1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: Mile two to the kind of held on Exca slip 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 1: its Falcons fans, what's up and welcome back to Falcons 3 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: final whistle. We have a victory out in the desert, 4 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: the Falcons first victory against the Arizona Cardinals in Arizona 5 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: since two thousand and one. They beat them twenty six 6 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: to nineteen. I'm Wil mcfadd and I am joined by 7 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: Tory mclaney. We are going to break it all down. 8 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: We got four quarters, we have five minutes today. For 9 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,520 Speaker 1: each quarter, we are gonna have a whistle that tells 10 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: us when to move on. Fory sound good to. 11 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 2: You, sounds good to me. 12 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: Let's do it awesome. So I think we got to 13 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: start right off at the top with Jean Robinson. You know, 14 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 1: he continues to be the best player I think on 15 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: this team, one of the best players in the NFL, 16 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: if not the best player in the NFL. One hundred 17 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: and sixty eight scrimmage yards. Today, he passed the two 18 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: two thousand scrimmage yard mark for the first time in 19 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: his career, and he leads the league in scrimmage yards 20 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: with twenty twenty six on the season. You just heard 21 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 1: from Jean robinsonry, like what did he have to say 22 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: about his day? And then what'd you make of it? Overall? 23 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it was a very bajon answer to 24 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 2: kind of, you know, anything that we've ever heard from him. 25 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 2: He was giving credit to just about everybody but himself, 26 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 2: and I think that it was really fun to kind 27 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 2: of presenting him the question, like the fact that he 28 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 2: was able to do this in front of his home 29 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 2: crowd of Arizona, because he's a he's a Tucson kid, 30 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 2: and he was kind of talking about the hundreds of 31 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: people who were in the stands who played some type 32 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 2: of role in his trajectory in life and being, and 33 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 2: it wasn't lost on him, like how special it was 34 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 2: one to do this, to go over that two thousand 35 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: scrimmage yard mark, but to do it here in Arizona 36 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 2: in front of his entire family, in front of all 37 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 2: friends and the people who have known him since he 38 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 2: was a pop kid playing pop Warner, like that wasn't 39 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 2: lost on him either, And I think that's what's really 40 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 2: special about this this performance in general. 41 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, I love that he was able to kind of 42 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 1: do this in front of you know, if not the 43 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: Atlanta home crowd. It was a personal home crowd for him, 44 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: and they kept showing his parents on the broadcast, just 45 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:35,239 Speaker 1: like quintessential football parents in the stands. They're like cut 46 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: to them after Bejan picks up a thirty five yard 47 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: gain and they just have like a very serious kind 48 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: of look on their face, like they are so engaged 49 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: in the game, and I'm sure just like worried about 50 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 1: the next play for their son, right, and. 51 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 2: So well, I'm sure like, was it his grandparents? 52 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,079 Speaker 1: It may have been, Yeah, it may like, yeah, it 53 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 1: probably was. 54 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,679 Speaker 2: His grandparents, because I know I saw one of it 55 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 2: was like a replay, and I saw them and his 56 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: grandma always go just screaming like that's my grandson, which 57 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 2: I just. 58 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,239 Speaker 1: Think is so special. Okay, Yeah, I hope it was 59 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: his grandparents, now that you mention that, because I was 60 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 1: definitely like they look a little old, you know, which 61 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 1: would make a lot more sense. So yeah, I mean, 62 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: he just was on the pregame show with Taylor Viismore. 63 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 1: You know, I was talking about how really Bijon needs 64 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:25,959 Speaker 1: to be the heartbeat of this offense and just have 65 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 1: everything flow through him, as he pretty much has done 66 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 1: all season long. But I felt like they set the 67 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: tempo early with him both as a runner and as 68 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: a receiver. I mean, in today's game, he finished with 69 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: more receiving yards than rushing yards. What do you think 70 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: of the way that they mixed him in? It could 71 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: have been a bigger day receiving if her cousins had 72 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: connected with him on that kind of deep option route 73 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: shot that they had, Like just the overall blending of 74 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: his skill sets. Do