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Del Rio promises changes for Raiders struggling defense

He shook off a red-zone interception.

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In Monday’s team meeting, Quinn credited the difference in playing with awareness, a high motor and for each other. I’m not going to throw any one person under the bus. “Can you show that kind of toughness and determination?” I have the utmost belief in this group of guys. Trufant allowed three catches for 42 yards on six targets. Safety Kemal Ishmael made a fourth-down tackle in the middle of the final period to set up Atlanta’s last touchdown. With Julio Jones at full health, Hardy developing and the development of two tight ends in rookie Austin Hooper and veteran Tamme, this team has weapons. It certainly helped that running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman combined for 139 rushing yards on 29 carries, allowing for the play-action to be more effective. Inside the numbers, Ryan completed 7 of 9 passes against the blitz Sunday for 129 yards, two touchdowns, and six first downs, according to ESPN Statistics and Information.

Jones has nine catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns this year.

There are plenty of areas to clean up. “That part of our game has to come through. We’re a work in progress there for sure”.

The weak coverage by the Raiders’ pass defenders put even more pressure on the pass rushers, who did not respond. And Ryan’s four completions of 40-plus yards lead the NFL. Receivers delivered on game-plan assignments to block linebackers and safeties and extend runs. “It was a good look (against the Raiders)”.

The New Orleans Saints can sound confident all they want, but the fact is this team is 0-2 and are a loss away next Monday from being completely out of the playoff race.

September 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn (left) and general manager Thomas Dimitroff (right) watch warm ups before the game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum.

Late in the Raiders 35-28 loss to the Falcons Sunday, Jack Del Rio shook some things up, including taking over at least some of the defensive play calling duties from Ken Norton Jr. Rookie LB De’Vondra Campbell (ankle) did not make the trip after getting hurt in practice last Friday.

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And it’s not thanks to a courageous Falcons fan starting sh*t in the middle of a Raider Nation crowd, but rather two (then a third) card-carrying (or at least jersey-owning) members of the team’s support getting into one of the most slow-developing fights you’ll ever see, resulting in the loser-actually, let’s call him the “defeated” due to the high probability that the victors are, in their own ways, losers themselves-getting repeteadly knocked to the ground before being led away by a friend. Neal, the NFL’s No. 17 overall draft pick, has been sidelined since the third week of preseason.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme runs against Oakland Raiders middle linebacker Ben Heeney and free safety Reggie Nelson during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland Calif. Sunday Sept. 18 2016. (AP