Drake London Says Falcons Are Getting Back to Basics on Offense This Week

The Atlanta Falcons needed to hit the reset button.

The Atlanta Falcons are not just trying to earn a huge victory this week in their international opportunity in Spain against a very strong Cincinnati Bengals team.

They are also trying to erase the taste of one of the ugliest offensive performances in the history of the franchise last week.

While weather was certainly a main factor in how poorly Atlanta played against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Falcons were on a new level of bad with four interceptions from Michael Penix Jr. in the shutout.

As bad as things were though, a new week means new opportunity, and the team's best wide receiver is leading the charge to turn the page.

While speaking to the media in Madrid, Drake London -- who is in the midst of a career season -- said Atlanta is getting back to basics on the offensive side of the ball and while difficult conversations have been had, it's ultimately for the better.

It's a fascinating peak behind the window at the kind of meetings that go on after a loss like that.

Clearly, the coaching staff did not take it easy when it comes to telling both London as well as Penix and the rest of the offense what went wrong.

Treating players with kid gloves is the quickest way to make a bad loss get worse, and it's obvious that this coaching staff has put things as bluntly as possible this week.

After a performance like last week, you simply need to tear things down and start again while perfecting the little things that make any offense impactful.

By the sounds of it, that is exactly what the Falcons did this week in their team meetings and preparation for the Bengals.

Thankfully, not only is the weather going to be better, but the defense the Falcons are going up against has been very vulnerable to opposing passing games.

Penix, London and the rest of the offense must take advantage of a Cincinnati defense who allowed 36 points to a dreadful Tennessee Titans and needed overtime to survive.

That is a unit that Atlanta should be more than capable of finding success against, and if they cannot, there may be a bigger problem at play.

In front of a national audience, fans are going to find out firsthand what kind of improvements have been made and whether or not enough has been done this week.

The Falcons' offensive disaster last week was not just bad — it was historically bad.

Four interceptions from a quarterback who had shown promise earlier in the season.

A shutout that left fans and analysts questioning whether this team could compete at all.

Weather conditions in Tampa were terrible, but the Falcons made mistakes that had nothing to do with rain or wind.

Penix Jr. looked rattled.

Receivers struggled to separate.

The offensive line allowed pressure at critical moments.

And the coaching staff, led by head coach Raheem Morris, had to decide how to respond.

They chose blunt honesty.

Drake London described the meetings as difficult but necessary.

London himself is having a career year.

He has emerged as the clear number one target in Atlanta's passing attack.

His production has been steady even when the rest of the offense has struggled.

That makes his endorsement of the "back to basics" approach significant.

If the team's best player is buying in, the rest of the locker room is likely to follow.

The Falcons are now in Madrid, preparing for a game that will be broadcast to a national audience.

International games always bring extra attention, but this one carries even more weight for Atlanta.

A win would not only improve their record but also prove that last week was an aberration.

A loss would raise serious questions about whether this team can bounce back from adversity.

The Bengals present a unique challenge.

Cincinnati's offense is explosive, led by quarterback Joe Burrow and a deep group of playmakers.

Their defense, however, has been inconsistent.

Allowing 36 points to the Titans — a team that has struggled offensively all season — is a glaring red flag.

The Falcons' offense should be able to exploit those weaknesses.

But only if they execute the fundamentals.

That is what this week of practice has been about.

Footwork.

Route running.

Protection schemes.

Reading defenses.

The little things that separate winning from losing.

Drake London knows this better than anyone.

He has been in the league long enough to understand that talent alone is not enough.

Consistency comes from mastering the basics.

And after a performance like last week, there is no shortcut back to respectability.

The Falcons have to earn it.

Starting in Spain.