Atlanta Falcons Hold Down New Orleans Saints In NFC South Showdown
In a rivalry as bitter as Thanksgiving dinner with your in-laws, the Atlanta Falcons finally snapped their five-game losing streak, taking down the much-hated New Orleans Saints 24-10. No, this win doesn’t magically erase the dumpster fire that has been much of Atlanta’s season, but beating the Saints? That is the kind of medicine that makes the work week a whole lot sweeter.
The Falcons came out swinging, dominating the first half. They then relied on a gritty, opportunistic defense and some big-play heroics in the second half to seal the deal. Let’s break down the thrilling takeaways from Sunday’s much-needed victory.
Falcons Offense: A Tale Of Two Halves
Remember that time the Falcons’ receiving corps looked like they were picked up from a local flag football league? Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson wasn’t about to let that happen again. With Drake London sidelined, instead of repeating the insanity of the Dolphins game, Robinson went old-school. He leaned into the Falcons’ strength: running the football.
This meant a heavy dose of three-tight-end sets (13 personnel), so much so that FOX flashed a graphic saying it was the most any team had used that formation since 2016. It was a beautiful, bruising display of smash-mouth football that even got fourth-string Tight End Feleipe Franks a quarterback sneak for a crucial fourth-down conversion. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective.
Then, in the fourth quarter, just when the Saints thought they had a handle on things, Kirk Cousins uncorked a beauty. He found Darnell Mooney for a 49-yard touchdown. It was Mooney’s first TD of the season, a play that seemed to exorcise months of frustration and bad luck. For Cousins, it was his 290th career touchdown pass, tying him with the legendary Johnny Unitas. Not bad company.
Falcons Defense: Bend, Don’t Break
The Falcons’ defense has had its pride tested lately. After shutting down the Saints in the first half, they came out in the third quarter to a challenge. The Saints ran the ball 10 straight times, chewing up the clock and marching down the field. But when it mattered most, on fourth-and-one from the one-yard line, the defense stood tall.
Linebacker Ronnie Harrison batted down a pass, and the goal line held. It was a statement. They did it again on the next drive, forcing a field goal after another first-and-goal situation. The Saints owned the ball for what felt like an eternity in the second half but only scraped together three points.
What’s Next For the Falcons?
Look, this win doesn’t suddenly make the Falcons Super Bowl contenders. They’re 4-7, and they beat a Saints team that’s clearly in rebuild mode. But it stops the bleeding. It gives the locker room a reason to smile and the fans a reason to hold their heads high.
Next up are the New York Jets, another team that’s seen better days. Could this be the start of a late-season surge? Probably not, but for one glorious week, Atlanta owns the bragging rights. And in this rivalry, that is a victory in itself.
