The Atlanta Falcons capped off Week 4 with an emphatic 45-24 win, spoiling the New Orleans Saints “Domecoming” anniversary. Billed as the villain throughout the production, the team embraced the role and broke the Bayou’s hearts. The Falcons are now 2-2 and looking better than ever.
Here are the Week 4 Snap reactions.
The best run game in the league?
Bijan set the stage on his first touch. He reached a top speed of 21.78 MPH on his way to a 59-yard touchdown, and the Saints played catch-up all night. The Robinsons combined for 5 touchdowns
and 187 yards, leading the way to the Falcons win. This backfield is the best in the league, but the entire operation deserves credit.
The coaching staff has stayed committed to mixing in more running concepts like duo and gap, and those calls are starting to pay off as the line gets more comfortable. They’ve also been able to run out of multiple personnel groups, forcing defenses to respect the ground game regardless of who’s on the field. Chris Lindstrom played his best game of the season, Kyle Pitts has continued to be a net positive as a blocker, and Michael Jerrell stepped up when Jake Matthews left with a groin injury. When this train is rolling, it’s hard to name a better operation in the league.
Harold Perkins Jr. Homecoming
Perkins was only a baby when hisfamily had to take shelter at the Superdome during Hurricane Katrina. This game meant as much to him as it did to the enemy fans. Perkins took a season-high 53 snaps (38 in coverage) per PFF. This was his first real test as a rookie, and he was ready for the moment.
Perkins secured 6 solo tackles and a sack, along with a nice pass breakup down the sideline. Up to this point, he hadn’t been asked to be in coverage this much, and that was considered a gap in his game, but this was a promising performance. He was all over the field and finished with the sixth-most snaps on defense.
Michael Penix Jr. stacks another efficient performance
Penix proved his under center play against the Packers wasn’t a fluke. The quarterback was efficient again, completing 75% of his passes and cashing in on deep ball opportunities. Penix isn’t being asked to do a lot, but his arm allows him to be more than a simple game manager.
That arm allows him to elevate the passing game without needing high volume to pick up yards. The route concepts have given London and company plenty of YAC opportunities, creating more explosive plays while keeping attempts down. There may be a time when Penix has to throw 30 or more times a game, but until then, refining his efficiency will help grow his game the most and prepare him for those future occasions.
Trust the process
To say the first two weeks were an overreaction would be an understatement, and almost all of us are guilty. This is a hungry fanbase that’s been promised a winning product for a decade. We still don’t know if that product will materialize by the end of the season, but we know there is now a chance.
The new trio of Ryan, Cunningham, and Stefanski have only just begun to lay the foundation for their vision. Since Penix’s return, that vision is starting to materialize, but it will take more time. Patience will be key, but that doesn’t mean expectations should be low. This team has shown us what it can do, and while the 2027 offseason looks appealing, focusing on what they can do right now matters more. We don’t know what heights this team will reach, but enjoy the process.
The Falcons are now 2-2 and undefeated in prime time. The win is even sweeter when it comes against the Saints. Enjoy the victory and get ready to see the team under the lights again as they take on the Baltimore Ravens.