you think they did a great 75 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: job with that. 76 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 2: I mean, I think that that was on full display 77 00:03:58,160 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 2: and it was, you know, talking to her hum More 78 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 2: after the game too, he said it was a point 79 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: that they made going into this game of wanting to 80 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: be able to run the ball against this Arizona Cardinals defense, 81 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: and it felt like that was something that they could 82 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 2: do and it was when you look back, I mean, 83 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 2: they averaged i want to say, over four yards per 84 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,920 Speaker 2: carry between Bajon and Tyler. But it also I think 85 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 2: opened some things up for them in the past games. 86 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 2: And it's it's interesting the stat that Bajon is one 87 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 2: of six active players to have hit two thousand scrimmag 88 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,720 Speaker 2: yards in a single season, joining Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffery, 89 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 2: Sakuon Barkley, Josh Jacob, Jonathan Taylor, and all of those 90 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 2: players received all Pro accolades except for Barkley in twenty eighteen, 91 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 2: and all were named to the first team except Henry 92 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty four. I think that's interesting as we've 93 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 2: kind of talked, and this has been a main theme 94 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 2: that we've spoken about on this podcast and others for 95 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 2: a long time now, about how these individual accolades don't 96 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 2: forget the performances we're seeing from people like Pajon because 97 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:01,840 Speaker 2: the team's record isn't isn't where it you know, where 98 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 2: they wanted or where it should be, Like this is 99 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 2: we're witnessing something pretty special in what the Falcons have 100 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 2: in Bejon Robinson, and this was just kind of another 101 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 2: feather in his cap that I think was inevitable. 102 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: Well, he's going to have a heck of an opportunity 103 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 1: next week in the Falcons kind of final primetime game 104 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: of the season Monday Night against the Rams to make 105 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 1: a final case for what he can do, and I 106 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 1: expect him to really ball out in that one. But 107 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: it's interesting to me, Tori, when you look at the 108 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 1: fourth quarter in the way that the Falcons had an 109 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: opportunity with ten and a half minutes left to really 110 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 1: put this game away, right, they were leading by two 111 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 1: scorers at that point. You expected them to lean on 112 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: their run game, and yet ultimately it was the defense 113 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: that got the job done after the offense was was 114 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: stopped short on a couple of fourth downs. What'd you 115 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: make of that fourth quarter? Obviously it would have been 116 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: nice to see Atlanta's offense put the game away, But 117 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: are you kind of putting more stock in that aspect 118 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 1: of it? Or is it the defense still figuring out 119 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 1: ways to make the plays and ultimately come away with 120 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 1: a winner. Are you kind of leaning offense or hey, 121 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 1: you got the win and take it however you get it. 122 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 2: I think both things can be true at the same time. 123 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 2: Like I think that what Raheem said after the game, 124 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 2: where he's talking about you want to be able to 125 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 2: finish better, like you wanted to be able to close 126 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: it out in a much better way. And that can 127 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 2: be true, and that is true. But you can also 128 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 2: in the exact same breath, you know, give kudos and 129 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 2: to someone like CJ. Henderson for the play he made 130 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 2: to ultimately ice the game. And I think that's where 131 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 2: you live. Like, by no means was this a perfect game. 132 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 2: But I will say you went into this game with 133 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 2: the understanding that this Arizona Cardinals team has been known 134 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 2: to fight till the end, like they've lost I don't 135 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 2: know how many games by less than a score and 136 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 2: think I think they lead the league and you know, 137 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 2: potentially losing in those thats And so I think going 138 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 2: in you knew what type of situation the Falcons could 139 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 2: and probably would be in. You can simultaneously expect it 140 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 2: but also expect more from the Falcons, especially with the 141 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 2: run game and how how good it was up until 142 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 2: those those final few minutes. And like I said, both 143 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 2: of those things can and are true at the same time. 144 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, the Cardinals were two and seven coming into this 145 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: game in one score games. I guess now they're two 146 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 1: and eight after today because this was yet another one 147 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: score game. And I thought Tyler Aljeer got a lot 148 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: of run in that fourth quarter, and that has been 149 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 1: always kind of their their closing plan, right, and this 150 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: was just such a perfect opportunity for them to continue 151 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: to build and improve in a situation that hasn't come 152 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: up for them a ton this season. But one that 153 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: I do think they're well suited and built for, which 154 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: is closing the game out with a dominant rushing attack. 