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Falcons vs. Vikings Week 2 Injury Report: Drake London limited

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Week 1 is now in the books, as the Atlanta Falcons lost a close one against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We now turn our sights to Week 2 and the Sunday night matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

On Wednesday, both the Falcons and the Vikings held their first practices of the week, and both teams have some injuries to keep an eye on. Let’s take a look.



Falcons injury report

Full

• N/A

Limited

• EDGE James Pearce, Jr. (groin)

• WR Darnell Mooney (shoulder)

• WR Drake London (shoulder)

• S DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring)

Did Not Practice

• WR Casey Washington (concussion)

• WR Jamal Agnew (groin)

• OL Jack Nelson (calf)

• S Jordan Fuller (knee)



Vikings injury report

Full

• DL Elijah Williams (hamstring)

• RB Zavier Scott (ankle)

• WR Jalen Nailor (hand)

• OL Christian Darrisaw (knee)

Limited

• S Harrison Smith (illness)

• WR Myles Price (knee)

Did Not Practice

• LB Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion)

• TE Josh Oliver (ankle)

• CB Jeff Okudah (concussion)

• C Ryan Kelly (toe)

• RB Ty Chandler (knee)

• LB Blake Cashman (hamstring)



Reviewing both injury reports from Wednesday’s practices, you’ll notice some important names on the lists. Looking at the Falcons first, we received some positive news as receiver Drake London was able to practice some on Wednesday. London left Week 1 with a shoulder injury, but head coach Raheem Morris expects London to play on Sunday night. Additionally for the Falcons, receiver Darnell Mooney, who is also dealing with a shoulder injury, was able to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday.

For the Vikings, they have a lot of injuries to be concerned about. Linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman were both absent from practice on Wednesday. Cashman is reportedly going to miss a few weeks and will not play against the Falcons, while Van Ginkel remains in concussion protocol. Ryan Kelly, the team’s starting center, and Jeff Okudah, one of their starting corners, also missed practice.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...ngs-week-2-injury-report-drake-london-limited
 
2025 NFL Power Rankings – Week 2

One week down, and already the NFL looks like complete chaos. Some teams backed up the hype, others fell flat on their face, and a few came out swinging harder than anyone could have expected. After stacking Week 1 results against my preseason rankings, there’s already plenty of movement: Some risers, some fallers, and a couple of teams reminding us not to overreact.

Let’s get after it:

1) Buffalo Bills (1-0) (+3)​


Josh Allen didn’t just win; he imposed his will. Their ability to find a way to win, even while the Ravens were dominating most of this game, makes them look every bit like the best team in football. If this is the baseline, everyone else is playing catch-up.

2) Green Bay Packers (1-0) (+3)​


Jordan Love looks settled, the ground game is effective, and that defense is flying around. The NFC might still run through Philly, but the Packers aren’t going anywhere.

3) Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) (-2)​


Not the cleanest game, but Jalen Hurts did enough, and the roster is still the most complete in the NFC. That first showing, albeit without Jalen Carter, was rough, though.

4) Baltimore Ravens (1-0) (-1)​


Lamar looked sharp, the defense locked in, and they took care of business…until it was time to salt the game away. It’s going to be a long season if there are more games like Sunday, but I don’t think there will be…

5) Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) (-3)​


Mahomes will keep them in any game, but the WR room continues to test everyone’s patience. Still, nobody wants to see this team in January.

6) Washington Commanders (1-0) (+4)​


Jayden Daniels and this Washington offense decided to make a statement on Sunday against the Giants. The Commanders are here, and they are not leaving anytime soon.

7) Detroit Lions (0-1) (-1)​


They ran into a buzzsaw at Lambeau, but I still have faith that the Detroit Lions aren’t out of the top ten teams yet…not yet…

8) Los Angeles Chargers (1-0) (+5)​


Well, hello there, Justin Herbert. These Chargers may be a handful to deal with if the defense is going to play like that.

9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) (even)​


The four-time NFC South champs started fast again. Baker Mayfield is playing with confidence, and that defense is loaded with vets who know how to win.

10) Los Angeles Rams (1-0) (+2)​


Stafford is still slinging it, and the defense played with real edge. Don’t write them off just yet. This is a team that can still throw haymakers with the best of them.

11) Denver Broncos (1-0) (even)​


Stayed exactly where they were, because they are exactly who I thought they were. Bo Nix is questionable, but Sean Payton is going to make him successful and the defense is elite. That feels about right.

12) Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) (-4)​


Yeah, sure, they won. But that was not a showing worthy of anything other than doubt. The offense can’t afford another slow start with the defense looking that inept against a floundering Cleveland team.

13) Houston Texans (0-1) (-6)​


The seismic drop is because all my fears about this team came true in week one. The offensive line looked just like last season’s, and while that may be enough to continue to win the AFC South, it’s not enough to foster much confidence beyond that.

14) San Francisco 49ers (1-0) (+1)​


Shaky start, but a win, especially in the division, is a win. Hopefully, the team can show me more, but with Purdy out for potentially an extended time, it’s tough to tell where this season will go.

15) Las Vegas Raiders (1-0) (+7)​


Geno is back, baby. And the offense looks really fun with Bowers, Jeanty, and Meyers. Add the defense looking as fun as it can until Pete Carroll, and I’m all the way in on the silver and black.

16) Minnesota Vikings (1-0) (-2)​


There were a lot of teachable moments in that game, but at the end of the day, the young gun came out with his first victory. J.J. McCarthy didn’t look pretty, but he and that feisty Vikings roster found a way to get it done.

17) Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) (+2)​


Nah, seriously. What the hell was that? Arthur Smith, Aaron Rodgers, Calvin Austin. All of you, what the hell was that? Is this sustainable? I don’t know. I’m very skeptical. But it did look good for one week, so you move up.

18) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) (+6)​


I like it when plans come together. And the plan for the Jaguars came together quite nicely on Sunday. There’s still a few questions about Trevor Lawrence and whether he’s the future, but there’s no doubt that he’s got a pretty good roster surrounding him.

19) Dallas Cowboys (0-1) (+2)​


Now wait a minute. This offense may be cooking with something. And how many times can we rely on CeeDee Lamb to drop four passes? Yeah, they may have lost, but that’s a solid first showing.

20) Seattle Seahawks (0-1) (-1)​


Ehh, you win some, you lose some. This defense still gave the 49ers fits, and it’s only going to get better with time.

21) New York Jets (0-1) (+6)​


Justin Fields, what on earth? There’s a part of me that sees the 2024 New Orleans Saints with this offensive output, but I’m also curious to know whether this offensive system, featuring Fields and Breece Hall in the backfield, may be dangerous.

22) Indianapolis Colts (1-0) (+8)​


I’m not buying it. Not yet. I’ve seen this movie with Daniel Jones before, and I’d much rather be late to the parade than early. That being said, that offense looked awesome on Sunday.

23) Arizona Cardinals (1-0) (even)​


I felt very neutral watching the Arizona Cardinals win that game against the Saints on Sunday. The roster is still scrappy, but that is only going to get you so far in this league.

