ATLANTA (AP) — After a disappointing season with his hometown team, running back Mike Davis was released Monday by the Atlanta Falcons.
The move was not surprising for a team dealing with salary cap woes, especially after the 29-year-old Davis rushed for just 503 yards and three touchdowns last season.
8. ATLANTA FALCONS (7-10)
LAST SEASON: The Falcons were outscored 459-313, making seven wins something of an accomplishment under first-year coach Arthur Smith. Highlights included the play of rookie tight end Kyle Pitts, who led the team with 68 catches for 1,026 yards, and versatile Cordarrelle Patterson, who scored a combined 11 touchdowns while leading the team in rushing and finishing third in receptions.
ATLANTA FALCONS (7-10)
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB Cordarrelle Patterson, LB Foyesade Oluokun, TE Lee Smith, TE Hayden Hurst, S Erik Harris, PK Younghoe Koo, WR Russell Gage, QB A.J. McCarron, SS Duron Harmon, CB Isaiah Oliver, OL Josh Andrews, DE Steven Means, CB Fabian Moreau, LS Josh Harris, P Thomas Morstead, OLB Brandon Copeland, DE Jonathan Bullard, WR Tajae Sharpe, OT Jason Spriggs, LB Daren Bates, LB Dorian Etheridge.
ATLANTA (7-8) at BUFFALO (9-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox
BETTING LINE: Buffalo by 14 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When Kyle Shanahan was scouting prospects before the 2013 draft, Cordarrelle Patterson stood out for his ability as a wide receiver to take handoffs out of the backfield and turn them into big plays.
ATLANTA (6-7) at SAN FRANCISCO (7-6)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, Fox
BETTING LINE: 49ers by 9 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Atlanta linebacker Mykal Walker has no explanation why the Falcons have played so well on the road this season and struggled at home.
“For me personally, I don’t see any difference between playing on the road or at home," Walker said.
ATLANTA (AP) — Home is not-so sweet for the Atlanta Falcons.
If they can't figure out a way to win their final two games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, they are headed for a fourth straight losing season.
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons wanted to try to run the ball against the NFL’s top rushing defense.
That part worked out. It just wasn't enough against Tom Brady and Tampa Bay.
Cordarrelle Patterson had 78 of Atlanta’s 121 yards rushing, but Brady passed for four touchdowns in the Buccaneers' 30-17 win on Sunday.
ATLANTA (AP) — Cordarrelle Patterson made sure the Falcons finally produced a 100-yard rusher after they went 22 games without one.
It couldn’t have come at a better time.
Patterson, in his ninth season and first with Atlanta, ran for a career-best 108 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 carries in Sunday’s 21-14 victory at Jacksonville.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons finally found some room to run, just enough to help them stay on the fringe of the NFC playoff picture.
Cordarrelle Patterson ran for a career-high 108 yards and two touchdowns in his return from an ankle injury, and the Falcons found the end zone and the win column for the first time in three weeks in a 21-14 victory over woeful Jacksonville on Sunday.
ATLANTA (4-4) at DALLAS (6-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox
BETTING LINE: Cowboys by 9, according to FanDuel SportsBook.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — It's hard to think of a 30-year-old veteran, a four-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection as a breakout player.
But that's exactly what Cordarrelle Patterson has become in his first season with the Falcons, transforming himself from a kick return specialist and spot wide receiver into a bona fide threat out of Atlanta's backfield.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Cordarrelle Patterson says the Atlanta Falcons must “stop giving people heart attacks.”
Patterson is in his first season in Atlanta, so he lacks the historical perspective to know heart-stopping wins in the first half of 2021 are the Falcons fans' preferred option to heartbreak losses of last year.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Matt Ryan's last and longest of several deep completions spared the Atlanta Falcons from another infamous collapse.
Ryan hit Cordarrelle Patterson for a 64-yard gain with a minute left to set up Younghoe Koo's 29-yard field goal as time expired, and Atlanta defeated mistake-prone New Orleans on Sunday after allowing the Saints to wipe out an 18-point, fourth-quarter deficit.
LONDON (AP) — Matt Ryan didn't have his top two wide receivers in London. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback did have Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson — and that was enough, especially with the New York Jets stumbling early again.
ATLANTA (AP) — All the Atlanta Falcons needed was a first down or two to put away Washington, but coach Arthur Smith was left to lament what might have been.
His offense fizzled in the fourth quarter and failed to utilize its best playmaker, Cordarrelle Patterson, in the final period.
ATLANTA (AP) — Cordarrelle Patterson tried but he couldn’t save the Atlanta Falcons all by himself.
Patterson flashed his athleticism multiple times in Sunday’s 34-30 loss to Washington, most notably in catching three touchdown passes.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New York Giants leading tackler Blake Martinez is going to miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his left leg.
He was injured on the opening series of the Giants' 17-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday and had to be helped off the field.
ATLANTA (AP) — A week after looking downright pathetic in a season-opening loss to Philadelphia, the Atlanta Falcons were at least competent in a 48-25 defeat at Tampa Bay.
The score was not entirely indicative of the game's flow, and first-year coach Arthur Smith was hardly despondent.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Lamar Jackson finally beat Patrick Mahomes, using his legs to rush for 107 yards and scoring twice, including flipping into the end zone for the winning score as Baltimore defeated Kansas City 36-35 Sunday night.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons found themselves down by three in the fourth quarter with a real chance for a potential upset of the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Those hopes were dashed in a disastrous finish that saw the Bucs score 20 points during the final quarter en route to a 48-25 win over Atlanta on Sunday.