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Player who must step up: WR Russell Gage

The production has started to show up more lately, including an 11-catch, 130-yard performance on Sunday. But Gage is in a contract year, and after the Falcons traded Julio Jones, it looked like Gage would be in position for a breakout season. That largely hasn't happened, as he dealt with an ankle injury and consistent inconsistency upon his return. But Gage has now been targeted seven or more times in each of the past three games, and he had his first 100-yard game on Sunday. For Atlanta to have any shot at the playoffs, it needs that production to continue. -- Michael Rothstein

The financials connected to Matt Ryan make him the Falcons' likely starter for the balance of this season and the next one, as well … but you wonder if Arthur Smith is entirely comfortable with that idea. It's not fair to put Atlanta's sleepy attack at the feet of the greatest quarterback the franchise has ever had, but a leaky offensive line combined with the 36-year-old's poor pocket mobility has made for ugly football when the Falcons face a team with any pass rush. Perhaps the Falcons fix this fatal flaw with a smart offseason of fortifications along the line, but this increasingly feels like a marriage in which a clean break would serve both sides well. Easier said than done, of course.

They were back to watching their quarterback take a beating against Tampa Bay. The offensive line is awful.

With 709 receiving yards, Kyle Pitts is very much on course to become first rookie tight end in Super Bowl era (since 1966) to reach 1,000. Jeremy Shockey's 894 yards in 2002 is the current standard.

Best-case scenario: It's mostly been a slog for Arthur Smith's offense. Getting Calvin Ridley back would be a great sign on a couple of levels, most importantly for what it would mean for Ridley on a personal level. But Ridley would also provide a jolt to the offense, and take some of the pressure off rookie tight end Kyle Pitts and wideout Cordarrelle Patterson, who has eclipsed 1,000 scrimmage yards in his first year in Atlanta (and somehow for the first time in his career). If the Falcons sign Patterson to an extension and Smith's offense actually looks good against a good defense, that would qualify as a win.