Coming off an embarrassing loss to the Panthers that really put a dent in the Falcons playoff chances, Arthur Smith’s squad bounced back with their most impressive victory of the season against the Colts.
The offense under Taylor Heinicke played a clean game and was the most explosive it’s been all season, scoring a season-high 29 points, and the defense suffocated Jonothan Taylor and Gardner Minshew all afternoon. Taylor consistently found himself in jail once he hit the line of scrimmage, and Minshew was sacked six times, as the Indy offense only mustered 10 points.
The Falcons didn’t just look like a team that should be making the playoffs. They looked like a team that could win a game if they got there as well, which star safety Jessie Bates III spoke on following the game.
Falcons safety Jessie Bates III with a bold declaration postgame yesterday:
"I know one thing – we get in the playoffs, it's not a lot of teams that want to see us, I think."
— Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) December 25, 2023
Jessie Bates isn’t wrong. When the Falcons play like they did on Sunday, they are an uncomfortable team to go up against. Taylor Heinicke adds a little more juice to the passing game, forcing defenses to stay honest, which opens things up in the run game for the Falcons three-headed monster in the backfield.
Defensively, the Falcons have been a top 10 unit all season. They’ve had some lapses at times, but they are stout against the run and their defensive line is beginning to get home more frequently. Winning in the trenches can result in a lot of wins, and the Falcons generally have the edge in that department from week to week.
Unfortunately, that loss to the Panthers will likely prove too difficult to overcome. The Falcons have an outside shot at making the playoffs, but they will have to win their final two games — both of which are on the road — and get some help from some other teams. Atlanta very well may end up playing their best football down the stretch with Heinicke under center, but it will likely be too little too late.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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