1 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, and welcome to the latest edition of 2 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: the Falcons Final Whistle podcast, presented by Zaxby's. I'm Scott 3 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: bar steering at a zoom screen at Tarryn Walk and 4 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: we are full disclosure. We're going to pull back the 5 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: curtain tarn and I are recording this at I joke 6 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: you not two forty two in the morning. Yeah, there 7 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: was a bit of a what do you want to 8 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: call it, taran a travel delay. There was a mechanical 9 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: issue that kept us in the Jets visitors locker room 10 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: far longer than we had ever had planned. 11 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:48,480 Speaker 2: I'm just glad it didn't smell. 12 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: Yes, at least that had gone. But it was kind 13 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: of a cool experience. There was players, coaches, staffers all 14 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: waiting around to get on a bus to be able 15 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: to go to Newark and get on a new play 16 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: and finally fly home. We are here, but just because 17 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: of a travel delay does not mean that we're going 18 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: to shirk our responsibilities and get this Falcons Final Whist 19 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: a podcast done after I swear this is not an 20 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: anl Central Baseball score. After a Falcons thirteen to eight 21 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: victory over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Falcons 22 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: are back to five hundred. They found a way to 23 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: win a rain soaked, dreary a fair full of offensive 24 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: struggles and penalties and so many punts like so many punts. 25 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 3: And ultimately found a way to win. 26 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: They and with that victory combined with a Saints loss, 27 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: the Falcons are now sitting in sole possession of first 28 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: place in the NFC South. They have a game on Tampa, 29 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: they have a game on New Orleans, and they've already 30 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: won a game against both of those teams. All those 31 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: things are positives. The Falcons also won their second straight. 32 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: They went back to back games for the second time 33 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: this season, and they're going to try to make it 34 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: three against Tampa coming up at Mercedes Benz next week. 35 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: Before we get to all that this week this week, 36 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: because it is. 37 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 2: On Monday. 38 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: That is very true, Taran, what was your takeaway from 39 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: kind of a sloppy game all around, not like not 40 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: just from the Falcons, because they played some great defense, 41 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: They did a lot of good things on special teams, 42 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 1: but not a lot of offense to show for those 43 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: four quarters of football. 44 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 4: Right, it just felt like a slog fest. I know, 45 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 4: Tory mclheney, who is still in New Jersey still. That 46 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 4: is why she is not with us here right now. 47 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,399 Speaker 4: It was just a slog fest. She used that term 48 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 4: in her story, and I would have to agree. I 49 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 4: just remember sitting there being like, what is going on? 50 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:51,959 Speaker 4: Like do something like granted, they did the most possibly 51 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 4: that they could given the circumstances, considering it was raining 52 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 4: the entire time, and it was like, dudes, grow out. 53 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 4: It was not a pleasant time. Like kudos to the 54 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 4: fans who stuck through all four quarters, because there was 55 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 4: still a pretty good turnout. I'd say for like those conditions, 56 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 4: I would have been happily at home on a couch 57 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 4: with like we'll say, a hot chocolate in hand, had 58 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 4: that been my situation. But yeah, they just they It 59 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 4: just didn't seem like one thing stood out. I guess 60 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 4: like maybe that's because of the weather and they did 61 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 4: what they could. But even Desmond Ritter said afterward, like, 62 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 4: we can't blame anything on the weather, and I think 63 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 4: with recency buys it's just like the fourth quarter stands 64 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 4: out most to me, where quite literally neither team scored 65 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 4: and it was punt. 66 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 2: Punt, punt, punt punt. Quote thumble, punt, turnover on downs punt. 67 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 4: I was just like, Okay, this gave needed to end 68 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 4: in at the end of the third quarter. 