The Falcoholic
The Falcons hold on to give themselves a necessary tiebreaker against their rivals and a huge win on the road.
The Atlanta Falcons needed this one. Early on, it seemed like they might not get it. Late, it seemed like they might squander it. Instead, a team that is cursed to make every game interesting emerged with another major victory, one that saw individual moments of brilliance deliver the win.
You can’t overstate what beating the Buccaneers here means for Atlanta. They’re now 5-3 and in first place by a whole game, 2-0 against the Buccaneers for an ironclad head-to-head tiebreaker, and 4-0 against the NFC South while standing 5-1 against the NFC overall. If they can keep things going and push for a playoff spot, all those numbers will mean a great deal, and they make for good vibes and a good Sunday in the moment.
This was a a testament to the offense all day and the defense in moments. Atlanta overcame self-inflicted mistakes and penalties on offense to rack up the points, with Kirk Cousins once again playing terrific football en route to four touchdown passes, an unreal scramble and sneak to keep things alive, and a turnover-free afternoon. The defense was not great but did clamp down for long stretches, with a pair of interceptions, a forced fumble, and a final stand resulting in victory. The Falcons had to overcome ill-timed penalties, a missed Younghoe Koo field goal, and the complete lack of a pass rush once again, but the fact that they did that is a testament to toughness. The fact that Atlanta’s faith in their own ability never wavered, with fourth down tries and hail mary defenses alike bearing fruit, is icing on a cake of victory.
Atlanta’s flaws loomed large in this one to make it closer than it needed to be, and a more consistent run defense, pass rush, and display of discipline will be essential if they’re going to more than a playoff hopeful in 2024. What stands out to me, a forever optimist, is that this team has won five games despite coming up well short of what I think should be their standard over and over again. If you believe there can be better days—or will be better days—ahead, their strong results despite their process are a bellwether of better days. If not, at least we can enjoy the Falcons being in first place in the here and now.
The Falcons will need to put down a scuffling Cowboys team at home next week to keep the good times rolling, but I suggest you enjoy a run against the NFC South and a perch atop the division accompanied by encouraging results that we haven’t seen in a while. Success can be fleeting in this league, and while I hope these Falcons are built to endure, the moments should be cherished. Celebrate this win and let’s hope for even better going forward, fueled by long-awaited defensive improvement and an offense...
