The Atlanta Falcons failed to show up against the Miami Dolphins in Week 8, losing 34-10 in a game that was never competitive at any point. The Falcons started quarterback Kirk Cousins in place of an injured Michael Penix Jr. and the offense never seemed to find its footing.

The team failed to convert a third down until the third quarter and there was no threat of a down-field passing attack. Wide receiver Drake London’s absence didn’t help, but this was an overall bad performance by the Falcons. The defense struggled against the run and allowed Tua Tagovailoa to throw four touchdown passes.

Sunday’s loss dropped the Falcons to 3-4 on the season. Here are five takeaways from the team’s ugly performance against the Dolphins.

Kirk Cousins fails to impress

Kirk Cousins got the start for Penix and looked similar to the player we saw for 15 games last season. While the veteran QB took care of the ball, the offense was noticeably less explosive with Cousins under center. Most assumed the Falcons could defeat the Dolphins even without their starting quarterback, but the group just never looked in sync. Cousins completed 21 of 31 passes for 174 yards. The performance likely did little to boost his value before the NFL trade deadline.

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The Falcons offense scored just three points in the first half, racking up 58 total yards and going 0-for-5 on third down. Bijan Robinson had just 12 yards on five carries in the first half. Kyle Pitts continued to carry the load, leading the team with 35 receiving yards at halftime. Pitts finished a team-high nine catches for 59 yards on Sunday. Atlanta managed just 213 yards for the day, and scored 10 points for a second straight week. The offensive line failed to open up holes in the running game and the passing attack was ineffective.

Defense falls back to earth

The Falcons offense didn’t exactly put the defense in a good spot on Sunday, but Jeff Ulbrich’s unit fell short against the Dolphins. Tagovailoa, who had thrown 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions coming into Week 8, passed for four touchdowns against the NFL’s No. 1 ranked passing defense. The Dolphins running game racked up 141 yards on the ground and 205 yards through the air.

De’Von Achane outplays Bijan Robinson

Robinson had arguably his worst game of the season on a day when the team really needed him to step up. The Falcons offensive line didn’t do him any favors, but Robinson’s fumble in the third quarter killed the only promising offensive drive of the game. The third-year running back finished with 25 rushing yards on nine carries. Dolphins running back De’Von Achane outplayed Robinson, rushing for 67 yards and adding 24 receiving yards and a touchdown.

What’s next for the Falcons in Week 9?

Up next, the Falcons will head to New England to take on the Patriots. Drake Maye has helped revive the offense while the team has improved defensively under head coach Mike Vrabel. Atlanta has struggled on the road, going 1-2 in three games this season. Can the Falcons end their road woes before heading off to face the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin? We’ll find out in Week 9. The Falcons and Patriots will face off on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. ET.