69 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, but the game is still stuck around 70 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: for more than three hours, and I think, of course, 71 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: I'm flipping back and forth between the box score and 72 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 1: we're just talking about accepted penalties. Accepted penalties there were 73 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: seventeen eleven on the Jets, and that's that makes for 74 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: a longer game. But again, coming out of a game 75 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: that's thirteen to eight, a game where you don't play 76 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: your best, when you come out of that with a victory, 77 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: that's a plus, that's a positive. As we head down 78 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: the stretch, I keep throwing out this nine to eight 79 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: record that I think is good enough to win the 80 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 1: NFC South at this point, and I think that's a 81 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:39,679 Speaker 1: I feel more conviction in that considering that the Saints 82 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: and the Bucks are both at five and seven. They 83 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: don't have a lot of wiggle room anymore. And if 84 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: the Falcons can come out and win the next couple, 85 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: that's going to be a real positive. 86 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 3: So look, offensively, it seemed very clear. 87 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: To me that the New York Jets were saying, you're 88 00:04:58,040 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: gonna have to beat us through the air, and you're 89 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: have to beat us or without Drake London, because they 90 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:06,919 Speaker 1: were covering Drake London at every turn, devoting lots of 91 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: attention to him. They also seemed committed to not let 92 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 1: Jeon Robinson beat them. Eighteen carries for fifty three yards, 93 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: that's a two point nine yards per carry average, and 94 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: he had. 95 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 3: A twelve yard run in there. 96 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 1: Ultimately, they weren't able to run consistently. I'm, of course 97 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: going back. They the Falcons averaged three point zero yards 98 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:37,040 Speaker 1: per play over sixty four plays and one because frankly, 99 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 1: they got they got, They did just enough. And Arthur 100 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: Smith kind of mentioned in his press conference at the 101 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: end where he kind of said, look, you may have 102 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 1: thought some of those things were conservative, but he like 103 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: and the way that he was calling the plays, willing, 104 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: the way he was seemingly willing to just punt the 105 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: ball back and try to win a game of field position. 106 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: I don't think that the Falcons believe the Jets could 107 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: drive the length of the field on them. With the 108 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 1: way their defense was playing and with the way that 109 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 1: the Jets offense was playing, that was a good bet. 110 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: And ultimately you know, come out with a win, no 111 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 1: matter how you got to do it. 112 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 4: Well, that's what everyone kept saying. A win is a win, 113 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 4: A win is a win, and I agree. I mean, 114 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 4: it was interesting while we were waiting for forever for 115 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 4: those elevators. 116 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 2: At the end of the game, you could hear the. 117 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 4: Jets riders talking about like that was a classic Jets game, 118 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 4: Like the defense drags the opponent through the mud. 119 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:36,840 Speaker 2: But the offense doesn't do anything. So that's why the 120 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 2: Jets still lose. I mean, they were. 121 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 4: They brought in a second quarterback that he became you 122 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 4: and I looked at this, the fifth quarterback making his 123 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 4: season debut. 124 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 2: Is that the word I want? 125 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 4: Just like his first appearance for this team this season? Yeah, 126 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 4: fifth one ever, Diamond Simeon. 127 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, and it pretty incredible to see that 128 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 1: many kind of quarterbacks making their debut that season for 129 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: the team. Ultimately, Trevor Simeon came in and he played 130 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter. He put the ball on the ground 131 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: three times, and as this game wore on, we've been 132 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: talking about, Look it was. 133 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 3: It was sloppy. 134 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: It wasn't a lot of good offense. I think, no turnovers, 135 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: but no turnovers and one. I think that's I think 136 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: that's huge because against an offense like the Jets. 137 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 3: He can't give him any freebies. 138 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: He can't give him like a thirty yard field to 139 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: score a touchdown, you gotta make him go the length. 140 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 3: Of the field. They did that. 141 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: The ball hit the ground three times, once on a 142 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: Cordero Patterson fumble, the box snap at the first offensive 143 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: snap of the game, and then a muff punt by 144 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: d Alfred, but the Falcons recovered all three. They forced 145 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: three turnovers. They were very active getting after the quarterback. 146 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: Jesse Bates comes through again. And I think that can 147 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: leads us to what was another really positive and successful 148 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: outing for this defense. That it kind of hit the 149 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: skids a little bit during that three game losing streak, 150 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: but it seems to have really found its footing lately. 151 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 2: I mean, it's been nine quarters since they allowed a touchdown. 