When did your eye begin twitching? When did your coronary heart choose up the tempo? When did you begin pondering “oh man, right here we go once more?”
The Atlanta Falcons have made us into nervous soccer followers over time, and even when your doubts solely cropped up for a fleeting second, I’ve little doubt that they appeared in unwelcome vogue when the Falcons went down early, allowed that final minute landing drive to the Panthers within the first half, or at another level. The Falcons have dropped too many of those video games—those that must be laughers in opposition to unhealthy groups like Carolina—to not spark fear.
And for a half and maybe a bit longer, the Falcons appeared on the cusp of stumbling. They let the Panthers get out to an early lead, allowed that landing to chop their very own result in 22-14 heading into the half, and let Carolina’s restricted forged of playmakers feast for stretches. In years previous, these cascading small errors would have doomed them.
In 2024, although, this sport served as a welcome reminder that these frustrations might be momentary ones and the bigger issues don’t routinely equal losses. Regardless of some genuinely unhealthy stretches of soccer, the Falcons received this sport by 18 factors and will have added extra had Clark Phillips not made a Raheem Morris-applauded choice to chop his pick-six within the sport’s waning moments brief so Atlanta may kneel it out and reduce Carolina’s .01% probability of a comeback right down to zero %. They scored 38 factors, allowed simply six factors within the second half, and took full benefit of a depleted Carolina protection to run for over 200 yards. After two extremely discouraging losses to Carolina in 2022 and 2023, the Falcons floor them to mud by the top of this one.
In doing so, the Falcons did greater than overcome the Panthers, although their 3-0 divisional report and perch atop the NFC South is after all of the utmost significance. The Falcons overcame a current previous that has seen them fall sufferer to letdowns in opposition to unhealthy groups, particularly after massive, emotional wins. The Falcons have now strung collectively three wins in a row, all in opposition to the NFC South, and dispatched every one with clutch performs and massive second half stops. There are sufficient what ifs right here to maintain you up at evening when you’re inclined to nerves, however these must be steadily fading because the wins stack up. Atlanta is placing its persistent troubles and sordid historical past behind them, and whereas it’s by no means going to be a clear break, the profitable soccer and resilience are doing a lot to make us consider that this staff may simply be a bit completely different.
They’ll proceed to take every new problem one week at a time, and we’re nonetheless ready for a sport the place the run protection holds up and each phases of the offense play nicely for 4 quarters. The truth that the Falcons are 4-2 with out all of that taking place bodes nicely, and with one other massive NFC matchup looming in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks, there’s one other probability to earn a convention win and pull the whole lot collectively. Within the meantime, we get to benefit from the wins and the progress, each of which develop a bit sweeter by the week.
On to the complete recap.
The Good
- This was not the surgical Kirk Cousins of Week 5 in opposition to Tampa Bay; certainly, a few of his early passes had been so syrupy gradual that they gave Carolina defenders an actual probability to choose them off. Cousins nonetheless stored this offense out of hassle and transferring alongside on time, spreading the ball round whereas avoiding turnovers and ending with a clear 225 yards on 30 makes an attempt with a landing. There are only a few everlasting breakthroughs within the NFL, and Cousins just isn’t going to place up 400-500 yard video games weekly. If he can restrict errors, be crisp, and make the most of his playmakers, the Falcons will not be going to battle to place up factors, and they didn’t in opposition to the Panthers.
- It took a bit time for the Falcons to lean on the run—that they had only one six yard Bijan Robinson on their abbreviated first drive—however as soon as they did the yards began piling up. Tyler Allgeier picked up a pair of first downs on Atlanta’s second drive after which Bijan powered it in to cap issues off for a landing. Bijan then punched in a second landing because of a pleasant Jake Matthews block, and he had his finest day on the bottom by a rustic mile in opposition to Carolina’s decimated entrance. The duo mixed for 210 yards on the bottom and three touchdowns, powering Atlanta to victory regardless of their many hiccups in different phases of the sport. It was arguably the very best sport of the season for each backs as runners, and hopefully an indication of issues to return with a weak Seattle protection on deck.
- Drake London is a participant Kirk Cousins trusts, and with good motive. He was a pressure over the center on this one, reeling in Cousins’ sole passing landing of the sport and catching seven balls for 88 yards total, lots of them with further levels of problem owing to close by defenders and additional yardage. He’s having the season his expertise instructed he may have with higher quarterbacking.
