1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: Will two kind of exact slip its Falcons fans, what's up? 2 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: And welcome back to Falcons Final Whistle. We have a 3 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: victory to talk about. The Falcons beat the Saints twenty 4 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 1: four to ten. They're now four and seven on the season, 5 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: still in third place in the division. But who cares 6 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: about those little details, right? You get a win over 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: your biggest rival and it's their biggest win since twenty nineteen. 8 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 1: So we're gonna break that all down in today's show. 9 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: Here to do it with me as always is Tory mclaney, 10 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: who is not on location today, but that's actually, I 11 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: think a good thing because we get her for all 12 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: four quarters. So how you doing, toy? 13 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 2: I'm doing well. 14 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, this is the very first game since I've been 15 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 3: with the Falcons that I've not traveled to, and that 16 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 3: includes the COVID year, like that includes twenty twenty one. 17 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 3: So this was a very different experience for me sitting 18 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 3: on the couch and watching the game and consuming it 19 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 3: via the broadcast. Then how I've consumed every other Falcons 20 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 3: game since I've been covering this team, which is like 21 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 3: on location. 22 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: Well, because we value consistency and I usually like to 23 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: ask you. How is the atmosphere in the building. How 24 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:18,479 Speaker 1: is the atmosphere in the building today? 25 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 3: So I'm actually at my boyfriend's house and we put 26 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 3: up the Christmas tree earlier, and there is his roommate 27 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:30,199 Speaker 3: has a cat. So there was an instance halfway through 28 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 3: the game where the cat did bite a light on. 29 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 2: The Christmas tree. 30 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, it popped. 31 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 3: The Cat's fine, everybody's fine. My boyfriend fixed the tree, 32 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 3: so all the lights are good. But it was there 33 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 3: for a few minutes. I was a little bit concerned 34 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 3: about the Christmas cat debacle. 35 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: All right. So Tory's game day experience is giving feline 36 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: festivities with a little bit of like ferocity in there. Okay, yeah, 37 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: I like it. I'm right there with you. Mine was 38 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: filled with screaming babies and trying to work around it. So, boy, 39 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: I wish we had both been in the Superdome. 40 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 3: That might have been with Arran Terren's there, and she 41 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:10,799 Speaker 3: did say she missed us. 42 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 2: So that warmed my heart. 43 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: All right, Well, we're going to get to the action 44 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: because we're up against a little bit of a clock. 45 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: We got four quarters, six minutes for each quarter if 46 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: you're new to this, So we're going to start on 47 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:27,679 Speaker 1: our first quarter here, and really I kind of think, Tori, 48 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: we just got to address, like how big of a 49 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: win this was at this point in time. Right, you 50 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: and I are both in the building every single week, 51 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 1: and when you're on a five game losing streak, it's 52 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 1: not the most fun. So talk to me from your perspective, 53 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: how big of a victory is this for Atlanta? Yeah? 54 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 3: I mean, I think it goes back to what we 55 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,920 Speaker 3: were even talking about in the Friday five episode where 56 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 3: we were like, you know, this isn't a game that 57 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 3: you go into being like you're playing for all the marbles. 58 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 3: There's playoff implications on the line, Like, no, this is 59 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 3: a three win at a three win Atlanta Falcons team 60 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 3: playing a two win New Orleans Saints team in Week twelve, 61 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 3: Like all you have to play for is bragging rights 62 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 3: against your biggest rifle, Like this is what we talked 63 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 3: about all week, Like this game against the Falcons and 64 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 3: Saints is as close as you get in like the 65 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 3: NFL A to like true like clean old fashioned hate, 66 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 3: Like that's as close as what you get to. And 67 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 3: so the fact that both teams were going into this 68 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 3: game not feeling really good about themselves. 69 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 2: Let's be completely honest. 