The Falcoholic
James Pearce Jr. made history with his two sacks early in the 3rd quarter, setting a new Atlanta Falcons franchise record for total sacks by the team and the most sacks by a rookie in a single season.
The Falcons went from last place in sacks in 2024 to second most in the league this year. This turnaround has been led by a youth moment, with James Pearce Jr representing the tip of the spear. Other contributors like Jalon Walker, Brandon Dorlus, Kaden Elliss, and Zach Harrison all left their mark on the season, but Pearce has been under a microscope all year, and the pressure has not phased him. Pearce has the most sacks in a season by a rookie since Micah Parsons.
Pearce has heard that he wasn’t worth the pick from the moment he was drafted, and he proved his doubters wrong in year one. The ability to perform when all eyes are on you and a majority doubt you is a rare skill.
Pearce has done something we haven’t seen in a decade, and the Falcons as a team haven’t produced sacks like this since 1997. The hope is that this is only the beginning for him and his comrades. The increase in sacks didn’t produce more wins, which is the most Falcon outcome ever, but this offseason will be the first in years that the pass rush can take a back seat while other, more pressing issues are addressed.
Jeff Ulbrich deserves a lot of credit for maximizing players with his scheme, but Nate Ollie has been the teacher these young pass rushers needed. Ollie was highly touted coming in, and it’s hard to argue with the results.
