Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s vision for an enhanced pass rush centered on a sustainable four-man rush. He said as much after the team’s dual first-round selections of edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce in this past year’s draft:

“The best defenses are the ones where they have four down, five down, they get down and they got guys that can just win. The people that are constantly fabricating defense and gimmicking things up…there’s good weeks, there’s bad weeks, there’s good weeks, there’s bad weeks. And we’re trying to create greatness here that can be sustained.”

The...

The odds of making the playoffs are slim, but the Atlanta Falcons could still end the season with 7 or 8 wins. Not the goal anyone had at the beginning of the season, but will in-season circumstances sway ownership when Week 18 comes to a close?

Coaching

Since Michael Penix Jr. went down and Kirk Cousins went under center, we’ve heard a lot of different quotes to explain why that hasn’t happened. Cousins is more comfortable; Zac Robinson has reiterated that they can still have success doing the same things out of the pistol. If you’ve been paying close...

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! We have a look at the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets practice reports for Thursday, as the two struggling teams prepare to face off on Sunday.

Let’s take a look.

Falcons injury report, Thursday, Nov. 27

Full

• LB Malik Verdon (shoulder)

Limited

• LG Matthew Bergeron (ankle)

• WR KhaDarel Hodge (shoulder)

• LB JD Bertrand (knee)

• RG Chris Lindstrom (foot)

Did Not Practice

• WR Drake London (knee)

• LB Josh Woods (hamstring)

Jets injury report, Thursday, Nov. 27

Full

• N/A

Limited

• DL Harrison Phillips (foot)

*Did...

You’ve got your one leg, two legs, three legs, four legs, five legs, six legs of turkey. You’ve got your green bean casserole, your mac and cheese, your mashed potatoes, and your cranberry sauce that plops from the can. You’ve got pies you’ve ready to die fighting to get an extra slice of. You’re ready for Thanksgiving, and you’re ready for football.

If you’re kicking around today and want to talk about the games with your fellow Falcons fans, please use this as your open thread. We’ll pick our Falcons coverage back up tomorrow!

The Falcons take on the Jets in Week 13 with their slim postseason hopes on the line. Kevin Knight breaks down the matchup, including the stakes for both teams, how Atlanta is likely to attack New York on offense and defense, and why this game a big test for the Falcons struggling run defense. Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to another episode of the Dirty Birds and Brews podcast!

You can also listen to all of our video shows in an audio-only podcast format, available on all your favorite podcast platforms or by using the player below.

If you’re interested in supporting...

The Atlanta Falcons finally beat a team they were supposed to. Their three previous wins this year had come against Vikings and Bills teams expected to be far better than they actually are and the Commanders before they came apart completely, while their losses came to the Panthers (twice!) and hapless Dolphins, as well as a few good teams. The Saints represented yet another bottom feeder, but this time Atlanta actually won.

Now what? The Falcons keep the softest stretch of their schedule going with a matchup against the New York Jets. They’re one of four teams with two wins...

Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season was everything we love about football wrapped into one weekend. Jameis Winston and the New York Giants, despite the loss, were arguably the most fun watch of the slate. The Los Angeles Rams planted their flag as the best team in the league with a statement win. And the Atlanta Falcons… did they actually keep their microscopic playoff hopes (a whopping 3%) alive by smashing the New Orleans Saints?

Up to 20 teams still have a real shot at the postseason. Heading into Thanksgiving, what more could you ask for?

Now Week 13...

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Falcons fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Heading into Week 13, we want to know how you’re feeling after watching the team so far this year. Every week of the season we will ask fans if they are confident the team is headed in the right direction and more of the most pressing questions facing the coming game. Let us know what you think!

Please take our survey

Lost seasons are always difficult to digest, especially when your team is approaching nearly a decade of not making the playoffs. A franchise that has been aggressive in acquiring talent can’t possibly be looking toward 2026 before Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, that’s where the Falcons stand at a time of uncertainty across the organization. A feel-good win against the Saints will help alleviate some of the current tension, but there are lingering questions that will be addressed in January.

For one of the best times of the year, it’s a good time to reflect on the positives. There is no shortage of...

After a much-needed hate week victory, the Falcons look slightly less hapless. They’re also, against all odds and reason, still in the NFC South race with the Panthers looking mediocre and the Buccaneers collapsing in slow motion. You have to win the easy games to even entertain that thought, though.

That means beating the Saints, as they did, and it also means beating the Jets. One of the league’s worst teams and one that just benched Justin Fields for 36-year-old Tyrod Taylor, who was last a full-time starting quarterback in 2017, New York has loaded up on draft picks in...

For the third straight week, only one team in the division won a game. This was the NFC South we were raised on; this is home. Here’s the Week 12 NFC South review.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5)

Week 12 Result: Buccaneers 7 – Rams 34

Week 13 Opponent: Arizona Cardinals

The Buccaneers have lost three in a row after going through a mini-gauntlet that included the Patriots, Bills, and Rams. Early-season hype has died down, and this team looks good by NFC South standards, but that’s a low bar. Todd Bowles’ defense has been getting shredded, but you also...

The Falcons took down the rival Saints to snap a 5-game losing streak in Week 12. Kevin Knight and Tre’Shon Diaz review the film and discuss the bounce-back game from the defense, the continued dominance (!!) of Atlanta’s pass rush, the welcome but puzzling changes to the offense with Kirk Cousins at the helm, and the emergence of Zane Gonzalez and the kicking game. Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to another episode of the Dirty Birds and Brews podcast!

You can also listen to all of our video shows in an audio-only podcast format, available on all your favorite podcast platforms or...