24) Atlanta Falcons (0-1) (-8)​


Is this low considering you lost on a missed field goal to a team ranked in the top ten? Sure. But the margins on this season for the Falcons are razor-thin, and the depth concerns that made this team so difficult to bet on showed up in numerous ways on Sunday. Hopefully, they can bounce back on Sunday night. If Penix plays like he did on Sunday, that is very much in the cards.

25) Chicago Bears (0-1) (-7)​


Monday night was a look into what can only go one of two ways for the Bears’ season: They can either learn from it and build on the positives to continue building toward Ben Johnson being the wunderkind we think he is. Or, this can plummet disastrously, and we point the finger specifically at Ryan Poles for the construction of this roster. There is no middle ground, and that frightens me.

26) New England Patriots (0-1) (even)​


That offensive line needs some TLC. Vrabel had them playing with a bit more fire, but this is still a team clearly devoid of talent throughout.

27) Carolina Panthers (0-1) (-2)​


Even as a divisional rival, I don’t wish this version of the Carolina Panthers on anyone. Not the one where Bryce Young doesn’t look confident, and the offense falters despite having some kind of tools to work with. At least make it fun for us.

28) Cleveland Browns (0-1) (+3)​


Kickers stink. But they hung in the game longer than they had any business hanging in there, and that in itself is a win. Plus, the offense with all the weird tight end stuff may be interesting to watch if the rest of the games in the 1 o’clock window are blowouts. We’ll see. For now, out of the basement.

29) Miami Dolphins (0-1) (-9)​


I’m not entirely sure what to call that. The Dolphins came in unprepared and left a truly uninspiring product on the field. There aren’t many fans I feel genuinely bad for, but Dolphins fans, you didn’t deserve that on Sunday.

30) Tennessee Titans (0-1) (-1)​


Cam Ward is going to do rookie things in his debut; that’s going to be fine. But this team is going to struggle for a bit while he figures out what he can and can’t do on an NFL field, and that’s okay.

31) New Orleans Saints (0-1) (+1)​


They actually looked like a good team on Sunday. Rattler was one miraculous catch away from pulling off the upset. But that didn’t happen. And, the team still struggled mightily on that side of the ball. But, it was a better showing than I surely expected from them.

32) New York Giants (0-1) (-4)​


That was ugly. I understand, the Commanders are really good. But, that was ugly.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlanta-falcons-power-rankings/86552/2025-nfl-power-rankings-week-2
 
Falcons expected underdogs against Vikings on SNF

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The Falcons squandered an excellent opportunity on Sunday against the Bucs, and as expected, enter as underdogs on Sunday Night Football on the road in Minnesota. Per DraftKings Sportsbook, the Vikings sit as 3.5-point favorites at home, with the over/under on total points set at 44.5

Atlanta was a field goal away from pushing Sunday’s contest into overtime, but Younghoe Koo’s kick was wide right off the toe, and that was that. It was yet another entry into the Pantheon of Falconing that plagues this team in the waning seconds, and things will certainly not get any easier on the road in Minnesota.

While the outcome gave us heartburn, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was impressive all afternoon. Sure, he sailed a couple of passes, but the majority of his throws had zip and were on target downfield. He single-handedly kept the Falcons in this game when protection broke down around him, and we should expect him to build on this performance moving forward.

For the Vikes, they were dead in the water against the Bears until they pieced together a 21-point fourth quarter, the type of situation that has bedeviled the Atlanta defense. They have a one-two punch in the backfield with Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones, so the Falcons’ front should be ready for a day that heavily features both.

The Falcons desperately need this game, lest they sink to 0-2 with the Commanders, Bills, and 49ers waiting in the coming weeks. Should they prove the doubters and oddsmakers wrong, it would be the second time in two seasons that they snagged a Week 2 upset against a contender.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...ons-expected-underdogs-against-vikings-on-snf
 
How to watch Falcons – Vikings in Week 2

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The Atlanta Falcons didn’t exactly kick off the 2025 season with a bang, losing on a missed field goal in a tight, mistake-filled game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Righting the ship can start in Week 2 in primetime in a tough matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, however.

Here’s what you need to know to watch the game ahead.

Schedule & TV information


Date: Sunday, September 14

Time: 8:20 p.m. ET

Channel: NBC

Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Announcers: Cris Collinsworth, Mike Tirico, Melissa Stark

Radio: 92.9 The Game & affiliates locally with Dave Archer and Wes Durham on the call; Sirius XM nationally

Online streaming


The game will be available on FOX5’s website and app locally, on Peacock with a subscription, and for re-watch on NFL+ nationally if you have a subscription.

Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook

Social media links


Falcoholic Facebook: Click here for our page

Twitter: Follow @TheFalcoholic

Live Show: The Falcoholic on YouTube

Podcast: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

2025 Atlanta Falcons schedule (0-1)​


WEEK 1: Loss vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-20

WEEK 2: at Minnesota Vikings, Sunday Night Football, September 14, 8:20 p.m. EST

WEEK 3: at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, September 21, 1 p.m. EST

WEEK 4: vs. Washington Commanders, Sunday, September 28, 1 p.m. EST

WEEK 5: BYE WEEK

WEEK 6: vs. Buffalo Bills, Monday Night Football, October 13, 7:15 p.m. EST

WEEK 7: at San Francisco 49ers, Sunday Night Football, October 19, 8:20 p.m. EST

WEEK 8: vs. Miami Dolphins, Sunday, October 26, 1 p.m. EST

WEEK 9: at New England Patriots, Sunday, November 2, 1 p.m. EST

WEEK 10: at Indianapolis Colts (Berlin), Sunday, November 9, 9:30 a.m. EST

WEEK 11: vs. Carolina Panthers, Sunday, November 16, 1 p.m. EST

WEEK 12: vs New Orleans Saints, Sunday, November 23, 4:25 p.m. EST

WEEK 13: at New York Jets, Sunday, November 30, 1 p.m. EST

WEEK 14: vs. Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, December 7, 1 p.m. EST

WEEK 15: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Thursday Night Football, December 11, 8:15 p.m. EST

WEEK 16: at Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, December 21, 4:05 p.m. EST

WEEK 17: vs Los Angeles Rams, Monday Night Football, December 29, 8:15 p.m. EST

WEEK 18: at New Orleans Saints, Time and Date TBD

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...ngs-in-week-2-sunday-night-football-streaming
 
Falcons elevate kicker Parker Romo, who will start Sunday vs. Vikings

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Younghoe Koo has been sidelined… for now. According to NFL reporter Tom Pelissero, Atlanta plans to elevate kicker Parker Romo to the active roster.

Romo first made his NFL debut in 2024 while playing for Minnesota. During his debut, he went four for four on field goals against Jacksonville, and provided all of the points offensively for the team in the 12-7 win. He would go on to play the rest of November for the team, converting 11 out of 12 field goals, and making all but one of his eight extra points. He also nailed a 55 yarder against Arizona in a 23-22 win; before this kick his longest was 45 yards.

