Controlling the ball on offense has never been a problem for this year’s version of the Atlanta Falcons. They are seventh in the NFL averaging over 31 minutes a game and their lack of sharing continues in the first Thursday Night Football game of the year.
The Falcons have held possession for over 22 minutes on their way to a 13-0 lead in the third quarter. The Ravens, who are actually third in the NFL in time of possession, have had the ball only half as much.
The Falcons defense has some holes in the secondary and teams have been able to take advantage as evidenced by their low-rated pass defense. This weakness is severely negated, however, when the offense is constantly on the field. The Ravens are showing signs of fatigue and frustration and even though Michael Turner hasn’t been able to get going yet, the fourth quarter could pay huge dividends for Turner against a tired Ravens defensive line.