The Atlanta Falcons snapped their five-game losing streak in New Orleans. Kirk Cousins is off to the kind of start he had hoped for, and this defense continues to get after the quarterback. Here’s the Week
12 snap reactions.
Under center uptick
The Falcons still primarily operated out of shotgun and pistol formations before the game got out of hand, but the uptick in under center was notable. The loss of Drake London influenced some of this; the team ran the most 13 personnel since their game against Minnesota, but the other reason is, obviously, Kirk Cousins’ comfort level with it.
This goes back to a comment I made earlier in the week: it would appear the Falcons tried to take a shortcut with Penix, prioritizing personal comfort over the offense’s best interests.
Today showed that the team doesn’t need to be under center dominant; they just need to be willing to mix it into their normal routine. They forced the Saints to adjust their plan of attack, and it led to the best offensive performance in weeks. It was a mistake not to get Penix comfortable running 2-3 plays under center per drive, and now there are even more questions about the lack of under center when Kirk Cousins was the starter in 2024. This is a bad Saints team, so we mustn’t get ahead of ourselves, but it looks like Zac Robinson’s offense isn’t dead yet.
Devine Deablo Returns
The rising star’s return was felt immediately. The second level of the defense wasn’t the weak point in the secondary, and while run defense still needs work, explosive plays were far more limited on the ground. Deablo proved that even with only one working hand, he’s better than any option the Falcons have behind him. If he can stay healthy for the remainder of the season, then this defense could carry this team to a few more wins.
Zane Gonzalez has got the goods
Zane Gonzalez has reminded me of how dark times have truly been for the Falcons kicking operation. Having someone who can make 56-yard field goals has changed how this offense can operate. They, of course, still had a time management issue that prevented them from using their new kicker, but hey, at least they trust him enough to line up for the kick in the first place.
Special teams has been an eye sore this year, but the Falcons may have finally solved their kicking problem.
Pass rush development continues
The Falcons pass rush is no fluke, and it’s being led by the team’s most recent investments. James Pearce Jr has a sack in three straight games and posted the first multi-sack game of his career. Pearce terrorized the Saints battered line most of the afternoon, and he’s taken a step every week. Jalon Walker, Ruke Orhorhoro, and Brandon Dorlus each logged a sack to bring the team’s total to five for the afternoon.
This was the vision Nate Ollie had coming into the season. The by-committee approach has yielded undeniable results, and if the Falcons were wrong for the aggressive moves they made to make this happen, then I don’t want them to be right.
It’s important to remember the Saints stink
This was not a good football team. Wins should always be celebrated, especially against that horrid franchise, but we can’t lose context. Yes, the Falcons were injured, but this was a team they should’ve handled easily, and they did. However, this Falcons team still got in its own way on multiple occasions, with drops, penalties, and clock-management issues. It was good to see them play a more complete game, but we shouldn’t be making too many firm conclusions about what can/will happen down the road, and hopefully, ownership isn’t either.
Could the Falcons go on a run that induces indigestion once the offseason is here? They’re off to a great start if that’s the plan. Future aside, it’s been far too long since the Dirty Dirds have had a win, and that’s why they play the games, so celebrate the day before worrying about what’s next.
