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The one move that defined the 2018 NFL season for all 32 teams

By Erik Lambert

ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden looks on during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden looks on during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 31: Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian converses with Matt Simms #4 and Matt Ryan #2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 31: Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian converses with Matt Simms #4 and Matt Ryan #2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Falcons: Keeping Steve Sarkisian

The Atlanta Falcons came into the 2018 season with high hopes and high expectations, as any team with a quarterback of Matt Ryan’s caliber should.

Unfortunately, injuries on defense have really limited this team’s ability to win close games and they have struggled badly on their way to a potential top five pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Their decision to retain Steve Sarkisian as offensive coordinator has not yielded balanced results on that side of the ball, causing the Falcons to almost be an easy out for teams this year with an average of 28 points allowed and 24 points scored per game this season.

In four of the Falcons’ last five games (all losses) they have been outscored by 10 or more points. The offense has not exceeded 20 points in that stretch of time, and Atlanta ranks 32nd in the NFL this season in rushing offense.

It appears the decision to keep Sarkisian has hindered Atlanta enough offensively to the point that they may need to make a big change this offseason.

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