A once optimistic, 5-0 season has turned bitter cold this autumn in Atlanta as the Falcons lost their fifth straight to fall further out of playoff positioning at 6-6.
The skid sparked frustration, especially for receiver Julio Jones. Despite piling up yardage stats, the Pro Bowl receiver hasn't hit the end zone in the past four games.
"I just go out there and just do what I'm told to do," Jones said, via ESPN.com. "If we're getting those looks, I think they'll call those plays. But I don't know. I don't know what we're getting down there. I don't know what the thinking is as far as if we're going to throw the jump balls or if we're going to run the ball or whatever look we're getting down there. We practice throughout the week throwing jump balls, throwing fades, throwing all these little things. But when the game comes, you never know what's going to come up."
Jones had eight catches for 93 yards Sunday, becoming just the second player since 1960 to record 100 catches by the 12th game of the season. However, his lack of targets in the red zone coincides with the Falcons' struggles to score touchdowns.
Atlanta went 1-for-3 in the red zone in Sunday's 23-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jones was targeted four times in the red zone, but zero times in five goal-to-go situations.
The Falcons have scored 21 points or fewer in each of last seven games during their 1-6 free fall.
"Our main focus is to score when we get in the red zone -- not field goals," Jones said. "We just have to get better in the red zone."
Getting the ball to their best playmaker more in scoring situation would certainly be one step towards that goal.Â