70 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 3: And call a spade a spade, the fact that you 71 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 3: go into this game and you come out of it 72 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 3: with a win, like especially to do it in the 73 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 3: way that I think they did it, particularly defensively, after 74 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 3: a few performances defensively where against the Colts against the 75 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 3: Carolinas where you saw a single player put up historical 76 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 3: franchise numbers and back to back weeks like this defense 77 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 3: getting back on track, I think was and I know 78 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 3: we're going to get into the defensive performance more later 79 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 3: in this show, but I thought that to me was 80 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 3: like to see the confidence that this defense was playing 81 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 3: with I think helped everything else kind of like ripple 82 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 3: off of that. 83 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: I absolutely agree, And you know again, kind of the 84 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: playoff picture is what it is at this point, but 85 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: the rest of the season, Like, to me, it's a 86 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: little bit about you know how Raheem Morris doesn't like 87 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: to name an identity right in training camp and kind 88 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 1: of he wants in his words, that to manifest on 89 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: the field, right You kind of build your identity on 90 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: the field and it comes to life there. It to me, 91 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: it's kind of like, are the Falcons going to be 92 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 1: able to forge a true identity that we feel good 93 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 1: about and can invest in for the future over these 94 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,359 Speaker 1: next six games. Like, to me, that is really what 95 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: is at stake here and that does happen game at 96 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: a time, And when you look at kind of the 97 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 1: injuries that are happening on the offensive side of the ball, 98 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 1: obviously Michael Pennix Junior key among them, that is what 99 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 1: makes it kind of exciting in a weird way, but 100 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: like also not a weird way, that the defense is 101 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: the story is really kind of the ones taking strides 102 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: and like stepping forward, because that, to me is kind 103 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: of the identity that you can buy in, buy into 104 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 1: and buy into for not just the rest of the season, 105 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: but like hopefully this is the beginning of something truly 106 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 1: special here in Atlanta. 107 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that when you look at this game 108 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 3: in the four quarters of it, like the fact of 109 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 3: the matter is is that this defense, over and over, 110 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 3: time and time again has found ways to keep this 111 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 3: team in games and in positions to win games even 112 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 3: if they're not in good positions themselves in ie field positions. 113 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 2: And I think that when I look at. 114 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 3: What this defense has become in twenty twenty five to 115 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 3: your point of it being something that you can build on, 116 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 3: Like you look at the young pieces of this group, 117 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 3: what they're doing, how they're playing, knowing that you're going 118 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 3: to have people like Brandon Dorles Ruguerrero, Jalen Walker, James 119 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:21,799 Speaker 3: Ritch Junior, Xavier Watts like for the next few years. 120 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 3: So regardless of what happens over the course of the 121 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 3: twenty twenty five season, those pieces are going to be 122 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 3: who you are and who you are building around come 123 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 3: twenty six, twenty seven, twenty eight. 124 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I mean that is why it was very encouraging 125 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 1: again to see and we should say it's the Saints, right, 126 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: the SATs two and nine, So we don't want to 127 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: sit here and certainly have kind of like that same 128 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 1: level of that after the Bills game where we're, yeah, 129 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: everything was amazing and this is the ascension and they've 130 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: rid like that. 131 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 3: You don't want to wax, right, we don't want a 132 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 3: wax poetic about this defensive performance. I mean, we can 133 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 3: talk about it in the scope, but I want people 134 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 3: to hear us talking about it in the scope of 135 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 3: like this game and at the end to your point 136 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 3: about like this was the Saint. This team has been 137 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 3: on a five game losing streak, like the odds of 138 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 3: them making the playoffs are minuscuol. Like we're not disregarding 139 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 3: anything that has happened. We're kind of talking about this 140 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 3: performance in the vacuum of they needed this win. They 141 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 3: got this win, and they got it because the defense 142 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 3: played very well. 143 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: Absolutely, Yep, this was an important win because at times 144 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: it wasn't the prettiest win, I guess, and like that 145 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: has been the Falcons have played good games and then 146 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: ended up losing them. This year, it was nice to 147 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: see them be able to play kind of a game 148 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: not up to their very very best and still win 149 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: it fairly comfortably. I would say this was maybe the 150 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: most comfortable win outside of Minnesota and maybe Washington that 151 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: they had this year, you know. 152 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, No, I'm. 153 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: Just naming the other two wins that weren't Buffalo, right. 