155 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: So you know, we'll we'll see. They've got two more 156 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: games a chance to do that. But this was the 157 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: second week in a row where we have seen something 158 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: that Raheem Morris has mentioned wanting to see over kind 159 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: of like the second half of the season, which is 160 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: a player stepping up to make the big play in 161 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: a big moment. Last week it was you know, de 162 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: Alford with his interception, David Sills with that huge catch 163 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: on fourth down. Today with CJ. Henderson stepping up, I 164 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: think Jesse Bates also should get some kudos for the 165 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: way he played on kind of that first Cardinals drive 166 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter with a couple of big pass breakups. 167 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: What'd you make of the secondary and CJ. Henderson who 168 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 1: just got elevated making that big play. 169 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 2: It's a story of like why you love like why 170 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,719 Speaker 2: you love this league sometimes and it's the type of 171 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 2: story that you really I think, you know, this is 172 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,839 Speaker 2: a guy who had been on the street, then he 173 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 2: gets you know, signed to the practice squad kind of 174 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 2: on and off the active roster as the Falcons have 175 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 2: gone through different injuries in the secondary and kind of 176 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 2: was always just in the background as this guy who 177 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 2: was an interesting piece of death. But then he gets 178 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 2: an opportunity today and goes out in the second quarter 179 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 2: after Kobe Bryant got the start and he's playing opposite 180 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 2: AJ Trell and then Ajhrell kind of gets banged up, 181 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,199 Speaker 2: but he comes back. I mean, there was just like 182 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 2: a lot of moving pieces I think in the secondary 183 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:28,839 Speaker 2: today than what we're used to seeing with my Cues 184 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,839 Speaker 2: being out with that ankle injury. So I think when 185 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 2: I look at the performance of CJ. Henderson like that 186 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 2: one moment is is kind of the moment that you 187 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 2: love seeing for guys like that. 188 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:45,559 Speaker 1: Do you think and obviously we don't know the status 189 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: of IQ's will learn more about that moving forward throughout 190 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: the week, but that play and kind of with the 191 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,319 Speaker 1: way the second hal trended, do you think CJ. Henderson 192 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: now is kind of like in line to be that 193 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 1: starter across AJ Trell if they need to next week 194 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: or I. 195 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 2: Think it's I mean, I'm going to be really quick 196 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 2: on this because Kirk is about to walk in, but 197 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:07,719 Speaker 2: I think it's definitely a possibility. 198 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,079 Speaker 1: All right, Well, well we'll see next week. We'll monitor that. 199 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: You go talk to Kirk and let's break for a 200 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 1: halftime stat. All right, today's halftime stat, brought to you 201 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: by Microsoft's co Pilot, involves the Falcons pass rush. Arnold 202 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 1: deb Katie became the eleventh Falcon to record multiple sacks 203 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:29,839 Speaker 1: this season in the first half of today's game. The 204 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: Falcons are the second most or have the second most 205 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: number of players with multiple sacks this year. They're behind 206 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: only the Denver Broncos, who I think a lot of 207 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: people would say have the best defense in the league. 208 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 1: And this is the most players the Falcons have ever 209 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: had record multiple sacks in a single season since nineteen 210 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 1: eighty two when they started tracking the sacks statistic. So 211 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: I think coming into the year, we were all looking 212 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 1: for that one player, maybe two players, who are going 213 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: to come in and transfer Atlanta's pass rush, and ultimately, 214 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: as a result, it's been kind of the collective group. 215 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,559 Speaker 1: We've even seen players like Lacale London step up and 216 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: kind of make their presence known in a way that 217 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: I don't think many people envisioned before the season started. 