Unfortunately for Romo, he was waived by Minnesota on December 7, just one day before Atlanta’s away game against the Vikings. Romo went undrafted in 2022, and his other practice squad stints include the Saints that same year, the Lions and Bears in 2023, and the Patriots after he was waived by Minnesota. He also played a full season in the XFL in 2023 with the San Antonio Brahmas making the All-XFL team, and breaking the record for the longest field goal made in the league.

Amid Koo’s struggles, Romo was one of the kickers brought in by Atlanta to try out as part of a broader kicking game evaluation moving forward. Romo was signed to the practice squad on September 9th with a vow from Raheem Morris that he would compete for the job, and now will make his Atlanta debut on Sunday night against his former team, the Minnesota Vikings, on Sunday night.

As for Koo, he’s been ruled out of Sunday night’s game, as he did not travel with the team to Minnesota. According to Falcons Senior Reporter Tori McElhaney, Atlanta’s reason for downgrading him was not due to injury, further confirming this move to be performance-related.

Koo’s missed game tying 44-yard field goal is the latest of the former Pro Bowler’s struggles. Last year, Koo had his lowest conversion rate as a kicker on field goals with only 73.5%. Earlier this week head coach Raheem Morris was asked several Koo related questions regarding his struggles and the future of the kicker position in Atlanta.

Morris said, “that’s a cut-and-dry position right? You either make it or you don’t, and we’ve got to have guys in a position to make them.”

After Koo has been struggling consistently for over a year now, this is the first real effort to address his performance. We’ll see how Romo performs in primetime at 8:20 on Sunday, and we’ll see what happens with Koo and the Falcons after that.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...cker-parker-romo-will-start-sunday-vs-vikings
 
Billy Bowman makes maybe the best interception we’ve ever seen

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Oh. My. God.

This game has been a testament to the recent youth movement that general manager Terry Fontenot has initiated on defense, utilizing a significant amount of draft capital over the past two years. James Pearce, Jr. and Jalon Walker have both shown their pass-rushing chops, earning at least a half sack apiece. Brandon Dorlus and Ruke Orhorhoro show their versatility along the line, and even Arnold Ebiketie has shown how reliable he can be.

But the cherry on top has to be this insane interception from fourth-round safety turned nickel cornerback, Billy Bowman.

What a pick by Bowman Jr.! @AtlantaFalcons

ATLvsMIN on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/TmHuz3x3K6

— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2025

While there are some questions about the slow start for this seemingly loaded offense, the defense has come to play.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...s-maybe-the-best-interception-weve-every-seen
 
Falcons snap counts in Week 2

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Atlanta won last night in an absolute triumph, but I know your day isn’t complete and your elation unmaximized until you see the snap counts. Fortunately, I’m here to fix that.

Offense​


Michael Penix Jr.: 66

Jake Matthews: 66

Matthew Bergeron: 66

Ryan Neuzil: 66

Chris Lindstrom: 66

Elijah Wilkinson: 66

Darnell Mooney: 57

Drake London: 56

Charlie Woerner: 56

Kyle Pitts: 53

Bijan Robinson: 43

Tyler Allgeier: 22

Teagan Quitoriano: 15

Ray-Ray McCloud: 15

KhaDarel Hodge: 9

David Sill V: 3

Nate Carter: 1



The Falcons came into this game with a clear plan, as reader Hawes suggested this morning. Zac Robinson wanted to take advantage of a decimated Vikings linebacker group and re-establish the run after the Falcons fizzled on the ground against the Buccaneers, and their personnel usage is reflective of that desire.

They used their tight ends much more heavily, with a major workload for Charlie Woerner and a guest appearance from Teagan Quitoriano, who is clearly TE3 when the Falcons need blocking help. They lightly used a third receiver, with McCloud getting limited work in that capacity. And they ran the hell out of the ball, predictability be damned, and dared Minnesota to stop them, with Tyler Allgeier getting 16 carries on 22 snaps. It wasn’t always pretty and the predictability sometimes allowed Minnesota to key on the run, but the Falcons got the job done in this one to the tune of a lot of rushing yards and one touchdown.

All we can really take away from this is that playing time will vary by opponent as the Falcons try to seek a competitive edge, which is as it should be.

Defense​


Jessie Bates: 47

Mike Hughes: 47

Xavier Watts: 47

Divine Deablo: 47

Kaden Elliss: 47

Billy Bowman Jr.: 44

Zach Harrison: 27

A.J. Terrell: 27

David Onyemata: 25

Jalon Walker: 22

Brandon Dorlus: 22

Leonard Floyd: 21

Dee Alford: 20

Ruke Orhorhoro: 20

Arnold Ebiketie: 20

James Pearce Jr.: 17

LaCale London: 15

DeAngelo Malone: 1



The Falcons don’t always live up to their promises, but when Natie Ollie said this group would attack and rotate frequently up front, he was not joking. Atlanta’s rotation is pretty evenly split and it’s leading to great outcomes, with Atlanta piling up six sacks on the night and once again getting enough pressure to rattle a quarterback. This being a young one in J.J. McCarthy, it led to turnovers, too.

The secondary is more stable, with the Falcons already trusting Billy Bowman and Xavier Watts with huge workloads and reaping the benefits of doing so. Ditto linebacker, where Divine Deablo and Kaden Elliss are playing well and playing every snap so far.

The only interesting note beyond that? Dee Alford was the first man up when A.J. Terrell went down; I wonder if that will hold when Clark Phillips returns from injury or if Alford is now envisioned as the team’s top sub across the board.

Special teams​


Feleipe Franks: 22

DeAngelo Malone: 18

Mike Ford: 18

JD Bertrand: 18

Josh Woods: 18

KhaDarel Hodge: 16

Bradley Pinion: 16

DeMarcco Hellams: 16

Tyler Allgeier: 12

Charlie Woerner: 11

Dee Alford: 9

Liam McCullough: 9

Jalon Walker: 7

Natrone Brooks: 7

Zach Harrison: 6

Matthew Bergeron: 6

Jake Matthew: 6

Elijah Wilkinson: 6

Chris Lindstrom: 6

Kyle Hinton: 6

Parker Romo: 6

Jovaughn Gwyn: 6

Brandon Dorlus: 4

Billy Bowman Jr.: 3

Jessie Bates: 2

David Onyemata: 2

Ruke Orhorhoro: 2

Teagan Quitoriano: 2

Nate Carter: 2

Mike Hughes: 1

David Sills V: 1



Dee Alford had to step into a substantial role on special teams this week, and he came through with a pair of tackles and a couple of returns, though one of them he terrifyingly muffed before picking it back up and managing to make hay with it. Otherwise, your core group is pretty well set here, and they’re mostly guys that are exclusively special teams players at this point. They looked awfully good on Sunday night.

