Looking at the Falcons’ schedule before the season, it was clear the first three weeks were critical.
The Steelers were a formidable opponent, always well-coached with one of the best defenses in the league. Opening against Pittsburgh wouldn’t typically be a big deal, except the Falcons drew the Eagles and Chiefs in the weeks following.
Two teams that many believed would challenge for the Super Bowl this year. It quickly became evident that a fast start by the Falcons was necessary. That feeling was only exacerbated after the club dropped their season opener and even more when the Saints and Buccaneers started off the season 2-0.
At that point, the Falcons’ tough three-game start to the season grew to a difficult five-game stretch as New Orleans and Tampa Bay loomed in Weeks 4 and 5. Their Monday Night Football matchup rapidly turned into as much of a must-win situation as one could be in Week 2 of the NFL season.
Fortunately, the Falcons ended up pulling off a miracle comeback over the Eagles. It was an improbable victory, a much-needed one. One that ESPN pundit Ryan Clark believes saved the Falcons season, and changed the course of Kirk Cousins’ tenure in Atlanta.
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Is it an overreaction to say the Falcons’ upset win over the Eagles on Monday Night Football saved Atlanta’s season?
In some ways, of course, it’s an overreaction. Had the Falcons lost to the Eagles, that doesn’t impact their next three games. The Falcons could’ve gone on a three-game winning streak, and by Week 6, they’d sit atop the NFC South. No division winner was crowned after Week 2, and 2024 is no different.
In some ways, it’s not an overreaction. The Falcons’ schedule doesn’t get any easier, and the likelihood of Atlanta overcoming an 0-2 start is improbable but not impossible. With the defending champs coming to town after MNF, an 0-3 start wasn’t out of the conversation. That is almost insurmountable to overcome for a postseason berth.
Momentum and chemistry is incredibly difficult to build in this league. More than anything, the Falcons now have that moving forward. If they had lost on Monday night, who knows if that ever would have happened this season, given the difficult stretch ahead of them.
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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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