218 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: So that's kind of what I really find interesting. Why 219 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: I wanted to highlight this stat for you all is 220 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: it has not just been James Pierce Junior and Jalen 221 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: Walker coming in and kind of reigniting it. It has 222 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 1: been across the board. I really have to give Nate Ali, 223 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: Jeff Ulbrich, that entire defensive staff a lot of credit 224 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,839 Speaker 1: for the way that they are utilizing a rotation to 225 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: keep guys fresh. And it is really really apparent as 226 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:43,199 Speaker 1: the game wears along. Brandon Dorles another half sack today, Like, 227 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: this group is playing really really well and now they're 228 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: second in the league in number of players who have 229 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: multiple sacks, and I think that is just something worth 230 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 1: celebrating given where we were a year ago talking about 231 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: the pass rush. So that is our halftime stat, brought 232 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: to you by my soft co pilot. Keep it rolling 233 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: into the third quarter. So, Tory, you just heard from 234 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins he got his number one receiver back today 235 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: in Drake London. What kind of impact did you see 236 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 1: from Drake out there? And what did Kirk say about 237 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: kind of the offenses play today? 238 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that, you know, Kirk is always very 239 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 2: realistic in that he's like, you know, until I watch 240 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 2: the tape and or you know, he's like sometimes he's like, 241 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 2: I can be a bit of a pessimist after even 242 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 2: after a win, to the point of knowing that you know, 243 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 2: they won the game, but also knowing that there are 244 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 2: a lot of plays left out there. He called the 245 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 2: the miss of Drake of Jake Matthews. That touchdown. He 246 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 2: called it a soul crushing moment. 247 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: For him, So it was for me too, honestly. 248 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 2: Holistically talked about the offense, and I think that's the 249 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 2: thing is they did some good things. They did some 250 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 2: bad things, but that's where he ultimately landed. 251 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: I do think somebody who did a lot of good 252 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: things out there again was Kyle Pitts. Right, he caught 253 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,079 Speaker 1: another touchdown pass. He's got five on the season, a 254 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 1: new career high. But crucially, I thought he was clutch 255 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: in helping the Falcons on third down. Four of his 256 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 1: passes came on third downs for a first down, which 257 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: really was huge when you look at just how the 258 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: Falcons their touchdown drives were, these long, matriculating drives down 259 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:33,560 Speaker 1: the field, not necessarily the most like explosive drives. What'd 260 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: you make of Kyle Pitts as we have now seen 261 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: like four games from him where he looks like the 262 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:38,959 Speaker 1: player we all hoped he would be. 263 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 2: He's playing as advertised, and I think that he's coming 264 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 2: up in the clutch moments. I think last week I 265 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,199 Speaker 2: said that he played with a lot of heart in 266 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,719 Speaker 2: Tampa Bay, and I think that showed up again against you, 267 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 2: this Arizona Cardinals team on these what Raheem Morris called 268 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 2: like those critical moments, you know, even on that fourth 269 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 2: down that he converted, Like, there were some some times 270 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 2: where Kyle Pits doesn't catch the ball and it probably 271 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 2: does change the trajectory of the game itself. So I 272 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:08,839 Speaker 2: think that having him to this point where it's like 273 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 2: Kirk Cousins is throwing the ball to a very trusted ally, 274 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 2: and that ally has turned into Kyle Pitts. And I 275 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 2: think the fact that so many of his receptions today 276 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 2: were these honestly were hit or were these like third down, 277 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 2: fourth down conversions, these critical moments and critical plays like 278 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 2: that's what That's what showed. That's when trust ultimately shows up. 279 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: Absolutely. Yeah, if you've got your your go to guy 280 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: and it's been you know, last year, I think that 281 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: was Darnell Mooney for Kirk, but clearly it's it's become 282 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 1: Kyle Pitts And we were wondering what the kind of 283 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: target breakdown was going to be. But Jean led the 284 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 1: way with eleven, Kyle was the second with nine, Drake 285 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: was third with eight, and then it was Darnell with two. 286 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: So like there was a clear top three in terms 287 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: of where Kirk was kind of looking to go with 288 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: the ball, and it's hard to argue with the results, 289 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: but a couple other areas where we wanted to see 290 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 1: improvement kind of going into this game, Tori, I think 291 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: the Falcons actually performed quite nicely. They were seven to 292 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 1: fourteen on third down. They only had four penalties in 293 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: this game, by and large, Like it didn't feel necessarily 294 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: like the cleanest game because I think of the way 295 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: that these two teams can go back and forth with 296 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: with kind of anybody. But how important is it as 297 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 1: we look at the next two games and kind of 298 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 1: closing out this season on the right note, how important 299 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: was it for them to finish fifty percent on third 300 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: down and clean up a lot of those penalties? 301 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 2: I think very important because you need to show that 302 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 2: you can do that and for a lot of the season, 303 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 2: the Falcons haven't consistently done that. There have been one 304 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 2: too many times where we are talking about third down 305 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 2: in the sense that they're not converting at the clip 306 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 2: they need to, Like we're talking about not coming up 307 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 2: clutch in a critical moment, needing a guy to make 308 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 2: a play. And all of those things happened in this game. 309 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 2: And I think, you know, if you look at it overall, 310 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 2: they happened in you know, the last couple of gamess 311 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 2: why they're winning these games. It's why they're playing better 312 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 2: is because you know, drives aren't stalling as often as 313 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 2: what they used to be. So I think that's where 314 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 2: you are with kind of this conversation of what you're 315 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 2: talking about. They're executing better and that's you know a 316 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 2: little bit of a you know, duh answer, but it's 317 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 2: true they are executing at a higher clip at this 318 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 2: point in time, and I mean that's going to always 319 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 2: mean good things for you. Yeah. 320 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: And one other area where they have been executing extremely 321 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: well in the red zone. They were perfect there again today, 322 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: they were perfect last week. I'm unable to do this 323 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 1: in real time as quickly as possible, but they have 324 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: been on such a tear in the red zone since 325 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: they kind of got that area corrected earlier in the season, 326 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: and it is why I am bullish on them kind 327 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: of getting third down turned around even though they are 328 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: two games remaining. Like, when this group digs into something, historically, 329 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: they have been able to dig out answers, whether that's 330 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 1: the pass rush last year, going into this year, red 331 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 1: zone this year. So we will keep an eye on 332 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 1: on third down for all of that. But Toy, I 333 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,680 Speaker 1: can literally hear you. I think walking, Yeah, I'm in 334 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: the Yeah, all right, Well let's we're gonna go ahead 335 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: and wrap it up there. Then this was a big 336 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 1: win for Atlanta, even though ultimately it's not going to 337 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:26,399 Speaker 1: change anything about their final destination. But stacking wins for 338 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: the second time this season, first time in actual back 339 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 1: to back weeks, that does mean something. Good teams find 340 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: ways to stack wins, uh. And now they have a big, 341 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: big challenge ahead of them, tory with the Los Angeles 342 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 1: Rams coming to town for a primetime game. If this 343 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 1: was a game against kind of equal level competition, this 344 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:46,680 Speaker 1: next one is going to be, all right, can you 345 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 1: punch up against the heavyweights? And I think the Falcons 346 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: definitely believe they can. 347 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean that's the hope, right, Like you want 348 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 2: it to be competitive. This is the team that you're 349 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 2: trying to chase, So this is. 350 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 1: Where they got to go. And we'll get a chance 351 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: on Monday nights to see where they are. But for 352 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: Tory Nat Laney, I am all McFadden. Thank you guys 353 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: so much for listening to today's final whistle. We got 354 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 1: Falcons audible midweek and then you know, we'll see where 355 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: everything else lands with the Christmas schedule. But everybody, Merry Christmas, 356 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: Happy Holidays. Thank you again for tuning in. Thank you 357 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 1: to Jared for producing this episode, and we will be 358 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 1: all next time.