That includes Parker Romo, who had a couple of shaky kicks but managed to nail all five field goal attempts, and Mike Ford, who had three special teams tackles and forced and recovered a muffed punt to snuff out the last little bit of Vikings hope in this one. The Falcons are carrying a lot of guys who are here to play special teams and only fill in on offense or defense in a pinch, so they had better be excellent at what they do. On Sunday night, they undeniably were.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlanta-falcons-game-information/86724/falcons-snap-counts-nfl-week-2
 
Falcons fantasy stud and dud from Week 2 vs. Vikings

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The Falcons had a great bounce back on the national stage in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. It was a game where they never trailed, and really controlled from start to finish.

The offense scored just one touchdown all evening, which is a step back from last week’s two touchdowns, but they wound up scoring more points behind a flurry of field goals thanks to an absolute standout performance from the defense.

There is a lot of great content available here at The Falcoholic, and I encourage you to check it out if you want some in-depth analysis. This article will look at things strictly from a fantasy football perspective (that means looking at nothing other than pure statistics). Here is Atlanta’s fantasy stud and fantasy dud from Week 2’s victory against the Minnesota Vikings.

Fantasy Stud/Dud 2025 History:


Past Studs: Bijan Robinson

Past Duds: Tyler Allgeier



Fantasy Stud – John Parker Romo​


Stat Line: 1/1 XPs, 5/5 FGs (1/1 20-29; 3/3 30-39; 1/1 50+): 18.0 STANDARD LEAGUE/PPR POINTS

There’s making a good first impression and then there’s what we saw from new kicker John Parker Romo on Sunday night, converting on all six of his kicks and putting up points every single time he took the field.

The Falcons’ offense was bogged down in Vikings territory all night, failing to break through into the end zone until the very end of the game, and the result was plenty of opportunity for the newest player on the roster. Romo’s best moment came in the fourth quarter when he nailed a 54-yard kick to make it a two possession game, giving Atlanta the lead by nine.

The former Virginia Tech Hokie scored 16 points in Week 2, which was second only to the great Brandon Aubrey in all of fantasy football. Given the talent Atlanta has on offense, combined with inspired play from the defense, Romo will firmly be on the fantasy radar and should be picked up off the waiver wire if you aren’t already rostering an elite kicking option like Aubrey or Chris Boswell.

Dud – Michael Penix Jr.​


Stat Line: 135 PASSING YARDS, 0 TOUCHDOWNS: 5.3 STANDARD LEAGUE/PPR POINTS

Anyone who fired Penix up in their leagues following a strong Week 1 was left incredibly disappointed, as the former Heisman finalist recorded the lowest fantasy output of his very young career thus far.

Penix in the real game kept the ball out of harm’s way, and did enough to game manage his way to a win behind the defense and brilliance of Bijan Robinson, but that’s not anything you get points for in the fantasy realm. The low passing yardage combined with no rushing output and no scores resulted in a dreadful final point total, as 31 other QBs who played this weekend outscored Penix.

Next is a potential for a rebound against a Carolina Panthers team the second year man lit up for 312 passing yards and three total touchdowns in last year’s season finale, but it feels risky to start Penix in 1QB leagues while the offense continues to get bogged down by Zac Robinson’s play calling.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...s-fantasy-stud-and-dud-from-week-2-vs-vikings
 
Week 2, 3 up and 3 down: Falcons rookies steal the show

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It is the first victory Monday of the season for the Atlanta Falcons. The defense dominated this game, helping carry the team to a win with assistance from the special teams unit. It wasn’t a pretty day for the offense, but they got the job done and improved in the run game. Here’s the Week 2 three up and three down.

3 up​

Bijan Robinson​


Appreciate what you are seeing from number 7, because he is special. No one executes the dead leg move better than Bijan. He routinely turns blown-up runs into massive gains with his ability to set up second and third-level defenders. After having over 100 yards as a receiver, he put up 143 on the ground against the Brian Flores-orchestrated defense.

Last night, the team needed to lean on the run game, and Bijan (along with Tyler Allgeier) rose to the occasion. I doubt this will be the last time we see Mr. Robinson on this list.

Bijan Robinson vs. the Vikings

22 carries
143 rushing yards
6.5 yards per carry
3 catches
25 receiving yards

Best RB in the league pic.twitter.com/LU2YeMTu8r

— Jake (@SuperiorNBA) September 15, 2025

Rookie Defenders​


It was impossible to select only one rookie performance from last night’s game, a problem we love having. The Falcons went all in on defense in the 2025 draft, and the returns have been eye-popping through two weeks. The Falcons are a top-5 defense statistically, and their rookie class is leading them. This buddy system approach to the secondary and pass rush rooms is yielding interceptions and sacks.

Jalon Walker blew by the left tackle with a mean swipe to record a big sack in the red zone. James Pearce Jr was at the scene of multiple sacks and gave the entire Vikings OL trouble. Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. both showed off their nose for the football. We love it when a plan comes together.

Parker Romo & friends​


The special teams unit bounced back in a big way. After a missed game-tying field goal and uncharacteristic execution errors from the coverage squads, Marquice Williams’ group got back on track. Romo gave us a scare with his initial kick, but was a deadeye shot the rest of the game, finishing with an emphatic 54-yard make.

Mike Ford lived up to his special teams prowess, consistently making plays in the third phases of the game and even causing fumbles with his angelic voice. The offense struggled, but the defense and special teams groups stepped up big, and sometimes that’s how games play out, the best teams can win in more ways than 1.

3 down​

Matthew Bergeron​

Bergeron had a rough day in pass pro

– clip 1, he and Neuzil struggled to take on the bull rush after the DL slants
– clip 2, beat with another bull rush, and gets walked into Penix's lap
– clip 3, does the DTs job for him on the stunt, overagressive and bad comms with Matthews pic.twitter.com/Zh65DV2JsS

— Tre’Shon (@tre3shon) September 15, 2025

It was a better day on the ground, but the third-year player is still costing his team in pass protection. The film is out there; you can easily fool Bergeron on stunts. We saw it against Tampa Bay, and it showed up last night, but Bergeron is getting overaggressive in his pass sets and latching on to defenders when he needs to be passing them off and picking up an incoming looper. However, it wasn’t just stunts; Bergeron had no answer for the bull rush and was driven back with ease multiple times.

The team was prepared for early struggles on the right, but they can’t afford to have issues on the left, too. The interior has a more favorable matchup against the Panthers pass rush, but I’ll be sweating every rep that has Derrick Brown over Bergeron.

Drake London​


This was supposed to be the season that London finally breaks out and garners national attention, but the wide receiver has had a start to forget. London had a costly fumble that could’ve put the game in jeopardy. He hasn’t looked like the reliable player we have come to know and enjoy. It is important to note that London could still be recovering from a sore shoulder injury, but if he’s out there, he has to be counted on to do his job, and we haven’t seen him live up to the expectations this team has for him.

Red zone offense​


The Falcons offense won’t be happy with their red zone film review. From missed opportunities to stale playcalling, the unit isn’t operating at full capacity in this area of the field. Penix missed a few throws early and wasn’t able to find his rhythm. Robinson did a much better job in short-yardage situations this week, but his offense struggled to carry that momentum into the red zone. Sometimes the game goes that way, and you have to find other ways to win, but that makes two weeks in a row that Atlanta has struggled in the red zone, and it will be their Achilles heel if they fail to clean up the issues.

