Winning three games in a row is a significant statement of dominance, but when you're able to take down three divisional opponents like the Falcons just did, a lot of things can start to go your way. Having that early divisional tiebreaker is a huge advantage heading into the heart of the season. The offense has carried the team over the past couple of weeks, demonstrating its versatility by airing the ball out for over 500 yards one week and then turning around to run for 200 yards between Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson the next. This is precisely how the offense is supposed to look—versatile and effective at getting the ball to its playmakers.
There are still lingering issues, such as the pass rush and play calling, but even those have improved significantly in recent weeks. Remarkably, this is the first time the Falcons have started 4-2 since 2016, the year they went to the Super Bowl (wink, wink). It's also the first time they've had a three-game winning streak since 2019. Raheem Morris has brought a different vibe to the team, and we've seen the Falcons win the last two games in different ways, avoiding the one-dimensional play that was common in previous years under Arthur Smith.
Defense
Overall, the Falcons' defense did not play a terrible game. However, the ongoing issue of not recording sacks has hurt this defense. With Baker Mayfield’s performance last week and then Andy Dalton throwing for over 200 yards and two touchdowns this week, it's also starting to affect the secondary’s performance. So, what's the big issue? For starters, Grady Jarrett and Matt Judon’s combined sack total (1.5) has remained the same since Week 2, and the only other defensive lineman who has recorded a sack is David Onyemata, Jarrett’s backup. Between players like Arnold Ebiketie, Lorenzo Carter, and James Smith-Williams—who all get a healthy amount of snaps on the line—there needs to be better execution. I have confidence in Raheem Morris and Jimmy Lake to figure out a plan. I like what they've been doing with blitzes to aid the pass rush, but it might be time for the Falcons to explore the trade market for a pass rusher. Haason Reddick could be an option.
As for the secondary, they also performed well. Deeper into the season, you start to notice that no matter how good a secondary is, a lack of pass rush will affect their performance, and we've seen that over the past couple of weeks. However, that shouldn’t overshadow the two great plays the Falcons made. The first came from A.J. Terrell, who recorded his first interception since 2021. It was a beautiful read deep in Atlanta territory and set up Allgeier’s rushing touchdown. The other key interception came from Clark Phillips on the Panthers' last drive of the game. Phillips could have quickly taken it into the end zone for a touchdown but chose to stop short and let the offense kneel out the game.
Again, I liked what we saw from the Dirty Birds' defense on Sunday. Another interesting stat to note: the longest play the Falcons have given up this year was a 21-yard pass. All season, the Falcons' defense has done a phenomenal job of keeping plays in front of them and preventing explosive gains. If Atlanta can improve execution or upgrade their pass rush, this defense could become one of the elite groups in the league.
Offense
Comfort within the offense is something I've discussed over the last couple of weeks, and now, with the performance of the offense in the past two games, the Falcons' offensive identity has finally been found. It’s clear that the team wants to move the ball downfield more through the passing game, which makes sense, especially with Kirk Cousins fully healthy and the talents of Drake London and Darnell Mooney on the outside. However, this team's running game can easily be one of the best, if not the best, in the league, as we saw on Sunday with Allgeier and Robinson combining for over 200 yards.
There’s no question that the Falcons feature two running backs who could easily be starters, and I’d even go so far as to say that Allgeier could start in 95% of the league's offenses. Watching both running backs' success is impressive, mainly due to their different running styles. Robinson is more of a cut/east-to-west runner, while Allgeier relies on power as his primary asset to gain yards. These two truly deserve the "Thunder and Lightning" nickname, and both are capable of being the leading rusher in this offense. I also appreciated how Zac Robinson incorporated more than just outside zone runs; in previous weeks, it seemed like teams were starting to key in on those. The variations of power and inside zone runs added a new dimension. Their performance was likely aided by facing fewer defenders in the box, thanks to their QB's 500-yard passing performance the week prior. It’ll be interesting to see how Z-Rob utilizes the running game in future weeks, hopefully leading to more dominant performances like this one.
Speaking of the Falcons' passing attack, how about Drake London’s performance over the last couple of weeks? The 23-year-old receiver has amassed 228 yards and two touchdowns on 18 catches during that span. He has already tied his career-high for touchdowns in a single season with 4, and we’ve only seen six weeks of football. London is solidifying himself as a top receiver in the NFL—it’s remarkable what a veteran QB can do for a young receiver like London.
Atlanta will head back to the Benz next week to host the Seattle Seahawks. Although the Seahawks haven’t had the best start to the year, they still feature a talented receiving corps with Metcalf, Lockett, and JSN. It will undoubtedly be challenging for the Falcons' secondary, which recorded two interceptions last week. As a fan, you must feel content with where the team is. If they can fix the pass rush, they’ll look even more complete. Hopefully, we’ll continue to see a balanced offensive attack, and the Falcons will stay on top of the NFC South!
Conrad's Three Stars
1st Star – Bijan Robinson (15 carries, 95 yards, 2TD, 3 receptions, 10 yards)
2nd Star – Tyler Allgeier (18 carries, 105 yards, 1TD, 1 reception, 3 yards)
3rd Star – Drake London (6 receptions, 74 yards, 1TD)
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