The Falcoholic
With the calendar rolling over to a new year, the Atlanta Falcons look to put a period at the end of the sentence to close out their 2025 season. Their finale is against their hated rival, the New Orleans Saints, with a chance to achieve their first four-game winning streak since the end of 2019. It could prove to be a historic day with a Falcons win, and one Falcon in particular could find his name in the NFL record books should he dominate again. But while one name creates intrigue due to his historic pursuits, four others also have a chance to do so by ending on a positive note.
Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has another potential date with history if he gains 255 yards from scrimmage to break Chris Johnson’s single-season record. That would take a Herculean effort from Robinson, exceeding his career-high of 238 set earlier this season against the Buffalo Bills. It’s doable, but would exceed the career-high he’s had against the Saints of 144, and would far exceed the most the Saints have allowed this year, which was 138 scrimmage yards to D’Andre Swift earlier this season.
While Falcons wide receiver Drake London isn’t expected to break any records against the Saints, a strong performance is welcome. London, since returning from his PCL sprain, has struggled to impact the last two games with a combined four catches for 31 yards. With London’s potential to cash in with a huge extension this offseason, a more productive day would be a nice way to finish an injury-marred season.
Falcons rookie edge rusher James Pearce has a chance to be the first Falcons pass rusher to hit double-digit sacks since Vic Beasley in 2016 if he can match the 1.5 sacks he had in the previous game against the Saints. Duplicating that production may be harder given the return of right tackle Taliese Fuaga, who was absent in Week 12. Fuaga has given up just one sack in his last nine starts, according to PFF, making him a far more formidable challenge for Pearce. However, like London, Pearce has an opportunity to finish his impressive 2025 campaign with a bang.
With Brandon Dorlus out, it’ll be up to defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro to tag-team with Pearce and provide the bulk of the interior push against the Saints. Ruke’s seven pressures during the Falcons’ recent three-game winning streak rank third only behind Pearce and Dorlus in that span. Another multi-pressure would be a nice way to finish the season, where Orhorhoro was often overshadowed by his fellow 2024 draft pick. It would give the Falcons a second young interior player to get excited about.
With Saints wide receiver Chris Olave out of the lineup due to blood clots, it’ll likely fall on Falcons linebacker Divine Deablo to draw the most challenging coverage assignment instead of cornerback A.J. Terrell. That’s because Saints tight end...
