Sore feeling rules this week for Falcons, Steelers as they prepare to meet


Devdiscourse News Desk | Updated: 04-10-2018 14:30 IST | Created: 04-10-2018 12:18 IST
Sore feeling rules this week for Falcons, Steelers as they prepare to meet
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Sore feelings ruled this week for the visiting Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers as they prepared to meet Sunday.

Not only are both teams coming off losses that left them at the bottom of their divisions, but for Atlanta (1-3) in particular, the injuries keep mounting.

Falcons coach Dan Quinn said it would take three players to help fill in for top defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who sustained an ankle injury last week in a 37-36 loss to Cincinnati, a game decided when the Bengals' A.J. Green scored with seven seconds remaining.

Jarrett, who has 16 tackles and has played on 212 defensive snaps this year, was ruled out for the Steelers game.

"When we get him back right, we'll get him back in there when we can," Quinn said of Jarrett, calling him "week-to-week." "He looks good right now, and we're hopeful that as we get into next week we'll have a better feel (for his timetable)."

In the meantime, Jack Crawford, Terrell McClain and Deadrin Senat will be used in Jarrett's place, Quinn said.

Also not practising Wednesday were cornerback Justin Bethel (knee) and wide receiver Julio Jones (hand/ankle).

Pittsburgh (1-2-1) practised Wednesday without receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (ankle) and linebacker Vince Williams (hamstring).

The Steelers got shut out in the second half Sunday night during a 26-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens that left them tied with the Cleveland Browns at the bottom of the AFC North.

Atlanta is last in the NFC South.

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger seemed to be out of sync with his receivers as the Ravens game wore on.

"The biggest effect is, one, me not playing well enough, and, two, playing from behind," Roethlisberger said. "You get a big deficit, so you've got throw the ball every play, kind of takes the run game out of play. There's a lot of factors involved."

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said those factors stretch beyond the offence.

"It's been a number of things, and that's what we are searching for," he said. "We are searching for a winning level of consistency across all areas. That's what is required to win in this league on a consistent basis."

Roethlisberger has been around long enough to know three games isn't a fair barometer for a team.

"Last year we kind of started a little sloppy, too," he said. "You guys can look at (our) record all you want. We're looking at this next week and trying to get a win because that's really all that matters.

"If this has to happen, it's better to happen early in the season."

Perhaps the Steelers' offence can find its footing against a Falcons team that is sagging on defence, having given up a total of 80 points the past two weeks in losses.

"We're just not making plays right now," Atlanta cornerback Desmond Trufant said. "We have to make it come to life at the end of the day."

In particular, the Falcons have developed a habit of not being able to wrap things up late in close games.

"We're going to develop that instinct," Quinn said. "We don't have it as we need to right now. As it got down to it, that's where we need more attention and time, and we will."

(With inputs from agencies.)

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