plays came right at the end of the first half, when Geno Smith connected with DK Metcalf on a 31-yard touchdown with 4 seconds remaining to push Seattle's lead to 17-7.

Safety Justin Simmons blamed himself for a miscommunication that allowed Metcalf to get loose down the middle of the field.

“It’s unacceptable,” Simmons said. “That can’t happen as ... the last line of defense.”

But fellow safety Jessie Bates stressed that there's no need to panic. Sure, it was an inexplicable showing, but the Falcons are still in a solid spot as they wind down the first half of the season.

“We got beat,” Bates said, “but we’ll be fine.”

On the heels of a season-best 198 yards against Carolina, the Falcons had another good day on the ground against Seattle. Bijan Robinson led the way with a season-high 103 yards on 21 carries, including a 5-yard touchdown. Overall, the Falcons averaged 4.8 yards per carry.

The lack of a pass rush continues to be a major concern. James Smith-Williams had the only sack of Smith, who used his mobility to slip away from most of the pressure. For the season, the Falcons have only six sacks — worst in the NFL and hardly what the team expected with Grady Jarrett returning from a season-ending injury and a trade that brought in four-time Pro Bowler Matthew Judon. “We’ve got to get to the quarterback in a timely fashion," Morris said. “We’ve got to get him on the ground when we send people.”

The Falcons have figured out ways to get TE Kyle Pitts more involved in the offense. He was targeted nine times against the Seahawks and finished with a team-high seven receptions for 65 yards. Over the last three games, Pitts has 17 catches for 223 yards, a huge improvement over the eight catches for 115 yards he managed over the first four weeks of the season.

The offensive line struggled to keep the pressure off Cousins. He was sacked three times, including the hit that led to the game-sealing fumble. Cousins also was also hit nine times after getting passes away.

The struggles up front were exacerbated when LG Matthew Bergeron left the game in the third quarter with a neck injury. The line already has dealt with the loss of No. 1 center Drew Dalman, who is on injured reserve.

72 — The Falcons were penalized nine times for 72 yards, with a huge roughing-the-passer call. Demone Harris, signed off the practice squad after Lorenzo Carter went on injured reserve, rolled into Smith on a third-down incompletion to set up a Seahawks touchdown on the next play. Inexplicably, there also were four false-start penalties by the offense. “We’ve been a pretty disciplined team,” Morris said. “We’ve got to go back and fix those things."

The Falcons head to Tampa Bay on Sunday for an NFC South matchup. The teams came into Week 7 tied for the division lead, and Atlanta could gain a tiebreaker edge with a second straight victory over the Bucs. The Falcons won 36-30 in overtime on Oct. 3.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) escapes from Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss (55) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson )

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) celebrates with Tyrel Dodson (0) after returning a fumble for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons , Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, left, looks at his watch during head coach Raheem Morris' press conference following their loss to the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Mike Stewart)

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) reacts after sacking Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson )

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) walks off the field after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris paces on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Mike Stewart )

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins walks off the field following the Falcons' loss to Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Mike Stewart )

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence has played just a handful of “clean” games in his NFL career. When he does, the Jacksonville Jaguars are tough to beat.

For the sixth time in four seasons, Lawrence finished with no sacks, no interceptions and no fumbles as Jacksonville beat New England 32-16 at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday. Lawrence improved to 5-1 in those games, with the loss coming when receiver Christian Kirk was stopped just short of the goal line on the final play in a 23-17 loss to the New York Giants in 2022.

Having so few clean games highlights Lawrence’s penchant for turnovers; he has the most since entering the league in 2021. His success rate in those games also shows that when he gets time in the pocket and doesn’t force throws, he delivers.

Lawrence completed 15 of 20 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots. His best throw was a perfectly placed 58-yarder to rookie Brian Thomas Jr. that set up the first of Tank Bigsby’s two rushing touchdowns.

Lawrence has thrown for 967 yards, with seven TD passes, two interceptions and no fumbles in his last four games.

“Let’s hope he’s streaky and he gets on a streak,” coach Doug Pederson said Monday. “That’s what we all hope for. I think, too, he’s continuing to grow with what we’re doing and learning. … He’s done a great job for us. If this is him getting on a streak, let’s keep it going, let’s stay with the hot hand.”

A week after safety Andre Cisco said he saw “a lot of quit” in a lopsided loss to Chicago, the Jaguars rallied from a 10-0 deficit and controlled the rest of the game. Cisco told teammates he wasn’t talking about anyone in particular and said his comments came from “raw emotion.”

Regardless, digging out of a hole had to be a step in the right direction for a team Lawrence recently called mentally fragile.

The Jaguars have allowed opponents to score a touchdown on their opening possession in five of their last six games, including against the Patriots. It was the first time all season New England found the end zone on its opening drive.

It’s a troubling trend that says a lot about Jacksonville’s shaky defense and embattled coordinator Ryan Nielsen.

Bigsby ran 26 times for 118 yards and two touchdowns — all career highs for the second-year pro from Auburn. But Pederson insists Travis Etienne has “earned the right to be out there” as the starter when he returns from a hamstring injury.

Bigsby also dropped the one pass thrown his way. His inability to contribute on passing downs remains his biggest obstacle to becoming an every-down running back.

Safety Antonio Johnson was benched against New England, his first game out of the starting lineup this season. A fifth-round draft pick in 2023 out of Texas A&M, Johnson looked like he would slide in for released veteran Rayshawn Jenkins.

But Johnson did little to impact winning in the first six games, and the Jaguars moved nickel cornerback to safety Darnell Savage in Week 7. The team will have more options in the secondary once safeties Andrew Wingard (knee) and Tashaun Gipson (suspension) return.

LT Cam Robinson is in the league’s concussion protocol. The Jaguars expect to open LB Foye Oluokun’s 21-day practice window following a four-game stint on injured reserve. Oluokun made the trip to London, so he could be close to returning from a foot injury.

6 — Number of times the Packers, the Jags' next opponent, have held Jacksonville to under 24 points in seven previous meetings. Green Bay is one of three NFL teams, along with Chicago and the Rams, that have never allowed Jacksonville to score 30 in a game.

The Jaguars return from London to face a daunting stretch against NFC teams: Green Bay (5-2), at Philadelphia (4-2), Minnesota (5-1) and at Detroit (5-1). Jacksonville has dropped 23 of its last 28 against the NFC.

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence waits on the snap during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) is tackled by New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby uses his cell phone after an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence looks for a receiver during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)