The Falcons are fun again, and that's huge for their playoff hopes

The Atlanta Falcons person nan third-longest postseason drought successful nan NFL. At 5-3 and sitting atop nan NFC South, that mightiness alteration very soon.

Atlanta’s 31-26 roadworthy triumph complete nan Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected Sunday puts nan squad astatine 4-0 successful nan division, highlighted by a expanse of nan Bucs.

With nan Carolina Panthers stuck successful a mislaid play and nan New Orleans Saints losing six-straight games, nan Falcons are successful assured power of their destiny arsenic November approaches for nan first clip successful forever.

Of course, it’s not dissimilar Atlanta to person nan wheels autumn disconnected astatine nan worst imaginable infinitesimal erstwhile things are looking up. While that’s afloat attributed to quality correction and unlucky bounces arsenic opposed to immoderate benignant of overarching franchise plague, these Falcons look up to nan task to make it to nan playoffs.

The NFL is simply a fickle beast, and it’s ever imaginable nan team’s protect issues, peculiarly connected its beforehand seven, could spark a second-half backslide. However, these Falcons look resilient and battle-tested. Only 1 of their 5 wins came pinch a cushion, pinch nan different 4 rather virtually each coming down to nan last play of nan game.

That mightiness make immoderate group wary astir nan quality successful which Atlanta is getting by successful position of sustainability, but 5-3 records don’t hap by accident. There are 12 teams successful nan NFL correct now pinch 5 aliases much wins: nan Bills, Broncos, Chiefs, Commanders, Eagles, Falcons Lions, Packers, Ravens, Steelers, Texans and Vikings.

How galore of them person had to study to triumph for illustration nan Falcons have?

The Falcons person beaten 1 of those teams (Eagles), sewage adjacent against different (Chiefs) and mislaid a fluky Week 1 crippled to nan Steelers. We’re not judge really nan squad fares against those different opponents, arsenic they’ll spot 3 of them earlier nan extremity of nan play (Broncos, Commanders, Vikings). However, who’s to opportunity nan 5-3 Falcons aren’t astatine slightest connected nan aforesaid playing section arsenic nan NFL’s apical contenders correct now? It’s not to propose Atlanta could waltz into Detroit and schoolhouse nan Lions, but this Falcons squad hearkens backmost to immoderate of its champion years successful nan past decade overmuch much than immoderate of its worst.

The team’s sixth-rated discourtesy successful DVOA is nan main logic for optimism pinch Atlanta, arsenic backmost Kirk Cousins has thrived pinch violative coordinator Zac Robinson passim October (save nan Seattle Seahawks game). Cousins isn’t immune to a pumpkin capacity for illustration that, but he’s mostly been excellent. The squad is getting its champion players connected discourtesy progressive game-to-game. The violative statement is weathering injuries and hasn’t skipped a beat. Robinson’s play calls compliment nan team’s arsenal of talent pinch formations that put them successful position to succeed. Cousins really is ripping it aft a slow commencement to nan play coming disconnected his Achilles’ injury.

Sure, nan defense, 22nd successful DVOA, isn’t going to unfastened a batch of eyes. Defensive stars for illustration safeties Jessie Bates III and Justin Simmons and cornerback A.J. Terrell are making immense plays to buoy that broadside of nan ball, and cornerback Mike Hughes is softly having a resurgent play and possibly his champion of his career. Also, protect tackle Grady Jarrett is still causing problems erstwhile he can. However, nan struggles pinch protect beforehand 7 extracurricular of Jarrett will drawback nan headlines.

Much will beryllium made astir nan pass-rush, arsenic is fair. Atlanta is past successful nan NFL successful sacks. The New York Giants lead nan convention successful sacks pinch 31, and nan Falcons person six. However, nan Falcons person 5 wins, while nan Giants presently person two. New York astir apt would waste and acquisition immoderate of those sacks for wins, but nan Falcons are going to person to get aft nan backmost much to really contend successful postseason shot if it tin triumph nan division.

It’s benignant of astonishing to see its monolithic Tampa Bay triumph came connected a time erstwhile nan protect statement fundamentally near backmost Baker Mayfield untouched and unbothered for astir of nan afternoon.

The Falcons won Sunday contempt zero QB hits aliases sacks connected 51 Baker dropbacks

They are 5-3 contempt being dormant past successful sacks (6) and unit % per @NextGenStats

— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) October 28, 2024

To beryllium sure, nan Falcons are successful imperfect bunch. There are much complete teams successful nan NFL this play that guidelines higher chances of winning a title. However, location is beauty successful those imperfections for Atlanta.

The squad is winning games contempt not being nan champion type of itself. In nan NFL, location really is nary specified point arsenic a fraudulent record. If you’re winning, you’re winning. The only measurement to messiness that up for youself is to extremity winning. If nan squad tin tighten up connected defense, nan ceiling gets higher.

The Seahawks nonaccomplishment shows what happens connected a bad time for nan Falcons; they tin get outclassed if Cousins is having a bad time and nan defense can’t get timely stops. However, that’s much an anomaly this play than nan successes. In nan wins, this squad looks fierce connected discourtesy and conscionable competent capable connected defense, acknowledgment successful ample portion to Bates, Terrell, Simmons, Hughes and Jarrett.

The Falcons mightiness beryllium surviving connected nan separator correct now, but they’re besides successful nan midst of their astir move play successful years. Atlanta is simply a playoff contender successful a measurement it hasn’t been since 2017. That’s origin for ceremony if you deterioration if you’re emotionally invested successful Atlanta football. The Falcons are nosy again. Maybe not complete, but beautiful darn bully and really, really, really fun.