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The Atlanta Falcons defeated the New York Giants 34-7 behind a solid effort from rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons made a concerted effort to keep Penix upright, allowing him to finish the game without being sacked.
Penix completed 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards and one interception, though the pick wasn’t his fault. In the second quarter, he connected with tight end Kyle Pitts near the end zone, but Pitts bobbled the ball, allowing Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott to make the interception.
Penix Wins in Falcons Debut
The Falcons registered 22 first downs, 10 of which came through the air. They were successful on 8 of 14 third-down attempts and converted 2 of 4 red-zone opportunities—an area where they had struggled in recent weeks under former starter Kirk Cousins.
“He went out and played nearly flawless football, keeping the game clean and giving us the chance to secure the win,” said Falcons coach Raheem Morris of Penix.
Cousins had thrown nine interceptions in his last five games, with only one touchdown pass. During that stretch, the Falcons went 1-4, including a four-game losing streak that saw them drop from 6-3 and in control of the NFC South to fighting for a playoff spot.
The Falcons regained the lead in the NFC South after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.
Can the Falcons Hold On?
The Falcons now have the inside track to make the playoffs as the winner of the NFC South.
The good thing is all Atlanta has to do is win out. So, yes, the Atlanta Falcons can make the playoffs, but it largely depends on how the remaining two games play out. The Falcons must beat the Washington Commanders and the Carolina Panthers, which will be tough tasks.
But let’s explore the Falcons’ playoff chances and the two ways they can make it into the postseason:
1. Win the NFC South Division Race
The NFC South has historically been one of the more competitive divisions in the NFL, but in recent seasons, it has been wide open. In recent years, the division has been up for grabs, with the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers all facing challenges. Even with a loss to Washington, the Falcons have a good chance of winning the division if they beat the Carolina Panthers.
It’s a good chance that Tampa Bay loses one more game, which is good news for the Falcons and means they can potentially win the division and secure an automatic playoff spot.
Division record is crucial. The Falcons have only lost once in the division, a last-second loss to the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome. On the other hand, the Bucs have two losses in the division, thanks to being swept by the Falcons.
A strong divisional record puts Atlanta in the driver’s seat to claim a playoff spot, even if they don’t win the NFC South outright.
Earn a Wild Card Berth
Even if the Falcons don’t win the division, they can still qualify for the playoffs through the wild card. The NFC playoff picture has several wild card spots available, and the Falcons are positioned to compete with other NFC teams, particularly the Commanders, for one of those spots.
Key factors for a wild card berth:
Strong performance in non-division games: Winning against NFC teams outside the South and even some AFC teams will improve their chances.
Win against the Commanders: The Falcons face a must-win against Washington for the last Wild Card spot in the NFC.
Consistency: The Falcons have struggled with consistency in recent seasons, but if they can string together solid performances, they could sneak into the wild card race.
Quarterback play: If Penix continues to improve and avoids turnovers, the offense can become more efficient.
Final Word
The Falcons have a lot to look forward, starting with a chance to make the postseason. But it’s going to take a complete effort.
The Falcons have struggled at times in the red zone, which can hurt their ability to close out games and score enough points to win. If they can improve this aspect of their game, they’ll be more likely to win close contests.
The Falcons’ defense has the potential to be a playoff-caliber unit, especially with players like Grady Jarrett on the defensive line and young talent in the secondary. If they can continue to play solid defense, it will take pressure off their offense and give them a better chance in high-stakes games.
Kirk Cousins’ departure from the Atlanta Falcons is imminent after the 2024 season, according to NFL insiders.
The Falcons are expected to part ways with the veteran signal caller in a deal that likely will be finalized before his $10 million roster bonus is due on March 17, says ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
With the Falcons still in playoff contention, the team has appointed rookie Michael Penix Jr. as the starter, with league executives widely predicting Atlanta will have to release Cousins by the spring.
According to NFL insiders, the split between Cousins and the Falcons is unfolding sooner rather than later.
Front office sources point out that Cousins holds all the leverage due to the no-trade clause in his contract. Few believe he’ll accommodate a team that blindsided him on draft night by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round, only to bench him this week in favor of the rookie.
As a result, there’s growing consensus across the league that the Falcons won’t find a trade partner and will instead release Cousins before his $10 million roster bonus for the 2026 season becomes due. Having already paid him $90 million for just 14 games, the team is unlikely to take on further costs for a quarterback no longer part of their future plans.