152 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 4: And that's the longest active streak in the NFL right now. 153 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 2: Baltimore had it earlier. 154 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 4: This season, but it's not active right now, so they 155 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 4: get one more quarter in there. They've got the longest 156 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 4: streak this season. Knock on wood, I guess, but yeah, 157 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:42,319 Speaker 4: the defense showed up and Jesse Bates, I mean to 158 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:43,319 Speaker 4: talk about this man. 159 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 1: I mean, he's so good at reading quarterbacks, right, I 160 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: thought that was And in a story that you that 161 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: will be out probably by the time that you read 162 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: this Falcons take Off, Terris. 163 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, listen to this. 164 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: It's late, y'all. Listen to this, h Terry, And you 165 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 1: found a really good quote from Tim Boyle about Jesse 166 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: Bates and about that interception which will uh which which 167 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 1: will appear in Falcon's Takeoff Monday morning. 168 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 4: Yes, but we can give a little sneak peek because 169 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 4: the people are listening. He said, number three. All week 170 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 4: has been a conversation point of just making sure you 171 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,559 Speaker 4: track where he's at. He's big off the quarterback's eyes 172 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 4: and that's what you were just saying, that he watches 173 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 4: the quarterback so. 174 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: Well and and ultimately I mean Tim Boyle then goes 175 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: on to say he's not upset with his decision. 176 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 3: He was upset that way path of the ball. I mean, 177 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 3: come on, dude. 178 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,080 Speaker 2: That's what I was going to leave for the readers. 179 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, but I don't know if I buy that one necessarily. 180 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,679 Speaker 1: But what I do buy is that Jesse Bates is 181 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 1: his fifth interception thus far. 182 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,839 Speaker 3: Back to back pay yeah, back back to back games 183 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 3: with a pick. 184 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: And we've we've said this before, and the compliments are 185 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: true that he's worth the money that you're investing. But 186 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 1: the guy just continues to show up in a way 187 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: that is really impressive. Because at the time that he 188 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 1: did it, the Falcons were operating without aj Terrell, who 189 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 1: was out with a concussion. I'm not sure if Nate 190 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: Landman had gotten hurt yet, but they were down some 191 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:23,199 Speaker 1: key pieces and then sure enough, Jesse Bates comes through 192 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 1: with another big pick and that was huge. I think 193 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:33,079 Speaker 1: their only touchdown that was scored, which was Desmond Ritter 194 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: didn't have a lot of great throws, but his throat 195 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: to Michael Prewett kind of throwing him open. I guess 196 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: he was already open, but I mean it was pristine. 197 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: Michael Prewitt comes through yet again in the end zone 198 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: and scores that key touchdown. I can't even it was 199 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: in the second quarter, yep, and they got the ball 200 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:54,320 Speaker 1: off a turnover and turn that into points. That's something 201 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:57,199 Speaker 1: the Falcons weren't doing a lot earlier on It's something 202 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: that they did twice against New Orleans and did again 203 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 1: in a big spot here against the Jets. Is taking 204 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:08,199 Speaker 1: those defensive takeaways and turning it into something else. Now, 205 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: somebody else I do want to bring up here is 206 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: Budd DePree. 207 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 3: Two sacks. 208 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: You could argue that I think the Bud wants a third, one, 209 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: a force fumble, seven total tackles. That's what this defensive 210 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: front needs, right, it needs a guy like that to 211 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: give a dominant performance like that. I thought that was 212 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,840 Speaker 1: a really encouraging stat line for Bud. 213 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, and there's other people stepping up. We've talked about 214 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 4: how the defense took a major hit when Grady Jarrett 215 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,319 Speaker 4: got hurt. But now you have you saw David on 216 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 4: Yamata really stepping up. Now you have Bud Dupree doing it. 217 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 4: Arnold Ebaghetti had was like, it's like sneaky sacking. He sneaky, snacky, 218 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 4: sneaky sacks. I don't know, something like that. He just 219 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:03,440 Speaker 4: ends up sacking the quarterback. But it's just every they're 220 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:07,199 Speaker 4: kind of the the next. 221 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 2: Man of fatality. Everything is just blurring together, but the. 222 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 4: Next menut bautality, which is just such a team thing 223 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 4: to say, but it's true in this case because We've 224 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 4: said it once, we've said it before. We'll say it 225 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 4: again if that's how that phrase goes. But Grady Jared 226 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 4: was such a key piece and without him it's a loss. 227 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 4: But you people are trying to fill that void. 228 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:34,199 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think the Falcons have been relatively lucky 229 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: when it comes to injuries. But they finished that game 230 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 1: with Andre Smith at linebacker at with Trey Flowers in 231 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: for Jeff Okudah who slipped on the MetLife Stadium turf 232 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: late AJ Terrell so, and you had Clark Phillips the 233 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,559 Speaker 1: third over there. Caleb mcgeary was lost to a knee 234 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 1: injury early and didn't come back, and Storm Norton played there. 