Another miserable season in the A-T-L as Falcons lock up eighth straight losing record

ATLANTA (AP) — As the final seconds ticked away on a thoroughly dismal performance, at least the Atlanta Falcons didn't have to worry about hearing any more boos from the home fans.

Most of them had long since headed for the exits.

The Falcons locked up another losing season and were officially eliminated from playoff contention on a dreary Sunday in the A-T-L, surrendering 31 points in the second half of a 37-9 blowout by the Seattle Seahawks.

Atlanta (4-9) lost for the seventh time in eight games and is assured of an eighth straight losing campaign — matching the longest stretch of futility in franchise history. The Falcons haven't made the postseason since the 2017 season, and to be knocked out with a full month to go in this regular season only reiterates what a miserable year it has been for a team that started out with high hopes of a turnaround.

“Our fan base deserves a winner,” said embattled second-year coach Raheem Morris, whose future has been the subject of plenty of speculation. “You can't make any promises you can't keep at this moment. All you can do is give them the best effort you can give them.”

While the Falcons have been competitive in most of their losses, this one got out of hand — way out of hand — over the final two quarters after the teams went to halftime tied 6-6.

It started on the very first play of the third period when Rashid Shaheed returned the kickoff 100 yard s for a touchdown — the third week in a row that Atlanta’s not-so-special teams have surrendered a long return.

The Seahawks never looked back.

“You can't give up back-breaking plays that allow your team to self-destruct,” Morris said. “There's no magic call. You've got to go out there and play. The guys have to go back out there and recapture the moment. Somebody has got to go make a play, whether it's on defense, special teams or offense. Somebody has got to go make a game-changing play. That didn't happen.”

It happened plenty for the Seahawks, who also blocked a 50-yard field goal attempt in the first half, perhaps costing the Falcons another three points. Not to mention, Bradley Pinion sent a kickoff out of bounds for a penalty, giving Seattle prime field position that was converted into a TD.

The special teams are an absolute mess and show no signs of improvement.

“It's not just one person to point at, it's not just one thing to point at," Morris said. "You've got to figure it out, look at it on tape, and try to come up with some answers."

Kirk Cousins, finishing out the season as the starting quarterback with Michael Penix Jr. sidelined by a knee injury, threw for just 162 yards with a pair of interceptions. Bijan Robinson fumbled one away deep in Seattle territory when the Falcons were driving for a possible tying touchdown early in the third.

Even when the Falcons appeared to score the game’s first touchdown late in the first half, it didn't work out.

Darnell Mooney hauled in a 26-yard pass from Cousins down the left sideline, but the Atlanta receiver stepped out of bounds just short of the end zone. The officials ruled that he did not re-establish himself on the field, even though the replay showed he took three steps inbounds before the catch.

The Falcons were forced to settle for Zane Gonzalez’s 43-yard field goal.

“You're always reminded of how it's a four-quarter game and you have to keep playing," Cousins said. “You never know which play is going to be the play that makes the difference, so you have to play with the best sense of urgency at all times. Today it got away from us.”

There were thousands of empty seats at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when the game began, and what was left of the Falcons contingent streamed for the exits after Seattle's final touchdown with 8 1/2 minutes remaining.

By the end, there was nothing but blue and green in the stands, with competing chants of “Sea” and “Hawks” ringing out through the cavernous facility.

Seattle (10-3) has its sights on a special season.

In Atlanta, it's just more disappointment.

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Fans react after getting gloves from Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed after an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris speaks during a press conference after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba holds up the ball after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank walks on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

An Atlanta Falcons fan wears a paper bag on their head during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa warmed up pretty quickly against the New York Jets and put his cold weather woes on ice.

Tagovailoa threw a touchdown pass to stay undefeated against his AFC East rivals, Miami rushed for three scores and the Dolphins ran away with a 34-10 victory Sunday for their fourth straight win. The defense also stifled an already struggling Jets offense.

“That's a formula to win games in December,” coach Mike McDaniel said.

Tagovailoa improved to 7-0 against the Jets as a starter and 8-0 overall in games in which he has played against the AFC East rivals. And with the temperature 41 degrees at kickoff, Tagovailoa moved to 1-7 in his career when the temperature is 46 or colder.