Cousins’ Stats Over the Last 4 Games
Kirk Cousins, the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback, played in 11 games from September through November 2024. Here’s a breakdown of his performance during this period:
September 2024:
Games Played: 4
Completions/Attempts: 77/119
Completion Percentage: 64.7%
Passing Yards: 864
Touchdowns: 4
Interceptions: 4
Passer Rating: 83.5
October 2024:
Games Played: 4
Completions/Attempts: 108/152
Completion Percentage: 71.1%
Passing Yards: 1,242
Touchdowns: 10
Interceptions: 3
Passer Rating: 109.0
November 2024:
Games Played: 3
Completions/Attempts: 60/89
Completion Percentage: 67.4%
Passing Yards: 701
Touchdowns: 3
Interceptions: 2
Passer Rating: 93.0
Over these three months, Cousins completed 245 of 360 pass attempts (68.1%) for 2,807 yards, with 17 touchdowns and 9 interceptions, resulting in an average passer rating of approximately 95.2.
In December, his performance declined, leading to his benching in favor of Penix.
After the Atlanta Falcons lost their third-straight game that looked a lot like quarterback ineptitude, many fans in Falcons Nation are getting vocal about making a change.
The burning question that Falcons fan want to know if whether its time to bench Kirk Cousins, who was paid $180 million for a four-year contract, which includes a $50 million signing bonus and $100 million guaranteed. The contract’s average annual value is $45 million.
Should the Falcons Bench Kirk Cousins for Penix?
Future Hall of Famer and former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan says, “I think you’ve got to stick with Kirk.”
Ryan’s rationale is that the Falcons face a Vikings defense with defensive coordinator Brian Flores, “all the different packages that he has from a blitz perspective.”
Ryan didn’t give a ringing endorsement for Cousins over the long haul of the season or even next week’s game.
“If it goes bad and it’s not kind of the first half that you want, I know Raheem has said that he’s not going to make a change at this point, but I think that they’d be apt to make an in-game change. It’s unfortunate because I think Kirk has been a really good player for a long time, but he’s just really struggled over the last couple of weeks.”
The Issue With Kirk Cousins’ Contract
Cousins’ contract with the Falcons will loom large over whether to keep him or trade him after the season. Of course, it also depends on Penix’s readiness.
Details of the contract:
The contract was signed on March 11, 2024
The contract includes a potential out before the 2026 season
The contract makes Cousins the 14th highest-paid quarterback in the NFL
Impact on Cousins’ career earnings:
If Cousins plays out the contract, his career earnings will be just over $411.6 million
Cousins is now second on the list of highest-earning players in NFL history, behind only Aaron Rodgers
Other notable details:
Cousins was coming off a season-ending Achilles injury
Cousins’ contract guarantees $100 million
Can the Falcons Still Win the NFC South?
Yes, the Falcons can still win the NFC South, particularly because they swept the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier in the year. Here’s how the standings currently look.
Standings
NFC SOUTH
W
L
Atlanta Falcons Falcons
6
6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Buccaneers
6
6
New Orleans Saints Saints
4
8
Carolina Panthers Panthers
3
9
Final Word
Cousins is known for his strong accuracy as a passer. Over his career, he has consistently ranked among the top quarterbacks in completion percentage. His ability to place the ball where his receivers can make plays is one of his defining traits. This is especially evident on shorter, intermediate routes, where Cousins thrives in delivering precise throws.
He is experiencing a slump that he must get out of if he’s going to lead the Falcons to the playoffs.
The Atlanta Falcons improved to 6-3 over the year with a thrilling 27-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 3 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Here are five good things that happened in the Atlanta Falcons’ victory over the Dallas Cowboys on November 3, 2024:
1. Strong Quarterback Performance
Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes, showcasing his capability in leading the offense and making crucial plays at pivotal moments during the game.
Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 19 of 24 passes for 222 yards as the Falcons used a ball control attack that kept the Cowboys offense off the field. At one point, Cousins completed 13 straight passes in throwing a 9-yard touchdown to Drake London, a 36-yarder to Darnell Mooney and an 11 yarder to Ray-Ray McCloud.
2. Defensive Dominance
The Falcons’ defense played a crucial role in limiting the Cowboys’ scoring opportunities, preventing them from gaining momentum and forcing key turnovers.
The Falcons held Dak Prescott to 133 yards and sacked him three times. Their star receiver, CeeDee Lamb, was largely held in check for the entire game.