235 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: You got contributions from a lot of different do dudes, 236 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 1: and especially if you look at those cornerbacks. Look on 237 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 1: the first play that Clark Phillips came in for AJ, 238 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: they put Garrett Wilson on that side. Coincidence, I think not, 239 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 1: and he continued to hold up at a position where 240 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 1: if you make one bag move, it's that explosive play 241 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: that could have really really hurt the Falcons in a 242 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:24,439 Speaker 1: game like this, and they didn't allow that. 243 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 3: I think that those moments are key. 244 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: These contributions of coming from everywhere are important, and I 245 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 1: think that when you look at what this win is, right, 246 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: it was not. It wasn't even really like a fun 247 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: game to watch. It wasn't entertaining in a way that 248 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 1: an NFL football normally is. But I thought it was 249 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: impressive because of those contributions, because they stood tall. And 250 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 1: I think that, look, the Jets are in a tailspin 251 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: at this point using the Jet reference. But I really 252 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 1: do think though, that this can be a confidence booster that, hey, 253 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:04,319 Speaker 1: we went through a lot, we faced some adversity. 254 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 3: Actually talked to Storm Norton and. 255 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: He actually said that when it's crunch time at the 256 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: end of the year, facing adversity like this and finding 257 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,840 Speaker 1: a way to win can help you because you've become 258 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: more battle tested, and that when you face adversity again 259 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: down the road, you are confident that, look, we're not 260 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: playing our best, we just lost some key pieces, but 261 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 1: we're gonna keep finding and find a way to get 262 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 1: this thing done. Ultimately. Kind of an unsung MVP here 263 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: is Bradley Pinion. 264 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 3: Right. 265 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:39,359 Speaker 1: He had to have nine. 266 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 4: Nine puns that highs his single season career high. He's 267 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 4: never cracked double digits, but it's getting close, and. 268 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 3: I think he had four inside the twenty yard line. 269 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: That's big, again in a game of field position, in 270 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: a game where you just never really felt like the 271 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: Jets we're going to drive the length of the field, 272 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: something that I think is important here. And obviously when 273 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: you have quarterback problems, you're going to key against the run. 274 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: But Brecy Hall had thirteen carries for sixteen yards one 275 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 1: point two yards per carrie. The run defense gave up 276 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: more than five yards per carry against the Saints. I 277 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: thought this, that was a really important thing for that 278 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: front to be able to be able to hold up 279 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: like that. 280 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 4: I was when I was looking at the stat book 281 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 4: while writing Falcons Takeoff. 282 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 2: I saw that and I was very surprised. 283 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 4: But then I was thinking about I was like, I 284 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 4: never really did, like we heard his name, but it 285 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 4: was never in a standout way. 286 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think that that was big because then 287 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: it puts more on the quarterback. 288 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 3: Something else that I'm cruising through. 289 00:15:55,400 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: Tory mclaney's story, she really focused on the defense and 290 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: she had Kaleis Campbell quoted in here or at least 291 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: discussing it. Basically saying that that one change that came 292 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 1: after the bye was that the Falcons have decided to 293 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: keep more alignment on the field in passing down situations, 294 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: A slight change, i'm reading her story now, A slight 295 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: change that has affected sack totals in the last two weeks, 296 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: and with increases in quarterback hits and tackles for losses, 297 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: I think that those things are all positives as we 298 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: kind of look at because look, it wasn't a full 299 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 1: scale staffing change that came out of the bye. It 300 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: was kind of subtle tweaks where you're, you know, quarter 301 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: turn of a screw here and there, and I think 302 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: that we are starting to see little improvements there as 303 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 1: they've won their second straight game. Look, I mean, one, 304 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: it's you know, two forty two two, you know, so 305 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: we're not going to keep you very long. 306 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 3: But also, look, they just were. 307 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: Not a lot of highlights to talk about in this game. 308 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,639 Speaker 1: So let's expand it a little bit and say context 309 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: of the NFC South, the Saints were down twenty one 310 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 1: to nothing to Detroit in the first eight minutes or 311 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: seven minutes of that game and game and they most 312 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: certainly did so you had that Development and Tampa Bay 313 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: beat Carolina, so both of those teams sit at five 314 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 1: and seven, the glorious second place five and seven record here. 315 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 2: And Pampers are officially eliminated too, right. 316 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: They are the first team to even first team to 317 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 1: be mathematically eliminated. 318 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 3: They are. 319 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: They're not in a great space right now with recently yeah, 320 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 1: Bryce Young really struggling, and ultimately, when you look at 321 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: the importance of this win within the context of what 322 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 1: else happened within the division, knowing that you have two 323 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 1: NFC South games back to back coming up, this was 324 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: a big one and I think the Falcons can if 325 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:04,120 Speaker 1: they can do well over the next couple of games, 326 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: they can really assert some dominance within this division. 327 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 4: No, I agree, And yes, the Falcons beat the Bucks 328 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:17,760 Speaker 4: earlier this year with a ripe score of sixteen thirteen, 329 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 4: so they want it with a last minute field goal. 330 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 4: I think if they're able to put up a more dominant, 331 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 4: dominating win, that'll speak volumes too, and I think will 332 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 4: give them confidence because they squeak that one out like yes, 333 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 4: like we've said, a win is a win. But given 334 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 4: how the NFC South stands, they beat the Saints by 335 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 4: two scores, I think if they do the same ish 336 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:43,920 Speaker 4: or in that realm where it's not just the last 337 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 4: minute young white coup coming and save the day, I 338 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 4: think that'll. 339 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 2: Be huge because at this rate, they could go undefeated 340 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 2: in the NFC South, Yes, which is wild because then 341 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 2: you think about their record and you're like, oh. 342 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, and they went through a real rough patch there 343 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: and they lost some I mean not like wild card 344 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: really matters within the context of how the NFC looks 345 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: right now, but they lost a bunch of games that 346 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 1: they felt like they should have win, that they should 347 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 1: have won. I'll go back to that cad Nell's quote 348 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 1: from last week after the Saints game is that those 349 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:18,399 Speaker 1: three games that they lost, they expected to and believed 350 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 1: that they should have won all three of those games. 351 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: They ended up losing all three. They thought they were 352 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: going to go on a run after the Tampa Bay victory, 353 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: they went on a skid, and ultimately this is the 354 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 1: Falcons working their way back out of it. And if 355 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: they're gonna get three more wins in the next five 356 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 1: and end up sitting at nine to eight, that I 357 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: think that you're gonna have to play a little bit 358 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: better on offense. It's Also, the going into this Jets game, 359 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 1: the Falcons had the easiest remaining strength of schedule, and 360 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:56,199 Speaker 1: it was by it was if you look at the graph, 361 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 1: it's the Saints and the Falcons are essentially outliers in 362 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: terms of who they've got left to play, and that's 363 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:09,640 Speaker 1: based on the current records. Now they've got three more 364 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 1: games in the NFC South, they play the Bears that 365 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: have struggled to win and they and they're playing the 366 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: Indianapolis Colts, which are you know, kind of up and down. 367 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: So ultimately, I think this division is there for the taking, 368 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 1: which is crazy because we're still talking about a six 369 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 1: and sixteen, but ultimately, yeah, but ultimately this is one 370 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: of those situations where you're not going to give it back, 371 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: right Like you're not going to, you know, feel bad 372 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 1: because there's a team with a better record that may 373 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 1: not make be like playoffs, like these are the rules, 374 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 1: and the Falcons have to take advantage of it. 375 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 3: I think with the way the rest of the division. 