Falcons build on best start since Super Bowl season

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons have been competitive in the NFC South the past few seasons when they were playing their best football, but this season is different.

The feeling is this year’s team has still not put together a truly complete performance, and yet, not only have the Falcons been competitive, they’re in command of the NFC South.

“Sometimes, it feels like we’re not even there yet,” All-Pro guard Chris Lindstrom said. “So, I think we still have room to improve, and to be where we are is awesome.”

Atlanta is 6-3, the franchise’s best record since 2016, the season it made the Super Bowl. The Falcons are 4-0 in the NFC South, have a 6-1 record in the NFC and have won five of their last six games following a 27-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

The Falcons have wallowed in mediocrity of late with back-to-back-to-back 7-10 seasons. They have not been to the playoffs nor had a winning record since 2017.

Neither of those things is guaranteed in 2024. But Atlanta is in pole position to win the NFC South and earn a home playoff game. ESPN’s Football Power Index gave the Falcons a 76.6% chance to make the playoffs and a 70.8% chance to win their division coming into this week.

“I know [Falcons owner Arthur Blank] wants more than six wins, and I know it’s my job to go out there and get it,” first-year Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “So, this organization deserves more, and this team deserves more. These coaches deserve more, and we are hungry, man. Just want to go out there and keep getting them.”

Here’s a look at the reasons the Falcons have been able to have the success they’ve had so far:

Quarterback play

The Falcons made a hefty investment in Kirk Cousins in the offseason, to the tune of four years and $180 million, with about $100 million guaranteed. Some scoffed, considering Cousins was turning 36 this year and coming off a torn Achilles. So far, Cousins has been worth the price, and then some. He has 17 touchdown passes through Week 9, which matches the total Atlanta quarterbacks had all last season. The Falcons struggled to find a franchise quarterback after trading Matt Ryan in 2022, but Cousins is solidifying the position.

Coming into Week 9, Cousins was third in the league in passing yards (2,106) and tied for fourth in touchdown passes (14). His QBR after eight games (61.2) was 10th in the NFL and his second-best QBR since 2016.

The Falcons invested in skill-position players in the top 10 of the three drafts before Cousins arrived: tight end Kyle Pitts in 2021, wide receiver Drake London in 2022 and running back Bijan Robinson in 2023. Cousins has helped them all put things together. London caught his sixth touchdown of the season Sunday, which matches his combined career total coming into this season — and the best total for a Falcons player since 2020 (Calvin Ridley). It’s only Week 9. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney, a free-agent signing, is having a career year. He and London came into Week 9 as the only receiver duo in the NFL with more than 500 yards apiece.

On top of all that, Cousins has led the Falcons to come-from-behind wins late against the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In all of those games, Atlanta was trailing in the final minute.

“Realistically, it’s having the ability to get a quarterback in here who can absolutely deal to all of the guys that we have, all the different talent that we have,” Morris said. “He’s just a playmaker. … More importantly, I’m more proud of his leadership that he’s been able to show throughout the whole process, whether it’s been in his quarterback room or spreading throughout the team. I think it’s just been awesome.”

Bijan Robinson

In his second year, Robinson has rounded into one of the very best running backs in the league. He hasn’t just been the catalyst in the running game, he’s also a very potent receiver out of the backfield and a force in pass protection with his blocking. Coming into Week 9, Robinson was fifth in the NFL in all-purpose yards (790) and had 145 more Sunday.

Robinson had seven catches against the Cowboys, including a 29-yard gain. Defenses not only need to respect the Falcons’ run game — which includes Tyler Allgeier, who is also having a fine season — but also Robinson’s ability to be a receiver.

“It’s a big deal,” Cousins said. “When I got here, I wanted him to be a receiver for us. I wanted him to show up in the pass game, I want to check the ball down to him. I want to put the ball in his hands.”

Timely takeaways

The Falcons’ defense has had its issues. It’s one of the worst units in the NFL at getting pressure on the quarterback. Stopping the run has been only a bit better. What Atlanta has been good at doing is limiting explosive plays — and getting the ball back into the offense’s hands when it is needed most. The Falcons have four interceptions in the fourth quarter, tied for the second most in the league. Atlanta has only seven interceptions overall, so all but three of them have come in crunch time.

Cornerback A.J. Terrell had fourth-quarter interceptions against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers when both were driving and looking to cut into Atlanta leads. Safety Jessie Bates III had a huge pick against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2 to seal the Falcons’ first victory of the season. Atlanta has had the playmakers in the secondary who can bail the team out when the pass rush falters.