We settled in for growing pains and regular pains. The Atlanta Falcons had switched out starting center Drew Dalman for Ryan Neuzil, and then lost right tackle Kaleb McGary (and top backup Storm Norton) before the season even began. Expecting the team to change out two starters and still enjoy high-end offensive line play felt like a bit too much to ask, especially with Jake Matthews entering his age 33 season.
Surprisingly, though, the Falcons line has been pretty good. Matthews is lagging even more
than usual as a run blocker, Matthew Bergeron is scuffling in pass protection again, and Chris Lindstrom hasn’t quite played at his absurdly high level. Despite all of that, the Falcons have done a solid job blocking for Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, and per some metrics, they rank as one of the best pass protection groups in the NFL.
What’s driving this? Customarily terrific pass protection from Jake Matthews, who has been one of the better options on the left side in that regard leaguewide for a full decade, plus far-better-than-anticipated play from both Neuzil and Wilkinson. Neuzil has been better than Dalman if you go by Pro Football Focus metrics—he’s allowed four pressures versus Dalman’s nine—and has been quite good run blocking, completing an impressive career arc that has seen him go from undrafted free agent guard to quality starting center. And Wilkinson, who last played right tackle full-time in Denver back in 2020, has played like a solid starter and may not be giving this job back to Norton when he returns. These players, this coaching staff, and this front office deserve credit for assembling a line that was able to weather multiple significant losses and still show up to protect Michael Penix Jr. at this level.
There are reasons to believe this will get a little better, even with some inevitable pullback from Elijah Wilkinson likely to come in the weeks ahead. Bergeron was much better in pass protection a year ago than his rough rookie season, but hasn’t played up to that standard in 2025 and has the talent to do so. Lindstrom has been merely good instead of “best guard in the NFL” good, and that’s the standard of play we can reasonably expect from him at some point this season. Maintaining good health will be key—I don’t think I want to find out if Kyle Hinton and Jovaughn Gwyn can be pleasant surprises—but keeping Penix relatively clean and the ground game cooking feels well within reach. The pressure is on the skill position guys to do their part and make this the caliber of offense we believe it can be.
With some tough pass rushes on the way via Buffalo and San Francisco, the line will have show it can keep things up. But this encouraging early start suggests they can, and if so, a flourishing passing game feels within reach for the 2025 Falcons.