- On a day the place Darnell Mooney (3 for 38) and Ray-Ray McCloud (3 for 30) had high quality performs however had been a bit quieter, Cousins discovered Kyle Pitts as his massive play writer. Pitts had a much-criticized play ultimately zone we’ll speak about later, however he additionally had a 52 yard seize and a few clutch catches, ending the day with three receptions for 70 yards. After his ugly goose egg in opposition to the Saints, Pitts has flourished, placing up a mixed 10 receptions and 158 yards over the previous two weeks.
- The road continues to do underrated work. Even acknowledging the injured state of the Carolina entrance, Atlanta managed to not enable a single sack for Cousins (aided by Cousins eliminating the ball, we should always add) and paved the best way for that nice sport on the bottom by Bijan and Allgeier. Even with out all-world run blocker Drew Dalman at middle, the Falcons are holding up extraordinarily nicely, and this run ought to get Ryan Neuzil re-signed in Atlanta.
- On one more quiet day for the move rush, Grady Jarrett was the closest factor Atlanta needed to a constantly disruptive presence, and he was fairly rattling shut. Jarrett made a number of spectacular run stops, beat overmatched Carolina offensive linemen, and compelled Dalton off schedule. The Falcons really want classic Jarrett to unlock their potential up entrance, and this regarded intriguingly shut, matchup acknowledged.
- A.J. Terrell hasn’t had an interception in a very long time, and he’s come near it a few instances in current weeks. He lastly obtained one in opposition to the Panthers and at an opportune time, stopping a fourth quarter Carolina drive chilly when he merely obtained in entrance of a ball over the center and reeled it in. Paired with a few good run stops, Terrell did rather a lot to erase the early sport grumbling about his efficiency, which we’ll speak about later.
- Clark Phillips didn’t simply make a wonderful, heads-up play on his interception, studying Andy Dalton and leaping the route. He additionally made a play Raheem Morris praised, electing to slip down wanting a landing on a play I’m certain he badly wished to be a pick-six. The rationale Morris praised that? As a result of as a substitute of giving Carolina the tiniest sliver of an opportunity for a comeback and organising a closing drive the place Atlanta may have ostensibly suffered a late, unwelcome damage, the Falcons had been in a position to kneel it out and take away all doubt. The result would doubtless have been very a lot the identical with a bigger level differential had Phillips scored, however a team-first choice like that can solely earn Phillips extra belief from the teaching workers.
- Zach Harrison blew in to a punt try within the second quarter to partially block it, guaranteeing it fluttered to about midfield, after which Clark Phillips returned it 10-plus yards. That’s the sort of massive particular groups play the Falcons need to make each week, and it was authored by a pair of younger, succesful defenders who occur to be main particular groups contributors. That’s enjoyable to see. Harrison wants extra alternatives on protection, given his evident expertise.
- I actually liked the choice to go for 2 when the Falcons had been up 13-10 and a Carolina penalty gave them a shot at doing so nearer to the objective line. The chance to show a shorter-than-normal additional level try into two factors with a great offensive line matched up in opposition to a flagging Panthers protection was a great one, and Atlanta ought to be aggressive with these alternatives. Kudos to Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson for making it occur.
- Atlanta’s capacity to repeatedly restrict the harm in second halves is changing into a noticeable pattern and a testomony to their capacity to regulate in-game. After Weeks 1 and a couple of, the place they allowed 9 factors in every half to the Steelers and 14 factors to the Eagles within the second half after holding them to seven within the first, the Falcons have allowed fewer factors within the second half than the primary half for a month straight. That features back-to-back efforts the place they allowed a number of scores within the first half and simply six factors within the second half, which helped them slip by the Buccaneers in extra time and down the Panthers.
- Let’s discuss milestones for a second. The primary three sport profitable streak since 2019, the primary 4-2 report since 2016, a 3-0 divisional mark, and a 4-0 mark in opposition to the NFC will not be issues we’re used to seeing from Atlanta, and it has put them in a wonderful place of their division and within the NFC. A win in opposition to Seattle subsequent week would put them in a fair higher place to have tiebreakers over the roster of would-be NFC playoff groups, and the sky’s the restrict if they’ll maintain chaining these victories collectively.