First trip to the red zone was execution errors more than anything.

– clip 1, Bijan has to catch this, but Penix also misses a wide-open Kyle Pitts
– clip 2, excellent job navigating the pocket and extending the play, but with a better ball, this is a Darnell Mooney TD pic.twitter.com/YQ22kQDpPO

— Tre’Shon (@tre3shon) September 15, 2025

Winning in this league isn’t easy, and it won’t always look perfect. The Falcons have plenty to work on, but it is exciting to see Atlanta win with defense and special teams after many believed the offense would have to do the heavy lifting every week. Enjoy this victory Tuesday as the team prepares for Carolina.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...wn-falcons-rookies-steal-the-show-parker-romo
 
Falcons vs. Panthers Week 3 Injury Report: A.J. Terrell considered week-to-week

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Week 3 is now upon us as the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers begin preparation to face off in a divisional matchup this weekend. The Falcons are fresh off a primetime win, meanwhile the Panthers are desperate to get their first win of the season. Following the events of Week 2, let’s take a look at where both teams stand to kick off the week.



Falcons injury report

Full

• N/A

Limited

• WR Darnell Mooney (shoulder)

• S DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring)

• WR Casey Washington (concussion)

• OL Jack Nelson (calf)

• LB Kaden Elliss (neck)

Did Not Practice

• TE Charlie Woerner

• WR Jamal Agnew (groin)

• CB A.J. Terrell (hamstring)

• EDGE James Pearce, Jr. (groin)



Panthers injury report

Full

• WR Brycen Tremayne (quadriceps)

Limited

• WR Xavier Legette (hamstring)

Did Not Practice

• LB Patrick Jones II (hamstring)

DT Tershawn Wharton (hamstring)



The Falcons start the week with a much larger injury report than that of the Panthers. Some positive news, after being listed all of last week leading up to the game, receiver Drake London does not appear on the first report of this week. He is seemingly back to good health after playing in the Week 2 contest.

We did receive news that corner A.J. Terrell, who left Week 2 with a groin injury, is not practicing and is being considered week-to-week. When they say something like this to describe an injury, you can all but expect the player mentioned to miss at minimum the following game. It’s also worth noting that they could’ve placed him on short-term IR and chose not to. Just a prediction: I could see the Falcons keeping Terrell sidelined for the next two games and having him return after the Week 5 bye. Just my guess.

Another name to keep an eye on this week is rookie edge rusher James Pearce, Jr. who has a groin injury.

Looking at Carolina, they have a relatively short injury report as of Wednesday. They do have some hamstring issues going on as three of their four players listed has an injury to theirs. It’s only Wednesday, so we will learn more about their severities on Thursday.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...ry-report-a-j-terrell-considered-week-to-week
 
The Falcons can make a statement against the Panthers: Falcoholic Live, Ep346

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The Falcons took down the Vikings in convincing fashion in Week 2, and now have an opportunity for a statement game against the Panthers. Kevin Knight and Adnan Ikic break down the big primetime win, discuss the outstanding play of the defense and rookies, and look ahead to an important opportunity against Carolina in Week 3. Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to another episode of The Falcoholic Live!

Watch the stream below or on YouTube beginning at 9 PM ET​


You can also listen to all of our video shows in an audio-only podcast format, available on all your favorite podcast platforms or by using the player below. The podcast typically posts a few hours after the live show records.

If you’re interested in supporting the show, become a Channel Member or check out our Patreon page to unlock access to exclusive perks including Patron Q&A sessions, Discord perks, live shout-outs and more!

Be sure to check out the new community Discord server here! Come chat with your fellow Falcons fans about the show, the team, the NFL draft, and more.

You can watch the show here on The Falcoholic, but we recommend watching on YouTube for the best experience—including full 1080p HD video and access to the live Q&A in the chat. You can also access the show using your smart TV or device using the YouTube app for the real big-screen experience!

We hope you enjoy the show! If you have comments, we’d love to hear them. Send them to us on Twitter (@FalcoholicLive), leave them below, or e-mail the show at [email protected].

Thanks for watching!

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...el-penix-bijan-robinson-falcoholic-live-ep346
 
Falcons vs. Panthers Week 3 Injury Report: Kyle Pitts limited with toe injury

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Thursday has arrived, which means teams are heading into their second-to-last practice of the week. As the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers gear up for their divisional clash, both sides have made some adjustments to the injury report. With the weekend matchup closing in, let’s break down where things stand heading into the final stretch of preparation.



Falcons injury report

Full

• WR Darnell Mooney (shoulder)

• LB Kaden Elliss (neck)

• OL Jack Nelson (calf)

Limited

• EDGE James Pearce, Jr. (groin)

• S DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring)

• WR Casey Washington (concussion)

• TE Kyle Pitts (toe)

Did Not Practice

• CB Mike Ford (groin)

• TE Charlie Woerner

• WR Jamal Agnew (groin)

• CB A.J. Terrell (hamstring)

• RB Nate Carter (personal)



Panthers injury report

Full

• WR Brycen Tremayne (quadriceps)

Limited

• WR Xavier Legette (hamstring)

Did Not Practice

• DT Bobby Brown (knee)

• S Tre’von Moehrig (illness)

• LB Patrick Jones II (hamstring)

• DT Tershawn Wharton (hamstring)



Looking at the Falcons first, there were some additions to the report on Thursday. Tight end Kyle Pitts was added with a toe injury which had him limited. We will be monitoring that heading into Friday. Also, corner Mike Ford has a groin issue that kept him out of practice on Thursday, with him possibly aggravating that in Wednesday’s practice.

Some good news though, receiver Darnell Mooney, linebacker Kaden Elliss, and tackle Jack Nelson, who were all limited on Wednesday, logged full practices on Thursday.

There were no big changes to the Panthers report, just that defensive tackle Bobby Brown III was added with a knee issue and safety Tre’von Moehrig popped up with an illness. Both did not practice on Thursday.

Stay tuned, as Friday we will get game designations and it’ll be more clear who will play this weekend.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...ury-report-kyle-pitts-limited-with-toe-injury
 
Falcons vs Panthers Week 3 preview: Can Atlanta get a big division win?

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The Falcons face the Panthers in Week 3 in a critical NFC South matchup. Kevin Knight brings you a preview of the game, discussing the best ways for Atlanta to attack Carolina on offense and defense, the potential for a big road win, and why this is an important test for the Falcons. Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to another episode of the Dirty Birds and Brews podcast!

You can also listen to all of our video shows in an audio-only podcast format, available on all your favorite podcast platforms or by using the player below.

If you’re interested in supporting the show, check out our Patreon page to unlock access to exclusive perks including Patron Q&A sessions, Discord perks, live shout-outs and more!

Be sure to check out the new community Discord server here! Come chat with your fellow Falcons fans about the show, the team, the NFL draft, and more.

You can watch the show here on The Falcoholic, but we recommend watching on YouTube for the best experience—including full 1080p HD video and access to the live Q&A in the chat. You can also access the show using your smart TV or device using the YouTube app for the real big-screen experience!

