FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons nickel back Dee Alford had a rough outing Sunday against Minnesota.
Alford was involved in four of the five passing touchdowns that the Vikings scored in the 42-21 win. He’ll try to bounce back when the Falcons (6-7) face the Raiders (2-11) at 8:30 p.m. Monday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
“We already know what happened last game,” Alford told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “As a secondary, we had a few busts. Gave up explosive plays.”
Minnesota wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison did their best Lynn Swann and John Stallworth impersonations, weaving their way to 265 yards and five touchdown catches combined.
It was only the seventh time that two teammates posted at least 130 yards and two touchdowns each and the fifth time during the Super Bowl era.
“We can’t have that if you want to win in the NFL game,” Alford said. “If you look at it, everyone played well other than the secondary. We go into this week knowing what we’ve got to do in order to get that win.”
Alford wasn’t the only defensive back who struggled in coverage. Cornerback Mike Hughes, who was playing his first game after missing two with neck injury, gave up the Vikings’ first touchdown.
Also, later in the game, cornerback Clark Phillips III gave up a big catch to set up the Vikings’ key fourth touchdown to break a 21-21 tie.
“Those mistakes, it was a full-group type of thing,” Alford said. “We know that. We own that. We are accountable. We’ll own up to our own mistakes. We are ready to put on a great show on Monday.”
The Falcons likely will face former Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder, with Aidan O’Connell suffering from a knee injury.
“No matter who we are playing, Des is a great quarterback,” Alford said. “We just have got to prepare, whether it’s him or the other guy (O’Connell).”
Falcons coach Raheem Morris said that the defensive backs had trouble tracking the deep passes. Since it happened more than once in the game, he took a closer look at what happened.
On the 49-yard touchdown pass to Addison, Morris said, the Falcons failed to make a play on the ball. Hughes was in good coverage. Quarterback Sam Darnold was hit on the throw. Addison adjusted to the ball, while safety Justin Simmons appeared to miss the tackle.
“(We) have to make a play on that ball,” Morris said. “Ball was underthrown because (Darnold) got hit. And when the ball’s underthrown, usually those are the hardest ones to track. That receiver, Addison, actually tracked the ball a lot better than us.”
Hughes said, “It was just one of those plays that went their way. The ball got tipped. It was short. I didn’t realize it until it was too late and he made a play.”
Later in the second quarter, Hughes was called for a 47-yard pass-interference penalty.
“For me, it was a silly mistake, I would say,” Hughes said. “Just have to be more under control and more comfortable in that position.”
In the third quarter, Jefferson got loose for a 52-yard touchdown. Darnold escaped the pressure and scrambled before launching a strike downfield. When there is a scramble, the defensive backs are expected to “plaster” to the receivers.
The Falcons violated their “plaster rules” on that play.
“I don’t want to take away from the play that Sam Darnold made,” Morris said. “First of all, making a guy miss, and then having the wherewithal to step up and absolutely deliver a strike down the field to a wide-open Justin Jefferson.”
In the fourth quarter, after tying the score at 21-21, the Falcons needed a stop. But Phillips was beaten by Addison for a 42-yard gain. Three plays later Addison caught a 11-yard touchdown with Alford in coverage.
“A man-to-man bump coverage down there for Addison, another really good play,” Morris said.
The slew of big plays were devastating to the Falcons’ bid.
“Those are the ones you have to correct,” Morris said. “Those are the things you can’t have happen.”
The Falcons know they are going to see more deep passes from the Raiders.
“It all comes down to focus,” said Alford, who played at Griffin High and Tusculum and fought his way into the NFL from the Canadian Football League. “Different things like that and preparation. Just knowing what you are going to get on certain downs and distances.”
The Falcons must play better coverage against the Raiders, who started wide receivers Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker on Sunday against the Bucs. Meyers has 66 catches for 743 yards and two touchdowns.
The Falcons also must contend with rookie tight end Brock Bowers, a former three-time All-American from Georgia who ranks second in the NFL with 87 catches. He has 933 yards and four touchdowns.
“Meyers is a savvy vet,” Alford said. “They also have Turner and some speed guys. They’ve got a different mix of guys. Obviously, Brock Bowers is a receiving tight end. You can look at him as another receiving threat.”
The Falcons know they must defeat the Raiders to stay in the NFC playoff race.
“It’s a lot of urgency,” Alford said. “We know the situation we put ourselves in. Every game is a playoff game. Every game is a must-win. We know that. We’re really looking forward to getting out there in Vegas on Monday night and putting on a great show for the fans and the organization.”
Safety Jessie Bates III vacated the middle of the field Sunday on one of the deep passes.
“Hopefully, we can settle down and play Falcons football for a whole four quarters and continue to move forward with the season,” Bates said. “I thought, last week, I played one of my worst games. I could have put out some fires and stuff like that in the middle of the field. I will take the blame for that, as far as our deep defense.”
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