3. Balanced Offensive Attack
The Falcons demonstrated a well-rounded offensive strategy, effectively utilizing both the passing and rushing game, which kept the Cowboys’ defense guessing and unable to adjust effectively.
Bijan Robinson ran for 86 yards on 19 carries and Tyler Allgeier finished with 18 yards as the Falcons kept the Dallas line offguard with a strong running attack.
4. Maintaining First Place
With this victory, the Falcons improved their record to 6-3, strengthening their position at the top of the NFC South, which is a significant achievement in their pursuit of playoff contention.
“There’s a lot to look forward to in terms of the city and how we can all come together,” Cousins told reporters after the game. “You do one week at a time to get there and kind of see where you stand in February.”
5. Injuries Impacting Cowboys
The game was affected by an injury to Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, which not only disrupted their offensive plans but also contributed to the Falcons securing a decisive win amidst crucial moments in the game.
“It’s something I’ve never felt,” Prescott told reporters after the game, referring to his team’s three-game skid. “I saw the medical team and asked could I make it worse. At that point they said I wouldn’t be able to protect myself and made the call to hold me out.” At one point in the game, Prescott was seen saying “We … Suck!”
As much as they tried, Atlanta Falcons couldn’t get it done in the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Yet there are still some positives.
The 2024 schedule will continue to be a difficult one for the Birds, but then again, there’s a good chance things turn around.
Nonetheless, there were some positives that came out of the game that we should glean from.
1. The Falcons Defense is Legit
The Falcons defense allowed no touchdowns in Week 1 and is the only team to accomplish the feat.
Atlanta’s defenders continued to clog running and passing lanes, limiting the Steelers to 270 total yards. Sure, the black and yellow’s running game churned 137 yards led by Najee Harris, but the Falcons largely limited him to 20 yards and 70 yards.
2. A Real Homefield Advantage
Although it was just the first game, Dirty Bird fans came out in abundance. And yes, Pittsburgh fans traveled very well.
Attendance for the game was 72,291, which is a packed house by all accounts. If the Falcons faithful can keep this up, home-field advantage could turn into a sixth-man experience, making it difficult for opposing teams to call plays or hear themselves.
3. No Major Injuries
Most importantly, the Falcons got out of the game with no major injuries. Playing the Steelers can often leave players in black-and-blue mode. From either team the only big-name player who was hurt was Pittsburgh starting quarterback Russell Wilson, who injured the calf in training camp in late July.
According to the team’s postgame report, nobody suffered anything major.
4. They Will Get Better
Everyone knows that the Falcons’ starters have not spent a lot of time on the field together. Even former Atlanta signal caller Matt Ryan says that they simply need more time and that they were “out of sync.”
5. It’s Just One Game
The Falcons have 17 other games to play and many of them will be at home just like this one. You can bet that the Falcons will correct their mistakes and give the NFC South a run for its money.
Final Play
The Falcons proved that they can play with a team known for its stingy defense and ball-control offense. With 2 minutes in the game, the Falcons had a chance to take the lead and likely win the game. It didn’t happen, but that’s not to say that they can’t make it so next week against the Philadelphia Eagles. Do you believe? The Dirty Birds sure do.
The Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints, 24-15 on Sunday, November 25, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. It was the return of Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder, who had missed the previous two games due to injury and the coach’s decision.
Ridder looked sharp and relaxed in his most confident win of his NFL career. That bodes well for the Falcons as they get into the teeth of their2023 schedule.
Here are three things we learned about Sunday’s victory.
Falcons Won Big at the Line of Scrimmage
“They did a good job of blocking us up front,” said Saints coach Dennis Allen. “We will look at schematically what we can do to be better there. That was a big factor, them winning the line of scrimmage.”
Not only did the Falcons’ offensive and defensive lines rule the day, but the Falcons safety Jessie Bates came up with a pick six that ushered in the scoring for Atlanta. Here’s how it all went down, courtesy of former NFL quarterback turned analyst RGIII.
Bijan Robinson Is a Star
The Saints had no answer for the Falcons rushing attack, led by rookie Bijan Robinson, who ran for 91 yards and a touchdown to finish with 123 total yards. He also caught a touchdown.
The Falcons (5-6) ran for 228 yards between rushes from Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Cordarrelle Patterson and Ridder.
Behind the running game, the Falcons were able to ice the game and play keep away from the Saints in the closing minutes of the game.
“That was encouraging,” said Falcons coach Arthur Smith. “That’s where we need to be to close out game.”
