As an offense, Atlanta is converting on third down at a rate of 33.6%. The unit's third-and-long issues tell the story.

Tori McElhaney

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. The Atlanta Falcons have a third-down conversion problem. That much is certain. Over the course of their last four losses, they have gone 8-of-40 (20%) on third down. They have not converted more than three individual third downs since their Week 7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

"Each third down has its own story," offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said.

And that is true. No one moment is exactly alike. Down and distance changes. Field position. Play call. Defensive response. Individual execution. Time on the clock. All of it. That's why the Falcons fixing their third-down problem isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. However, trends can emerge. Commonalities come to light. They take a little time to find.

In order to do so, I went back and watched every single third-down play the Falcons have had this year 107 plays to be precise. So far, they have converted 36 of those plays, which measures out to a 33.6% conversion rate on third down in 2025.

A major issue for the Falcons right now is something Robinson spoke about Wednesday.

"We can do a better job avoiding third-and-long," he said.

It's true. With the Falcons' run game not consistently able to pick up yards on first and second down the way it was the first month of the season, Atlanta's third-and-long looks have grown at a rapid rate since.

Of their 107 third-down appearances, 65 are plays of third-and-5-plus. What's more, 49 of those 65 are third-and-7-plus. Meaning, nearly half of the Falcons' total third-down plays are third-and-long situations. That isn't sustainable, seeing as those are lower percentage completions and plays. It puts a lot of pressure on Michael Penix Jr., a young quarterback, nine games into his first full year as an NFL starter.

The Falcons are 8-of-49 (16%) in third-and-long situations (7-plus yards).

So, that's domino No. 1 to fall: The Falcons have to put themselves in more manageable third-down situations. However, even when things have been somewhat manageable, third-down struggles remain. The Falcons have only converted three of their 16 (18%) third-and-5-or-6 plays. Of course, their third-and-short percentages are better. Most every team's are. Those are higher percentile plays in general.

The problem the Falcons are running into are in obvious passing situations on third down. And there are themes here beyond the fact the Falcons need to put themselves in these instances less. Three common threads in fact. All confirming that the Falcons' third-down woes are a unit-wide stat.

Let's get into what I feel are the three commonalities through the troubles.

These three things don't even touch the issues the Falcons are having with getting the play call in at times. This is vital, as the team utilizes motions frequently. They also don't touch the drops that we have seen of late, which showed up a couple of times against the Colts last Sunday.

Basically, as much as fans may not want to hear it, what the coaches are saying has been true. The issues on third down span the whole unit. Penix needs to be more accurate. Linemen need to handle protection better. The scheme may need to insert shorter routes in situations where they know a defensive front is going to pin their ears back. All of this leads to the Falcons having third-down issues. They could be easy fixes, but at 3-6, the Falcons are running out of time to fix them.

"When we get those chances," Robinson said, "no matter what the (down and distance) is on third down, we got to find a way of putting a big emphasis on it, with the pass protection and routes and just connecting on those things. Like I said, as coaches just making sure we got the right answer for the guys."

Data Disclaimer:The data used in this analysis was collected manually. Although care was taken to verify accuracy, manual data collection inherently carries the potential for human error.

Up Next

Videos

Traveling an NFL team internationally

Videos

Zac Robinson, Jeff Ulbrich & others on preparing to take on the Carolina Panthers

Videos

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Week 11 Media Availability | Wednesday, Nov. 12th | Press Conference

Videos

Head Coach Raheem Morris Week 11 Media Availability | Wednesday, November 12th | Press Conference

Videos

Jalon Walker is Mic'd Up vs The Colts Playing In Berlin, Germany

Videos

Breaking down 6 of Falcons' 13 sacks from the last two weeks | Film Review

Videos

Raheem Morris discusses Atlanta Falcons' performance vs Indianapolis Colts | Press Conference

Videos

Bijan Robinson, Drake London & others on the overtime loss to the Colts in Berlin

Videos

Raheem Morris reflects on Atlanta Falcons OT loss to Indianapolis Colts in Berlin, Germany | Press Conference

Videos

Michael Penix Jr. on Atlanta Falcons performance vs Indianapolis Colts in Berlin | Press Conference

Videos

Falcons vs. Colts highlights Week 10

Videos

Drake London's best catches from 104-yard game in Berlin Week 10

Videos

Drake London shakes off Sauce Gardner for two-point conversion

Videos

Go-ahead TD alert! Allgeier's second score of day gives Falcons a 23-22 lead

Videos

Brandon Dorlus gets Falcons fourth sack of game vs. Daniel Jones

Videos

JD Bertrand's fourth-down TFL forces Colts into their second turnover on downs in Berlin

Videos

Can't-Miss Play: James Pearce Jr.'s strip-sack of Daniel Jones sparks Jalon Walker's recovery

Videos

Kyle Pitts' first catch vs. Colts goes for 25 yards

Videos

Jessie Bates III snags an interception vs. Daniel Jones with 0:08 left in first half

Videos

Kaden Elliss delivers Falcons' second sack of game vs. Daniel Jones

Videos

Penix Jr.'s 16-yard TD loft to Drake London ties Falcons-Colts game at 13-13

Videos

Darnell Mooney wins the 1-on-1 matchup vs. Sauce Gardner for 17-yard reception

Videos

Tyler Allgeier's fifth TD of 2025 ties Falcons-Colts game at 6-6

Videos

Penix Jr. rolls out left before delivering 29-yard loft to Drake London

Videos

Bijan Robinson's first carry goes for 16 yards

Videos

Dee Alford halts Colts drive with fourth-down PBU

Videos

Falcons Fly East To Take On The Colts In Berlin Germany | Week 10 Hype

Videos

Falcons players speak to media post-practice in Berlin, Germany | Press Conferences

Videos

Raheem Morris speaks to media in Berlin ahead of matchup vs. Indianapolis Colts

Videos

Jalon Walker, A.J. Terrell Jr. & Bijan Robinson look ahead to Atlanta Falcons vs Indianapolis Colts | Press Conference

Videos

What's the recipe to success in Germany? How the Falcons can end the losing streak | Friday Five

Videos

Marquice Williams & Jeff Ulbrich look ahead to Atlanta Falcons vs Indianapolis Colts | Press Conference

Videos

Zane Gonzalez & other Falcons on traveling to Germany to take on the Colts | Press Conference

Videos

Head Coach Raheem Morris Week 10 Media Availability | Wednesday, November 5th | Press Conference

Videos

Kaden Ellis Mic'd Up vs the New England Patriots

Videos

Breaking down all 3 TDs from Drake London's MONSTER performance against the Patriots | Film Review

Videos

Raheem Morris reflects on Atlanta Falcons vs New England Patriots matchup & road ahead | Press Conference

Videos

Drake London & others on the Atlanta Falcons matchup vs New England Patriots

Videos

Michael Penix Jr.'s best plays from 3-TD game vs. Patriots Week 9

Videos

Michael Penix reflects on Atlanta Falcons matchup vs New England Patriots | Press Conference