154 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 3: But hey, whatever you got to do, man oh man, 155 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 3: But no, I really do when I look at it 156 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 3: in totality. I mean, we're going to talk about the 157 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 3: offense too, but it is one of those things where 158 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 3: it's not like this team didn't have opportunities to throw 159 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 3: this game away. Either like, let's be real, like right like, 160 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 3: it's not again, we can't wax poetic about the performance 161 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 3: because if you were to look at the third quarter. 162 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 2: Wasn't good. 163 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 1: Well we'll get to the third quarter, but that's our 164 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: first quarter whistle, So we got the second quarter coming 165 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: up first, Tory, how's that for a segue? 166 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 2: Right? 167 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 3: Well, a real who's on first situation we've got going on? 168 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: Will man I am in mid season four? Let's go 169 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: all right? So we talked a lot a little bit 170 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: about the defense, but now it's time for us to 171 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: really kind of dig in and give them their flowers. 172 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:57,559 Speaker 1: And honestly, toy Is I was kind of trying to 173 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 1: think about the way for us yet again to talk 174 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: about the defense because this isn't a new thing, which 175 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 1: is a great thing so far this season, but really, 176 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: when we came into this year, right, all the talk, 177 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 1: all the spotlight was on the offense. It was man 178 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: this young core with Kyle Pitts and Jehan Robinson, Drakeln 179 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: and Michael Pennock junior. What can they accomplish with kind 180 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: of Michael Pennix in a full year as a starter 181 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 1: and early on the defense is what grabbed our attention 182 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: and we were wondering is that a flash in the pan? 183 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: Is that kind of what happened? But now after these 184 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: four games, like what they are doing feels real, feels sustainable, 185 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: and I kind of just want to know, are you 186 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: more excited about this defensive kind of young nucleus and 187 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: we can throw you know, Xavier Watson there and unfortunately, 188 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: you know, we don't know what's up with Billy Bowman, 189 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:47,839 Speaker 1: but I would add him too, like, yeah, this young 190 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: group of defenders. Are you more excited kind of for 191 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 1: them right now than maybe you even were at the 192 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 1: beginning of the season for what this Falcons offense could 193 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: be or is it still that group? What has your 194 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: your heart and your eye? 195 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, I absolutely agree with that. 196 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 3: And I think even looking at where things stand with 197 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 3: the defense versus even offensively, like the conversations that you 198 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 3: have to have about where the Falcons are within those 199 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 3: two entities, they're actually quite different at this point in time, 200 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 3: knowing that Michael Pennix is hurt and could potentially be 201 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,320 Speaker 3: spanning a recovery time period into the beginning weeks of 202 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 3: the twenty twenty six season. 203 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:27,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's fair to say it's going to impact his 204 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: preparation window for sure, right, yeah. 205 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 3: And then you don't really know offensive line what's gonna happen. 206 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 3: You know, the Falcons have Caleb McGarry, he will be 207 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 3: coming back in twenty twenty six. 208 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 2: You obviously have. 209 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 3: Drake London that you would hopefully, you would think try 210 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 3: to get a long term deal together for you have 211 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 3: Jean Robinson coming back. Let's see what happens with Tyler Algier. 