We hope you enjoy the show! If you have comments, we’d love to hear them. Send them to us on Twitter (@FalcoholicLive), leave them below, or e-mail the show at [email protected].

Thanks for watching!

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...inson-michael-penix-james-pearce-jalon-walker
 
Oddsmakers bullish on Falcons against Panthers

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The Atlanta Falcons (1-1) square off against the Carolina Panthers (0-2) on Sunday, following a Sunday Night Football road win against the Minnesota Vikings. That win seemed to move Vegas, as DraftKings Sportsbook has the Falcons favored by 5.5 points against the Panthers.

Defense, special teams, and the ground game told the tale for Atlanta against Minnesota, and on Sunday, the Falcons will have another opportunity to show that the defensive performance was no fluke. Atlanta only allowed 198 yards of total offense to the Vikings, notched six sacks, and tallied four takeaways.

Atlanta rooks Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman were responsible for the picks.

New kicker Parker Romo had about the best first day at the office that a special teamer could envision, hitting all five field goal attempts, including a 54-yarder. His play made the Falcons comfortable enough to jettison long-time kicker Younghoe Kicker and roll with Romo moving forward.

For the Panthers, they’re still seeking their first win. The nearly stumbled into a victory on Sunday against the Cardinals, having recovered an onside kick late and consistently being gifted additional yardage and first downs due to boneheaded Cardinals penalties, but the Cards hung on in the 27-22 win.

The Falcons split the season series with the Panthers last year, the loss coming on the final game of the season that slammed the door shut on Atlanta’s dim playoff hopes.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...ddsmakers-bullish-on-falcons-against-panthers
 
Intriguing players to watch in Falcons vs. Panthers

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Naming five Atlanta Falcons is a singular task that requires remarkable expertise. As the team travels to take on the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, there is a lot of intrigue as the Falcons battle for their first divisional win. These five players could prove instrumental in the outcome.

Drake London​


It’s been a quieter-than-expected start for Drake London, who many expected could vie for the Triple Crown as the league-leader in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He’s coming off a disappointing performance against the Minnesota Vikings, marred by a fumble early in the game. However, not to be overshadowed was a strong finish where London had two clutch catches on the team’s penultimate drive that ultimately ended in a touchdown and sealed their win. Notably, both receptions came with London either working out of the slot or over the middle, something that the Falcons have yet to really lean into this year, which could partially explain London’s lethargic start. According to PFF, roughly half (73) of London’s 149 targets came in the slot last year, leading him to be one of the NFL’s most productive “power slot” receivers.

The Falcons should look only to last year’s road win over the Panthers to see how effective London can be in the slot. In that game, five of London’s six catches came when he was in the slot for a career-high 61 percent of his snaps. Getting London matched up against nickel cornerback Chau Smith-Wade, who is a first-year starter, would be a great way to baptize the latter and jumpstart the former’s production.

Chris Lindstrom​


Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom is probably tasked with the toughest individual assignment on Sunday: keeping Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown in check. Brown spends the majority (about 80 percent) of his snaps lined up on the left side of the defensive line, pitting him against the right side of the Falcons’ offensive line, where Lindstrom lines up.

With Brown missing nearly all of 2024, it’s been a while since these two have seen each other, but one can say Brown got the better of Lindstrom in a back-and-forth battle during the season-opener in 2023. Brown, as one of the league’s best run defenders, needs to be neutralized if the Falcons hope to have anything close to the same success from their 218-yard rushing performance a week ago.

Brandon Dorlus​


Like Brown, Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus spends the bulk of lined up on the left side of the defensive line. But unlike Brown, who will be facing the Falcons’ best blocker this week, Dorlus should benefit from facing the Panthers’ worst. Starting right guard Robert Hunt went down last week, and his replacement Chandler Zavala has been one of the worst blockers in the league since his 2023 debut.

Per PFF, Zavala has given up seven sacks and 39 pressures on 364 career pass-blocking plays for a pressure rate of 10.7 percent. For the sake of comparison, former Falcons guard Jalen Mayfield, who was downright awful during his 2021 rookie year, gave up a pressure rate of 9.2 percent. Dorlus and the rest of the Falcons’ interior defensive line should feast on Sunday whenever lined up against Zavala. This should be instrumental in keeping Panthers quarterback Bryce Young under siege.

Mike Hughes​


Beleaguering Young this Sunday is a core part of the team’s strategy to mask the absence of cornerback A.J. Terrell, who is out with a hamstring injury. But in addition to the pass rush, the Falcons will need their remaining secondary players to step up. Chief among them is veteran Mike Hughes, and what he lacks in lockdown coverage ability is partially made up for by his reliable tackling. And that’s something the Falcons will need on Sunday to deal with the bigger-bodied Panthers wideouts like Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette.

Both could be a challenge to take down in the open field, given the plethora of smaller bodies and frames dotted across the Falcons’ secondary. While the Falcons piece it together at the other cornerback spot in Terrell’s absence, it’ll be important that Hughes becomes a stabilizing force on his side of the field.

Parker Romo​


The Atlanta Falcons have begun a new era at kicker with the team officially moving on from Younghoe Koo this past week and plugging Parker Romo in at that vacated spot. Romo is coming off an impressive five-field goal performance against the Vikings, but is far from secure in his role.

When Koo took over for longtime Falcons placekicking fixture Matt Bryant midway through the 2019 season, it paid immediate dividends as he proceeded to make 10 of his next 11 field goal tries in his first three games as a Falcon. The Falcons will need similar consistency from Romo moving forward for him to solidify his grip on the roster spot. That, of course, begins with another strong day against the Panthers.

Can you name any more Falcons that intrigue you for Sunday’s matchup against the Panthers?

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...guing-players-to-watch-in-falcons-vs-panthers
 
Falcons vs. Panthers: A look at the series history going into 2025 (Part 1)

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The Falcons take to the road for their second divisional matchup of the season, and this one against a team that has been a little brother of sorts since entering the NFL in 1995. Atlanta has an overall 37-23 lead through 60 total games against the Carolina Panthers

It’s been 30 years of Panthers football, and they have faced off against the Falcons exactly twice in every one of those seasons. Those first three years, the new expansion franchise actually had the upper hand, going 4-2 against the Birds.

Between 1998 and 2002, however, Atlanta won nine out of 10 games over their I-85 rivals and they haven’t looked back as far as the series lead has been concerned. Carolina’s best run came in Cam Newton’s prime, between 2012 and 2015, when they won five out of six against the Falcons but that was immediately followed with Matt Ryan leading the Birds to eight wins in the next nine games head to head.

Of late, the spoils have consistently been shared, with a split happening in each of the last five years.


Last Meeting​


It was pride on the line for Carolina while the Falcons were still mathematically alive in the NFC South race when these teams kicked off in the 2024 season finale, Atlanta coming off a disappointing Sunday Night Football defeat to Washington, which lost them control of their own destiny.