The Ugly
- The A.J. Terrell debate continues after a tough begin to this one. The Falcons’ prime cornerback has been quietly sturdy all year long with a couple of hiccups, however he was a sufferer a number of instances on the second Panthers drive that led to a landing, most notably ultimately zone working in opposition to Diontae Johnson. He would break via late to erase a few of these doubts, however there are lots of tough matchups in opposition to prime receivers to return, and Terrell will have to be extra constant to quiet the criticism. I totally anticipate that to occur, for what it’s price.
- Ray-Ray McCloud makes so many massive performs, however he mixes these in with some actually baffling selections. Within the second quarter, he dove regardless of being previous the primary down marker and it was dominated a fumble after a problem, leading to a Carolina restoration. He had snatched a deflected move out of the air for a primary down earlier, however that goodwill was erased by that play, even when the decision was a questionable one. McCloud has been a optimistic contributor and a terrific addition total, however I hope that is the final time we see one in every of these sorts of split-second poor selections.
- Mark Sanchez’s disgust on the published was tangible within the late third quarter when Kirk Cousins threw it up into the again of the top zone below stress, along with his hearth centered on Kyle Pitts. I’m pretty sure the ball was A) not the place Pitts anticipated it and B) not catchable, so whereas a superlative effort would have been appreciated, this gave the impression to be extra of a case of Pitts’ status resulting in analysts anticipating absolutely the worst of him than some unforgivable sin from him. That’s an unsightly factor for Pitts, a participant who is absolutely beginning to make his mark on this offense, however I don’t suppose it was a very good bit of criticism.
- Lorenzo Carter has simply not performed significantly nicely this yr after being one of many protection’s most dependable gamers in current seasons, and he had maybe his single most aggravating play of the season in opposition to Carolina. With the Panthers driving and Dalton trying like a sitting duck within the pocket in opposition to a dashing Carter, he went too excessive and rolled off the quarterback’s shoulders, permitting Dalton to flee and choose up 14 yards to maintain the drive alive and arrange a Panthers rating. It was simply one in every of many failures on that drive, nevertheless it was a visual one from a participant who simply hasn’t added sufficient for this protection.
- The smaller errors maintain piling up for Atlanta. Whether or not it’s a penalty at an inopportune time, Mooney leaping for a ball he doesn’t want to leap for and turning a surefire landing into a primary down, Cousins hanging on to the ball a bit too lengthy and practically forcing a turnover,or most notably Carter lacking a surefire sack, the best way the Falcons flip productive performs into much less productive ones continues to restrict their appreciable upside. On this one, that turned what may have been a stress-free afternoon into one which was extra tense than it wanted to be. These errors will occur to each staff; there’s nonetheless a necessity to chop down the sheer incidence.
- We knew what the Panthers wished to do. They needed to throw it to Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette and run it with Chuba Hubbard, and the Falcons needed to put the brakes on these three choices. Disturbingly, they struggled to take action, which led to this sport being an agonizing watch. Hubbard routinely broke tackles and obtained one good block from a banged up Panthers offensive line to choose up chunk yardage, Johnson was hyper-productive, and Legette made some good catches, all aided by an absence of constant stress on Andy Dalton that allowed him the time and house to make these throws. The efficiency of the run protection was significantly discouraging but once more, with Hubbard averaging over 5 yards per carry and routinely assembly little resistance from defenders being blocked by Carolina’s second or third string linemen. It’s truthful to say that as Falcons determine issues out on offense, do strong work as a move protection, and begin grabbing turnovers, the shortage of move rush and the shaky state of the run protection loom because the staff’s main weaknesses.
The Wrapup
Recreation MVP
It’s not a single particular person, so perhaps it appears like dishonest, however the run sport was the MVP of this one. With three touchdowns and over 200 yards, Tyler Allgeier, Bijan Robinson, the offensive line, and Zac Robinson made some lovely, profitable music for this Falcons staff.
One Takeaway
The Falcons can win video games in all kinds of the way in opposition to all kinds of groups, and that sort of variability and flexibility is an enormous deal in an extended season.
Subsequent Week
The Falcons return house to play the scuffling Seattle Seahawks, a proficient staff that may simply get right into a shootout with Atlanta, however hasn’t been nice of late. Try Subject Gulls for extra.
Last Phrase
Anotherqualitywin.