Desmond Ridder Shows Confidence
Although he threw two interceptions, both of Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu, Ridder and the Falcons overcame those turnovers to get the win.
“What you like about him is the way he came back,” Coach Smith said of Ridder fighting through his struggles. “He doesn’t flinch. He’s resilient and we’ll keep working.”
“However it came, good, bad or ugly, go out and get a win,” quarterback Ridder said after the game.
Final Play
The Falcons now are in a tie with the Saints for first-place in the NFC South. Should the playoffs start today, the Falcons would get the nod due to their head-to-head battle with New Orleans and their undefeated division record (4-0).
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Dirty Bird Fever has began in earnest right now. That’s because the new Atlanta Falcons 2019 schedule has been released.
The squad will begin their third campaign in the still-new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where they look to be playing at home during the Super Bowl.
Atlanta Falcons 2019 Football Schedule
Falcons owner Arthur Blank has invested heavily in the team’s offense, hoping that the triad of quarterback Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley can score early and often in the 2019 season.
The Atlanta Falcons 2019 Football Schedule will be a real test for the Birds, especially at home. This is already one of the toughest NFL schedules for 2019.
Week 1: Atlanta Falcons vs. Minnesota Vikings 12-28
The Falcons opened the season with a crushing loss against the Minnesota Vikings. Matt Ryan threw for 302 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Falcons running backs amassed 73 yards and Julio Jones was held to 31 yards.
Week 2: Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles 24-20
Matt Ryan threw for 320 yards and had three touchdowns and three interceptions as the Falcons survived the Eagles in week 2. Julio Jones had 106 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions.
Meanwhile, Devonta Freeman was held to 22 yards on 11 carries.
Week 3: Atlanta Falcons vs. Indianapolis Colts 24-27
The Falcons lost for the second time in three weeks, falling to Jacoby Brissett and the Indianapolis Colts, 24-27.
Matt Ryan threw for 304 yards, three touchdowns and just one interception, but it was a crucial pick deep in Colts territory that would have surely led to some points.
After a terrible first half, Ryan connected on 23 of 24 passes, but the Colts did just enough to win.
Week 4: Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans
The Falcons entered week 4 with a sloppy resume on offense and defense. The team is still seeking its identity and a path to victory after falling in the NFC South.
Don’t necessarily think you’ll get inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but if you want to give of yourself and time by volunteering for the city’s Super Bowl in January, they need you.
Atlanta will need at least 10,000 volunteers during Super Bowl LIII for weeklong activities, according to 11Alive. To save time, organizers are keen to start the interviewing process and bring people on board.
Here’s how to volunteer for Super Bowl LIII
Helpers will be needed to shepherd people around the game festivities, including staffing along downtown streets and venues, the airport and other places. City officials are expecting more than 250,000 visitors to flock to to the city, including those with no intentions of attending the game.
Volunteer coordinator Cordell Smith told 11Alive that people will want to volunteer just to be around the Super Bowl.
“I think the biggest incentive is just being a part of the Super Bowl. For cities that usually get Super Bowls, people are used to that. Up here, we don’t always get that opportunity. We may never get that opportunity again,” he was quoted as saying.
Are you ready to kickoff the preparations for Super Bowl 53, which will be held in Atlanta in January 2019? If so, the event is looking for some help.
Volunteers are being encouraged to apply right now so that they can have some staff in place for logistics and other things. Don’t expect to make it onto the field to mingle with the players and snap selfies. They’re looking for people who (clap) want (clap) to (clap) help!
Here’s how the call for help reads: “As Atlanta gears up to welcome the NFL in 2019, we will be looking for a group of high energy, passionate volunteers. These super-friendly and dedicated ambassadors for our city will be responsible for making the kind of lasting impressions that are forever memorable. Our goal with the volunteer program is to take the words ‘southern hospitality’ to new heights and provide the kind of warm, hearty welcome to all visitors that is synonymous with Atlanta. Interested? Sign up today to be the first to receive exclusive volunteer news and updates.”
As we all know, the Atlanta Falcons are going to be playing in the big game, marking the first time a home team has hosted a Super Bowl. With that being the case, it’s going to be a blast!
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tlanta Falcons wideout Julio Jones is opening a car dealership in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Tuesday, according to at AL.com.
Jones prepped at Foley High School in Foley, Alabama, where he starred in football, basketball and track. He is opening the doors of a new Mazda and a Kia dealership, with help from another company which will run it day-to-day.
Jones is expected to be at the grand opening in Alabama on Tuesday.
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