376 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: Is playing right now, not saying that there isn't talent, 377 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 1: not saying the Falcons are are going to go unbeaten 378 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:54,199 Speaker 1: in the NFC South, but I just think that if 379 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,400 Speaker 1: they can figure out this passing game right. 380 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 3: It doesn't have to be. 381 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: The second coming of the two thousand, the early two 382 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: thousands rams. It doesn't have to be great a show 383 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:07,919 Speaker 1: on turf. They just have to have an ability to 384 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 1: come up with a big play when they need it 385 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:12,120 Speaker 1: and play off of their run game and. 386 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 3: Do those other types of things. 387 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:15,640 Speaker 1: If they can do that, I think this team can 388 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 1: compete with just about anybody as long as the defense 389 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:19,439 Speaker 1: keeps playing. 390 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 2: Bold statement, anybody. 391 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 1: Almost anybody, I mean almost anybody. Yeah, I think there's 392 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 1: certain teams that aren't really good matchups. But nonetheless, this 393 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 1: is the type of progress that you need to see. 394 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 1: I know, I feel like I'm joining on and on here, 395 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: but you know you can keep going back to that, 396 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:43,880 Speaker 1: to that Arthur Blank third year of a three year 397 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 1: plan thing. Right, This is the time the Falcons were 398 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: supposed to take a step in the win column. They're 399 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: one win away from matching their season total from twenty 400 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: one and twenty two. It's time to exceed that, and 401 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: it's time to finish on a strong note. 402 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 4: I think this next game, even with how the division stands, 403 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 4: has a lot of weight on it because it would 404 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:10,919 Speaker 4: put them above five hundred again. It would be the 405 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:13,280 Speaker 4: first time this season and they've had three wins in 406 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 4: a row, and like you said, it would match that 407 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 4: win total. 408 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 2: I didn't even realize that in the moment. But it's 409 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 2: just like three huge trigger buttons, pressure points. 410 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 4: I don't know whatever phrase you want to put in there, 411 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:29,920 Speaker 4: but it's just like it doesn't even matter that it's 412 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 4: necessarily the Buccaneers. 413 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 2: I think it was just this next one in general 414 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 2: to get three in a row. 415 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 4: Even Desmond said it in his postgame press commerce like 416 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 4: we haven't been able to stack three wins in a row. 417 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:41,680 Speaker 2: Now's the time. 418 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 3: Now is the time to finish strong. 419 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 1: But Bud was saying after the game that look that 420 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,880 Speaker 1: at the end of the year, the teams that can 421 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 1: surge and make the playoffs or achieve their goals are 422 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: teams with the arrow pointing up. Sometimes you can stack 423 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 1: wins early, but the arrow is pointing down at the 424 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 1: wrong time. 425 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 3: You want to be peeking at the right time. 426 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 1: He feels like that arrow is pointed up and they 427 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 1: have to keep it pointing up. They have to keep 428 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 1: growing and expanding and gaining confidence and doing all those 429 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,640 Speaker 1: other types of things. I do agree with you. It's 430 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 1: a home game. I think it would be monumental for 431 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 1: them to win three in a row. It's another one 432 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 1: of those psychological hurdles and if they can do all that, 433 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: they could be in good shape. But as we've seen 434 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: before with inconsistency, now they have to go prove it well. 435 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:33,439 Speaker 1: It's it's officially three oh five, Taran, I think, mister, 436 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 1: mister three oh five, so I think wait, is that 437 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:37,919 Speaker 1: a pit Bull reference? 438 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 3: I knew it. Most people don't know. 439 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 1: Terran is super into pit Bull number one fan fact fact. 440 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: And we're gonna be back with another breakdown of next 441 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: week's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and more fun 442 00:23:55,800 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 1: facts about Tarren's musical preferences on the next episode at 443 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 1: the Falcons Finals a podcast. Please rate, review, and subscribe 444 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: to the Atlanta Falcons podcast Network and we will be 445 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 1: back with you plus Tory mclanny. 446 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 2: And not at three am. 447 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: And not at three am under no circumstances. 448 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 2: This is the one time thing I refuse. 449 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 3: This is the one time thing for Tran. I'm Scott. 450 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 3: See you later.