Elsewhere, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went on to beat the New Orleans Saints so this one wound up being moot in the grand scheme of things, but it was an explosive shootout between Michael Penix and Bryce Young, leading both fanbases to an entire offseason of optimism drawn primarily from this game.

Following a pair of matched field goals in the first quarter, these teams combined for five second quarter touchdowns, capped off with Penix leading an 81-yard scoring drive in less than 40 seconds before the break to take a 24-17 lead. Bryce Young was the one who stayed hot through the third quarter, flipping that seven point advantage in Carolina’s favor by leading two TD drives, before the Falcons successfully caught up in the fourth.

The two young quarterbacks combined to account for eight touchdowns and it felt like the winner of the coin toss in overtime would win the game, which is exactly what happened after it went in Carolina’s favor. Jimmy Lake’s defense was as helpless as ever, as Young put together an easy 70-yard drive capped off by a game winning Miles Sanders 1-yard touchdown plunge.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...-at-the-series-history-going-into-2025-part-1
 
Michael Penix Jr. remains Falcons’ starting QB after disastrous Panthers shutout; Kirk Cousins is still the backup

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I made it through the entirety of Sunday’s shutout loss to the Carolina Panthers solely because I get paid a salary of real American dollars to do so. If you tapped out early, I cannot blame you. After a truly awful outing from Michael Penix, he was benched and Kirk Cousins took over.

The game was well out of hand at that point — Cousins subbed in at quarterback after Penix threw interception No. 2 late in the third quarter, a mistake the Panthers offense turned into yet another score, extending the lead to 27-0. It doesn’t make sense to leave your starter in there for a variety of reasons — the risk of injury, and the likelihood that continuing to play badly would damage his confidence are two of them.

Kirk didn’t really do anything special, either, and that makes sense, too. There’s no reason to try to air it out and, again, risk injuries in a game they were going to lose anyway. He dinked and dunked seven passes for five receptions and 29 yards.

After the game, unsurprisingly, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris was asked if Cousins would have a chance to compete for the starting job this week.

#Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Kirk Cousins will not be allowed to compete for the starting job this week. He gave us a terse “No.”

— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) September 21, 2025

I know a lot of folks are going to absolutely hate his answer, and I get it. It’s Morris’ job to field the most competitive team he can, and of course making sure you’ve got the best option behind center is key to that. But there are some other factors to consider here.

Penix finished the game having completed 18 of 36 passes for 172 yards, zero touchdowns, and two picks despite being sacked zero times, and the box score really doesn’t convey just how out of it he looked. I’ve talked up his poise time and time again, and I did not see it today. But no matter how today went, he’s still the player who did everything he could to try drag the Falcons to a win (that didn’t happen) in Week 1’s loss to the Bucs. While he wasn’t great against the Vikings in last week’s 22-6 Sunday Night Football win, he did exactly what the Falcons needed him to do: enough.

There’s really no indication that Penix lacks the mental toughness to bounce back from this. But one thing that might change that would be opening up the starting quarterback competition three weeks into the season. With a young quarterback, you’ve got to leave room for growing pains. Nobody expected him to come out here and immediately have an MVP-caliber season, and this is just one game.

Penix is also the guy who spent the whole offseason preparing to be the starter. Just like Penix had a learning curve last season after Cousins spent the offseason preparing to start, I think things would be shaky for Kirk, at least early on, for the same reason.

And while his performance was bad enough that I’m not at all willing to point to this as an excuse — I am curious how the malfunctioning headset impacted Penix today. Adjusting to operating off of sideline hand signals or only hearing partial play calls on the road against an NFC South rival is a perfect storm of terrible circumstances for any quarterback, and especially one with six NFL starts to his name. Penix did say after the game that the headset functioned better as the game went on, but this game got out of hand very early on, so I do wonder how much of an impact it had. But again, it does not excuse the caliber of play today.

The Falcons take on the Commanders at home next week (which I do not have high expectations for at the moment), and the Falcons do have an early bye in Week 5. Here’s hoping Penix looks unstoppable next week and this entire conversation becomes moot, but if not, that’s the ideal time to make a change.

For his part, Penix did want to stay in the game, and I think he handled the whole thing very maturely.

Penix: I'm never OK with not playing. End of the day, I listen to my head coach. … The decision was made by him. I've gotta respect it. #Falcons

— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) September 21, 2025

But pulling him was the right call, and while I wouldn’t have been upset if Morris had opened up the starting quarterback competition and let Cousins have a shot, it would be wildly reactionary to do that to a young quarterback three games into his first season as a starter because of one terrible game.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...hers-shutout-kirk-cousins-is-still-the-backup
 
Falcons fire WRs coach Ike Hilliard

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Things are not going very well for the Atlanta Falcons. A team that narrowly lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and beat the Minnesota Vikings in primetime just got stomped 30-0 by the Carolina Panthers, and there’s some panic setting in as the Falcons move Zac Robinson to the sidelines, work out kickers, and now fire a position coach.

That would be Ike Hilliard, the team’s wide receivers coach since last year. You’ll note it’s the same Hilliard who was receivers coach in 2024, when Drake London surpassed 1,000 yards, Darnell Mooney nearly did, and Ray-Ray McCloud had a career year. That’s a deeply surprising reversal of fortune three games into the 2025 season; if you were inclined to accuse the team of scapegoating a coach, I would be inclined to nod thoughtfully.

Per The Athletic’s Josh Kendall, a Falcons source characterized the firing as performance-based, likely tied to the concerning lack of quality play and in-sync play for this receiving group thus far in 2025. Drops and odd routes have plagued this corps thus far in three games, and while injury has also been a significant factor, you’d be hard-pressed to argue that the receivers have looked great.

The move was strictly performance based, according to a team source. No Atlanta wide receiver has caught a touchdown pass this season, and the group was out of sync with QB Mike Penix Jr. all day Sunday. https://t.co/lmHnkuB37v

— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) September 22, 2025

I don’t really know what to make of this, though. Hilliard was a respected (and pretty good!) receiver in the NFL for a long time, including a stint in Tampa Bay where he overlapped with then-head coach Raheem Morris. Hilliard has been a receivers coach either in college or in the pros since 2009, mostly in one-to-two year stints with the notable exception of a 2014-2019 run with Washington. I doubt he’ll be without work for very long, even if he has to catch on as an assistant or consultant for the rest of the 2025 season, and maybe especially because of the work he did a year ago with a group that put up career years more or less across the board. We’ll wish him well wherever he ends up.

For the Falcons, this is about trying to address one small slice of a major problem. The offense has looked out of sorts and poor throughout much of the first three games, with the notable exception of whatever Bijan Robinson is asked to do. The Falcons can’t and won’t make sweeping changes three games into a season at 1-2, but they apparently felt that Hilliard’s coaching was enough of a problem that it warranted firing him and turning the receiver group back over to T.J. Yates, the team’s passing game coordinator and former wide receivers coach from 2022-2023. I’m sure Yates has a good rapport with London after coaching him early in his career, but it’s anyone’s guess as to whether he can incorporate these duties into his day-to-day and coax more out of this receiver group. I would not say the passing game coordination is going particularly well at the moment, either, though it’s hard to know how much of that to lay at Yates’ feet.

