Atlanta, GA
Atlanta's key to victory down the stretch: Touchdowns, touchdowns, touchdowns
Underscoring the importance of ending drives with touchdowns is the fact that the Falcons have 113 offensive drives this season, the fourth fewest in the NFL. Despite having a low number of possessions and struggling to score touchdowns over the last two games, Atlanta still ranks 12th in both points per drive (2.10) and touchdown percentage (22.1%). It’s not time to hit the panic button, but it’s clear the offense needs to find a way to score touchdowns to get back on track.
Again, it’s not exactly the most advanced statistical analysis to say a team needs to score touchdowns to win. In Atlanta’s case though, the difference in success is clear. The Falcons are a better overall team when scoring more points. In wins, or games when they’ve scored more than 20 points, the Falcons have averaged 2.84 points per drive and scored touchdowns on 29.5% of drives. In those games, Atlanta is also converting 55% of its red zone possessions into touchdowns. In losses, those numbers fall to 1.23 points per drive, 13.5% of drives end in touchdowns and red zone efficiency drops to 50%.
Unsurprisingly, the Falcons also average more plays per drive (6.13 to 5.88), a higher down-set conversion rate (77.4% to 69.1%) and fewer three-and-outs (9.8% to 17.3%) in wins versus losses.
There are clear differences in the numbers when comparing wins to losses, which again, it’s not surprising to say the offense has played better in wins than it has in losses, but the key difference is points. With the exception of losses to Seattle and Denver, Atlanta’s other three losses have come by one score or less.
For Atlanta, this is what it means to play complementary football. The defense has played well enough to win when the offense is scoring. When the offense struggles to score it puts more pressure on the defense and makes each offensive possession more critical.
Scoring, particularly scoring touchdowns, also allows the offense to stay within its game script, as mentioned above. It allows for more opportunities in the run game for Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, it enables Zac Robinson to call more play-action passes and helps keep the opposing defense honest, giving the offensive line an edge when it comes to keeping Kirk Cousins clean in the pocket.
Police are investigating a deadly shooting at 110 Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard.
ATLANTA – Atlanta police say they’re investigating a deadly shooting between a brother and sister.
What we know:
Atlanta police responded to a shooting just before 4 p.m. at 110 Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard SW Sunday afternoon.
That’s where Andrew Smith, the commander of the Atlanta Police Department’s Homicide Unit, confirmed they found a man in his mid-40s suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Not only did the victim and suspected shooter know each other, Smith says they were siblings.
The victim’s sister has been taken to police headquarters for questioning.
Police believe this was a domestic situation with no threat to the public. This is an ongoing investigation.
What we don’t know:
It’s still not clear what led to the deadly shooting.
Neither the victim nor the suspected shooter have been publicly named.
The Source: This information has been confirmed by Andrew Smith, the commander of the Atlanta Police Department’s Homicide Unit.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Braves Are About to Send Another Former All-Star on Minor League Rehab Assignment
On Saturday, Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett, tossing three innings of one run ball against the Charlotte Knights.
He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out six.
As Strider works his way back, it appears that another Braves All-Star is about to be on the mend.
Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com on social media:
Sean Murphy has caught up to five innings in Minor League games back in North Port. He’ll likely begin a rehab assignment with High-A Rome on Friday
Sean Murphy has caught up to five innings in Minor League games back in North Port. He’ll likely begin a rehab assignment with High-A Rome on Friday
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 29, 2025
Murphy cracked his left rib in early March. Now 30, he is headed into the seventh year of his career with the Athletics and Braves. An All-Star in 2023, he is a career .233 hitter with 77 homers and 240 RBIs. He hit a career-high 21 homers in that 2023 season. The Braves have been utilizing rookie Drake Baldwin in Murphy’s spot, so it remains to be seen how the team will handle the catching duties when he returns.
The Braves are out to an 0-3 start at the big-league level after being beaten three straight times by the San Diego Padres. They lost 1-0 on Saturday.
Despite that, the Braves are one of the most talented teams in baseball. With Strider, Murphy and Ronald Acuna Jr. coming back from injury, the group will be even stronger. They all figure to be back in the fold by mid-May or so. Strider expects to be back by mid-April.
They’ll play again on Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET.
ANOTHER REHAB START: Brayan Bello, on the shelf for the Boston Red Sox, will pitch for Triple-A Worcester. Here are the details. CLICK HERE:
FORMER ALL-STAR BACK TO SEATTLE: Drew Pomeranz, 36, didn’t make the Mariners out of spring training, but he’s back in the organization on a minor league deal. CLICK HERE:
CONTRACT TALKS: Boston Red Sox top prospect Kristian Campbell is reportedly working on a contract extension just days after his major league debut. CLICK HERE:
Emmanuel Latte Lath scored late in the second half and Atlanta United rallied from two goals down to beat New York City FC 4-3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday night.
Atlanta United (2-2-2) trailed 3-1 before an own goal by NYCFC midfielder Keaton Parks ignited the comeback in the 62nd minute.
Miguel Almirón scored the equalizer off a pass from Xande Silva in the 75th minute. It was the first goal this season for Almirón and his 22nd in his third year in the league. Silva’s assist was his first of the season and his seventh in his third year in the league.
Latte Lath found the net unassisted in the 84th minute for the victory. He has five goals in his first six appearances in the league.
Hannes Wolf scored unassisted off a deflection in the 15th minute to stake NYCFC (2-2-2) to a 1-0 lead.
Atlanta United pulled even by halftime when Alexey Miranchuk found the net for the first time this season. It was his fourth career goal in 14 starts and 15 appearances. Latte Lath had his first assist and Saba Lobjanidze collected his third this season.
NYCFC took a two-goal lead early in the second half on a penalty-kick goal by Alonso Martínez in the 48th minute and a goal by Wolf three minutes later.
It was the fourth goal this season for Martínez and his 20th in 34 career appearances. Wolf netted his third goal this season and his eighth in his second season in the league. Julián Fernández had his first assist this season and his fourth in 36 career appearances.
Brad Guzan finished with two saves in goal for Atlanta United.
Matt Freese stopped three shots for NYCFC.
Atlanta United will host FC Dallas on Saturday. NYCFC returns home to play Minnesota United on Sunday.
In the Halls of Power, Trump’s Demands Force Agonizing Choices
35K Without Power In Detroit Area After Severe Storms
4 injured in shooting in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood
Hundreds march in Dallas to call for immigration reform
Miami Open men’s final between Djokovic and Mensuk delayed more than 5 1/2 hours by rain
-
News1 week agoMusk Offers $100 to Wisconsin Voters, Bringing Back a Controversial Tactic
-
News1 week agoHow a Major Democratic Law Firm Ended Up Bowing to Trump
-
Education1 week agoICE Tells a Cornell Student Activist to Turn Himself In
-
World1 week agoDonald Trump signs executive order to ‘eliminate’ Department of Education
-
News1 week agoWere the Kennedy Files a Bust? Not So Fast, Historians Say.
-
News1 week agoDismantling the Department of Education will strip resources from disabled children, parents and advocates say | CNN
-
News6 days agoWashington Bends to RFK Jr.’s ‘MAHA’ Agenda on Measles, Baby Formula and French Fries
-
Politics1 week agoStudent loans, Pell grants will continue despite Education Department downsizing, expert says