Falcons-Seahawks takeaways: What we learned in Atlanta's Week 7 loss

Penalties and miscues hampered the Falcons early in the season and they bounced back against the Seahawks. Atlanta committed nine penalties, setting them back 72 yards. This penalty period was dominant, shutting down drives for the Falcons' offense and keeping the Seahawks' drives alive.

For comparison, the Falcons had just four penalties in their win over the Panthers last week. Penalties were a factor from the start for Atlanta. Three flags were thrown for false starts against three different players on the Falcons' opening possession, including back-to-back penalties on third down.

The Falcons got penalty yardage from the first flag on a 10-yard reception by Kyle Pitts that made the 1st-and-15 second and manageable. But then back-to-back penalties forced a punt after a failed third-down conversion. Atlanta's offense couldn't find a consistent rhythm throughout the game, and penalties played a big part in that.

Coming into the matchup, the Falcons' defense was among the league's best at containing explosive plays through the air. Seattle's No. 1 passing offense created a threat and took advantage, hitting multiple big plays downfield. The Seahawks finished the game with 236 total passing yards, shy of their season average of 276.7, but they essentially ran the ball in the fourth quarter with the lead in hand.

Smith spread the ball to six different receivers, four of whom had at least 15 yards reception. After not registering a sack in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers, the Falcons put consistent pressure on Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith and were able to get him on the ground. James Smith-Williams, who started for injured linebacker Lorenzo Carter, recorded a sack for a 6-yard loss in the second quarter. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett also pressured Smith multiple times, but he had no hangs on the play.

All told, some of the Seahawks' biggest plays of the game came when Smith was under pressure but was able to get away from the Falcons' defenders. As the defense prepares for another important matchup next week, the ability to get to the quarterback will once again be a topic of discussion.

Left guard Mathieu Bergeron and center Ryan Neuzil left the game with injuries. Neuzil was accompanied by trainers and third-string center Matt Hennessy, who started 22 games for the Falcons from 2020-22, as he walked off the field under his own power in the second quarter. The substitution didn't slow Atlanta's rushing attack, though, as Bejon Robinson scored the Falcons' first touchdown later in the same drive.

Neuzil returned in the second quarter after being evaluated for a possible head injury. Starter Drew Dallman suffered an ankle injury in Week 3 and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. Newzeal has been starting for the Falcons ever since. Bergeron left the game on the Falcons' first drive of the second half and was evaluated for a possible head injury. He was cleared for a possible concussion, but did not return to the game due to a neck injury. Reserve left guard Kyle Hinton played the rest of the action for Atlanta's offense.

In his rookie season, Bejon Robinson scored four rushing touchdowns. It took only seven games to reach this total in Robinson's sophomore year. He scored a touchdown on a 5-yard run in the second quarter; It was his third in the previous two matches. Robinson finished the game with 143 total yards — 103 rushing and 40 receiving — and a touchdown against the Seahawks. The running back broke through for multiple plays of 20 yards or more against Seattle's defense, including a 26-yard gain as a runner and receiver.

In the first half alone, Robinson recorded 80 of his 103 total rushing yards. Robinson averaged an impressive 4.9 yards per carry. Tyler Allgeier added 36 yards to the Falcons' 155 total rushing yards.