The Falcoholic
An unexpected name shines while Kirk Cousins and Younghoe Koo are down for performance and injury.
Monday Night Football feels like it was weeks ago after the news of Michael Penix starting broke, but there’s still plenty to take away from the performance.
The stocks of Cousins and Koo have bottomed out, while DeAngelo Malone is experiencing the market rise of the year!
Here’s the Week 15 3 up and 3 down.
Terry Fontenot will survive another year thanks to this performance (just kidding, or am I)?
The edge defender got to the quarterback for the first time since 2022. Malone has had a handful of opportunities this season, but this was the first time he took full advantage of them. Maybe it was the memories of Desmond Ridder that gave Malone the spark he needed; perhaps it was the reality of his situation that was likely coming to an end soon in Atlanta.
Regardless, the outside linebacker looked like a real NFL-caliber defender for the first time in his career. These final performances are the last chance for guys to leave an impression, and Malone is off to a good start.
When the news of Andersen going down hit, I initially worried about Elliss being stretched too thin, but those concerns disappeared almost immediately. Elliss was flying around from the first snap and helped contain a Raiders offense for all but two drives on the day. The linebacker has had a volatile season, but it’s become clear that the injuries around him have tanked his ability to shine.
Elliss has been pulled away from his versatile pass rush role far too often, and the defense has suffered. A tough decision will have to be made this offseason as the Falcons have an out in the player’s contract heading into 2025. It seemed like a no-brainer at one point, but can the Falcons afford to lose one of the few pass rush pieces that have?
The only consistent beacon of hope, Bijan had his 10th 100-yard scrimmage game of the season, which is the most by a Falcons since Julio Jones in 2018. Bijan has made lemonade out of lemons all season, consistently outplaying the blocking he’s been given. Against the Raiders, he generated a season-high +43 yards over expected. He’s an offensive lineman’s best friend, which extends to pass protection.
Robinson has lit up just about every defender that steps into the pocket, and there have been many, considering the quarterback he’s been defending is trapped in cement, but that will no longer be the case. Robinson is going to be rookie quarterback Michael Penix’s best friend over these next three starts, and hopefully, it’s the start of a dynamic relationship that can carry the team for years to come.
Well, this one goes without saying. Cousins played so badly that he lost his job. The Falcons elected to give the quarterback one...
