Mariota

We were a good team at the start of the year last year....good enough that we finished with a winning record despite starting 58 different players last year. The team we started last season with despite the glaring hole at WR was a deep playoff contender. We lost our QB1 week 7, and our only legit offensive weapon (Kamara) week 8-13 and was still able to claw out and damn near make the playoffs.

Regardless, if we struggle against this bottom of the pot Falcons team, we have problems.
So all those things happened regardless of 'sending a message'?

It's almost as if what happens in game 1, other than whether it's a win or loss, has zero impact on the outcome of the season.

Thanks for making my point for me again.

Stop looking for reasons to be anxious. It's a marathon, not a sprint.