“I felt good, but it’s football," Tagovailoa said. “Whether it’s hot, whether it's cold, you've got to go out there and you've got to play.”

De'Von Achane ran for 92 yards and a touchdown before leaving in the second quarter with a rib injury following a 29-yard run, but McDaniel said the star running back could've returned in “an emergency.”

He wasn't needed, though. Jaylen Wright filled in and had a career-high 107 yards and his first NFL score. Rookie Ollie Gordon II also ran for a TD for Miami (6-7), which rushed for 239 yards overall and has won five of its last six to remain in the playoff hunt after starting the season 1-6.

“I don’t think I’ve been in the league where I’ve had a stretch necessarily like this one," Tagovailoa said, "in terms of the start to the year and finding that flow toward the later end of the year.”

Tagovailoa was 13 of 21 for 127 yards with a touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle before sitting for the final minutes with the game well in hand. Zach Wilson, New York's No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, finished for Miami.

Zach Sieler had 2 1/2 of the Dolphins' six sacks of the Jets (3-10), who were officially eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. It's the 15th straight year — the NFL's longest active drought — without a postseason appearance for New York.

“This game was definitely disappointing," first-year coach Aaron Glenn said. "Really hard to try to put this in words. The only thing I can say is I didn’t have these guys ready to play. That was obvious by the way we went out there and played.”

Undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook made his regular-season NFL debut for the Jets when he replaced the injured Tyrod Taylor with 3:39 remaining in the first quarter. Taylor left with what the team announced was a groin injury. Glenn didn't have an immediate update on Taylor, who was 1 for 4 for 6 yards and an interception.

Cook, who was Taylor's backup because Justin Fields was ruled out with knee soreness, was 14 of 30 for 163 yards and two interceptions. The rookie said he “absolutely” felt more comfortable as the game went on after a rough start.

“I think you definitely saw flashes there in the fourth quarter of us moving the ball," Cook said. "We need more of it.”

On Miami's opening drive, Tagovailoa was hit as he was throwing, but got enough on the pass to complete it to Waddle for a 3-yard touchdown that gave Miami a 7-0 lead.

Achane made it 14-0 a few minutes later with a 13-yard touchdown run to cap Miami's second possession.

“We knew they were going to come out fast and the biggest thing was us coming out fast, too,” Jets linebacker Quincy Williams said. “We didn't do that the first series. ... We didn't show up earlier.”

Tyrel Dodson gave the Dolphins the ball right back when Taylor's pass went off Mason Taylor's hands and right to the linebacker. It was originally called an incompletion, but McDaniel challenged the call and it was ruled via video review that Dodson kept the ball from hitting the ground for an interception by pinning it between his knees.

Tyrod Taylor, who made his third straight start in place of the benched Fields, was hurt on the play.

Isaiah Williams gave the Jets a spark when he returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown — his second score on a punt return this season — to make it 21-7 with 20 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Trailing 24-7 late in the third quarter, New York's special teams again came up big. With Austin McNamara set to punt on fourth-and-8, Malachi Moore took the direct snap and then lateraled to Isaiah Davis, who gained 20 yards and a first down.

The Jets' offense stalled, though, and New York settled for Nick Folk's 31-yard field goal.

Dolphins: LB Caleb Johnson left in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and didn't return. ... S Elijah Campbell was ruled out in the third with knee and ankle injuries.

Jets: Glenn said TE Mason Taylor has a stinger. ... TE Stone Smartt has a possible concussion. ... Rookie DE Tyler Baron was ruled out with a knee injury. ... Rookie LB Kiko Mauigoa cleared the concussion protocol, but didn’t return because of a shoulder injury.

Dolphins: Take on the Steelers in Pittsburgh next Monday night.

Jets: Travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars next Sunday.

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Miami Dolphins cornerback Rasul Douglas (26) intercepts a pass intended for New York Jets wide receiver John Metchie III (3) at the goal line during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II (31) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Jets quarterback Brady Cook (4) passes against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) carries the ball for a touchdown against New York Jets cornerback Brandon Stephens (21) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) reacts during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)