The Atlanta Falcons visit the Miami Dolphins on Saturday for an NFL Week 2 preseason matchup. Atlanta opened its preseason with a 23-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Atlanta gained only 139 yards with six first downs. Quarterbacks AJ McCarron and Feleipe Franks are competing for the backup spot to Matt Ryan, The two combined to pass for only 52 yards. The key skills position players for Atlanta did not play including Atlanta No. 4 pick, tight end Kyle Pitts.
Arthur Smith, Atlanta's new first-year head coach, told reporters that keeping certain players off the field was because they were performing well during training camp sessions. Atlanta is expected to play a few more of its playmakers on Saturday against Miami but do not expect to see Matt Ryan under center for the Falcons. Atlanta’s defensive linemen John Cominsky and Ta’Quon Graham each left during the third quarter with injuries and did not return.
Miami is 0-1 in the preseason following its 20-13 loss to the Chicago Bears on Saturday, Miami took a 13-0 lead in the second quarter but could not hold off the Bears after being held scoreless in the second half. Quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Tua Tagovailoa helped Miami to its double-digit lead as Brissett tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Salvon Ahmed and kicker Jason Sanders booted a pair of field goals.
Tagovailoa, who started the game under center for Miami, passed for 99 yards including a 50-yard completion to Mike Gesicke which led to a Miami field goal, Brissett passed for 67 yards. Miami lost the ball on downs at the 1-yard line and threw an interception in the end zone. Miami's Jaylen Waddle, who was drafted in the first round, had a 24-yard punt return while Jakeem Grant Sr. had a 34 yard punt return.