Again, I don’t believe receiver is the team’s biggest problem; Michael Penix Jr. has looked uncertain and off-balance at times, especially against Carolina, and the team has had trouble stringing plays together and maybe especially scoring for reasons that go beyond “that guy ran the wrong route,” though that certainly doesn’t help. The move to get Robinson down to the sideline is supposed to help with that, as is the shift from Hilliard to Yates for the receivers. I’m going to go ahead and withhold any judgement on the wisdom of those moves until we actually see some improvement from an offense that badly needs it, but I’m dubious this is going to lead to a quick, sudden turnaround for the receivers.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan.../falcons-fire-wrs-coach-ike-hilliard-tj-yates
 
Falcons will move offensive coordinator Zac Robinson down to field starting in Week 4

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You know a team is feeling the heat and the weight of poor results when they start making changes. These Atlanta Falcons have already jettisoned their longtime kicker, and now they’re moving offensive coordinator Zac Robinson from the coaches’ box to the field.

Why? On one hand, this is what many would derisively refer to as “shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic,” “refilling the drinks on the Hindenburg,” or “doing the Steve Sarkisian thing again.” Teams moving coaches from up high to down low and back again is one of the time-honored face-saving moves to convince the fanbase you are Doing Something, right up there with adding and removing ping pong tables from the locker room, depending on whether your roster needs more camaraderie or less tomfoolery.

On the other hand, it’s also about the state of the offense, and the change could be very slightly meaningful in that regard. When you’re on the sideline, you are closer to the action and can have face-to-face conversations with players, and can likely see most of what you’d view in the box from tablets down there. Given that plays are coming in late, Michael Penix Jr. has been struggling a bit running the offense, and things look disjointed and sad thus far—the Falcons have scored just 42 points, their lowest total through three games since 2007—this has a chance to smooth communications a bit.

Why? Penix can now sit with Robinson in between series, Robinson can check in with the likes of Darnell Mooney when the frustration is evident, and this offense can see their coach on the sideline and at least communicate via hand waving during a play. I wouldn’t expect a miraculous turnaround, given that this is a move borne of some desperation, but there’s at least a chance it makes things slightly better if it gets those play calls in a little faster and plays flow from one another a bit more smoothly.

After all, the 2018 season saw Sark return to the field and coax a near-MVP quality season out of Matt Ryan again after a shaky 2017, so perhaps Robinson and Penix can at least get something workable on the field starting in Week 4. If not, the next step the team takes will probably be less pleasant for Robinson.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...zac-robinson-down-to-field-starting-in-week-4
 
Falcons snap counts from a terrible loss to the Panthers

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We’ll flush this one by Wednesday because we have to to stay sane, and the Falcons will flush it earlier because they have another game they must prepare for.

In the interim, though, we still have to talk about it. Let’s do so via the snap counts for Week 3.

Offense​


Jake Matthews: 66

Matthew Bergeron: 66

Ryan Neuzil: 66

Chris Lindstrom: 66

Elijah Wilkinson: 66

Darnell Mooney: 59

Drake London: 57

Kyle Pitts: 54

Bijan Robinson: 53

Michael Penix Jr.: 51

Ray-Ray McCloud: 46

David Sills: 25

Kirk Cousins: 15

Charlie Woerner: 14

Teagan Quitoriano: 7

Nate Carter: 7

Tyler Allgeier: 6

KhaDarel Hodge: 2



There are some odd things here. The first is virtually no Tyler Allgeier, who presumably would have been helpful in wearing down this defense but received just six snaps and one measly carry. The second was David Sills getting quite a bit of run, including subbing in for Mooney a handful of times; we’ll see if that’s something this team plans to continue, an opponent-based adjustment, or a sign that Casey Washington will get more run when he’s healthy.

Nothing really worked outside of Bijan, to be clear. The Falcons ended up sitting Penix late, presumably in service of keeping him healthy and avoiding further psychic damage after such a brutal game, and Kirk Cousins did a little pleasant dinking and dunking in his first game action since he was benched last year.

I don’t think London and Mooney are fully healthy, which isn’t an excuse, and I do think this line’s pass protection woes are just a fact of life at this point. But between the play calls consistently coming in very late, the usage quirks, and the inability for this offense to attack very real opponent weaknesses, the problems go beyond some personnel quirkiness and health.

Defense​


Mike Hughes: 58

Divine Deablo: 58

Dee Alford: 57

Jessie Bates: 57

Kaden Elliss: 57

Xavier Watts: 57

Billy Bowman: 38

Zach Harrison: 34

David Onyemata: 34

Brandon Dorlus: 30

Jalon Walker: 30

LaCale London: 27

Leonard Floyd: 27

Ruke Orhorhoro: 26

Arnold Ebiketie: 23

James Pearce Jr.: 21

DeMarcco Hellams: 2

JD Bertrand: 1

Josh Woods: 1



The Falcons didn’t really change course here, and nor should they. There were some disappointing missed tackles and a lack of interior pressure getting home that they’ll need to iron out—Pro Football Focus did credit the team with 12 total pressures—but they otherwise did alright given the short fields they consistently had to defend. Only one of Carolina’s scoring drives started inside their own 30; the others were from the Carolina 39, the Atlanta 45, the Atlanta 44, and the Atlanta 30.

Alford has now put together back-to-back quality weeks in coverage filling in for A.J. Terrell on the outside, lending credence to the idea that A) he might be best outside and B) Jimmy Lake really hurt that man last year. If Terrell has to miss another week or two, I have far more confidence in Atlanta’s ability to weather it than I did when he went down.

Special teams​


DeMarcco Hellams: 20

JD Bertrand: 20

Josh Woods: 20

Mike Ford: 20

DeAngelo Malone: 20

Feleipe Franks: 16

Tyler Allgeier: 11

Ray-Ray McCloud: 10

Teagan Quitoriano: 10

Zach Harrison: 9

Dee Alford: 8

Brandon Dorlus: 7

Charlie Woerner: 7

KhaDarel Hodge: 7

Jessie Bates III: 6

Ruke Orhorhoro: 6

Bradley Pinion: 6

David Onyemata: 5

Natrone Brooks: 5

Liam McCullough: 5

Nate Carter: 4

Billy Bowman: 3

Chris Lindstrom: 2

Elijah Wilkinson: 2

Jake Matthews: 2

Matthew Bergeron; 2

Parker Romo: 2

Jovaughn Gwyn: 2

Kyle Hinton: 2

Jalon Walker: 1

LaCale London: 1



It was a rough day all around here. Romo missed both his kicks, Pinion had a really lousy punt that set the Panthers up with excellent field position they did not need, and there were blocking and returning fails more or less all day. Aside from DeAngelo Malone, who had the team’s lone special teams tackle, and DeMarcco Hellams, who fell on the muffed punt to give Atlanta a chance they couldn’t capitalize on, I wouldn’t say it was a pretty day.

No big changes to snap counts, though.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...p-counts-from-a-terrible-loss-to-the-panthers
 
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