The Atlanta Falcons got a great game from starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr., riding his west coast style game to a shocking victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Penix wouldn't have gotten the job done though if not for some stellar performances from Atlanta's supporting cast. The Falcons' two rookie linebackers Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins definitely deserve some credit, as they combined for 20 tackles and a couple of clutch turnovers to win the game.
The team's best defensive player also came through with a pair of massive plays. Star safety Jessie Bates III pulled off a remarkable interception on the sidelines against Brock Purdy and later forced the game-ending fumble on George Kittle that Daniels recovered.
When it was over,Bates
told Michael Silver at The Athletic that he has total confidence in the Falcons' locker room.
"Yeah, absolutely,” he said, laughing. “We know that we’re not out of the fight yet. (But) even if we were in a division that’s winning, it’s still early. There are plenty of teams that were 2-4 that figured it out and got it rolling. That’s what we’re preaching in there. A lot of teams, they pick and choose. When you’re 2-4, a lot of people walk into work a little bit later; they start just checking off the boxes. The group of men that we have in that locker room, I’ve got nothing but confidence that they’re going to respond.”
Bates is playing out the final year of his contract, which has brought on a lot of commentary about Bates being a potential trade-bait piece for the Falcons.
That has always sounded like a bad idea from where we're sitting - and Bates' monster game this week is proof enough that this team is far better with him on the field than without.
Even if their season gets derailed by injuries or regression, Bates is a rare playmaker at his position and Atlanta should keep him around so long as he can perform at this level.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Jessie Bates has 'nothing but confidence' in Falcons after monster win
