The Falcoholic
Naming Atlanta Falcons requires expertise, given the increased attention as the team hosts the Buffalo Bills in primetime on Monday Night Football. With so many more people watching, they need to know their names.
Here are five that will be under the spotlight and will help stop another big name in the Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Sharing the spotlight with Allen will be Falcons quarterback Michael Penix. Monday’s game will mark his second primetime matchup of the season, and it’s another excellent opportunity for him and the team to be in the spotlight. There will inevitably be comparisons between Penix and Allen’s performances, with the former trying to build off an impressive Week 4 outing.
On the verge of his eighth career start, it’s still relatively early in Penix’s career, but he should be entering the phase in his development where he should start stringing multiple good games together. Adding another notch in his belt in the national spotlight could do wonders for his and the team’s growing confidence.
With Penix still developing, the most recognizable face and name on the Falcons is running back Bijan Robinson. Monday’s matchup will present Robinson with another opportunity to prove why he’s among the emerging stars of the NFL. Producing at a high level despite everybody in the stadium knowing that you’re going to get the ball is the mark of a true star player.
Robinson is increasingly showcasing his star power thanks to his dual-threat nature as a pass-catcher. Robinson is coming off a career-high 106 receiving yards in Week 4, and should have similar advantages against a Bills linebacker group that won’t have Matt Milano.
What Robinson is for the Falcons, quarterback Josh Allen is for their opponent. Stopping him is the primary objective for the Falcons’ defense, and veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd should be a significant factor in achieving that goal. Floyd’s experience and familiarity are important since he played for the Bills in 2023. If anybody can find a way to attack a very capable Bills offensive line, it should be Floyd. He practiced against the likes of all five current Bills starting offensive linemen when they were once teammates.
Finding a way to pressure Allen will be critical for the Falcons’ defense to keep their opponent in check. They’d be following the blueprint of the New England Patriots, who beat the Bills last week. If the Falcons are going to achieve a similar result, Floyd can’t do it alone. But he should have more of a leg up than his younger Falcons teammates, who are facing Allen for the first time.
Another player who may have to carry the burden of keeping Allen in check is linebacker Divine Deablo. At least, keeping Allen’s scrambling ability in check. Since it’s likely to fall on Deablo to spy Allen for a large portion of the game, especially if and when the Falcons play man coverage. Allen’s...