212 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 3: But in terms of like the key pieces, like what 213 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 3: we're saying before that you build around that you see 214 00:10:54,960 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 3: moving forward, I feel more confident in the concret threat 215 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 3: examples of what this defense has given me in twenty 216 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 3: twenty five to feel good about them being on the 217 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 3: right path moving forward. I think that even going back 218 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,479 Speaker 3: to something that we talked about probably on this podcast 219 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 3: in the first few weeks of the season, was I 220 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 3: remember saying, there's so much farther along than I thought 221 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 3: they were. Like, I remember saying, I think it had 222 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 3: to have been like had to be like week two, honestly, 223 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 3: Like after that Minnesota was yeah, yeah, where I kind 224 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 3: of remember being like I was fully expecting the offense 225 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,959 Speaker 3: to get to start hotter than I was the defense 226 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 3: because the defense had so many new faces, had a 227 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 3: brand new coordinator in Jeff Oelberg who's trying to do 228 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 3: stuff a little bit different than what the previous regime 229 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 3: was trying to do defensively, and so I just kind 230 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 3: of assumed going into this year that defense was gonna 231 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 3: be a work in progress. Well, that work in progress 232 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 3: arrived a lot sooner than what I thought, and so 233 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 3: it changed my own expectations about the defense. And that's 234 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 3: why the performances over the last few weeks, these down 235 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 3: performances for this defense have been like, that's not who 236 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 3: this defense is like. And I think that's where I 237 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 3: land with this defense and why do feel so confident 238 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 3: about it moving forward? Yeah? 239 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: And I mean when you look at just the guys 240 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: who did contribute at least in sacks, it's all of 241 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: the names that they've drafted over the last two years. 242 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: Right is Brandon Dorless one to half sacks, James Pierce 243 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: one and a half sacks that the last act was 244 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: so pretty from him, just classic beat him around the edge, 245 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,959 Speaker 1: go track him down. Jalen Walker another sack again, Ruker 246 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 1: Roro like what Jalen Walker and James Pierce are doing, 247 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 1: I believe, you know, is unparalleled among rookies right now 248 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 1: in the NFL. So, like you just look at all 249 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 1: of the names that we were talking about and lead 250 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 1: up to the draft and how much we were kind 251 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 1: of going back and forth. Is it Mike Green? Is it? 252 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: You know? Obviously I'll Carter was in the class to himself, 253 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: but like all of these different names that and to 254 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: hit on these two guys again, to flip it where 255 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: it genuinely feels as though this isn't like a flash 256 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: in the pan kind of season that maybe you saw 257 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: in twenty sixteen with Vic Beasley where that clearly was 258 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: an outlier when you look at kind of his overall career. 259 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: This feels sustainable. This feels like you've got two guys 260 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,319 Speaker 1: who are about to be household names. And then what 261 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: Brandon Dorlys has done capitalizing on a great training camp 262 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 1: Ruke Roro, to see him finish the game with that 263 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: sack or get the last one of the group, like 264 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 1: that was amazing to see. Is there. Do you feel 265 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: like Jeff Ulbrick has said, you know, he wants to 266 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: get to kind of being able to rush for Do 267 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: you feel like they're close to being able to do 268 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 1: that because they've had such a high blitz rate all 269 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: year long. 270 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I do, and I want to use Jalen Walker 271 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 3: kind of as the case study. Like I know, right 272 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 3: when they drafted Jalen Walker, I was so skeptical, and 273 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 3: I was skeptical for a long time. Even honestly back 274 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 3: weeks ago, was still skeptical about the fact that the 275 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 3: Falcons were going to have him play this very traditional 276 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,080 Speaker 3: ed rusher role. I mean, I questioned it all the time, 277 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 3: and I kind of didn't believe it for a very 278 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 3: long time. But I do think that he has morphed 279 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 3: into this traditional ed rusher that can go and win 280 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 3: a one on one. And I think you have to 281 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 3: give credit where credit is due to Jalen Walker for 282 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 3: being willing to do that and really putting the time 283 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 3: and effort in while also kind of working through this 284 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 3: groin injury, but also jeff Olbrick for having a vision, 285 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 3: having a plan, and sticking to it, because that's sometimes 286 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 3: what Brookies need. They don't need to be everything all 287 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 3: at once, they need to focus and that's something that 288 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 3: Jeff Olbrick said from day one that he wanted for 289 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 3: Jalen Walker, and I think he's achieved that. 290 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: That's the whistle. But a quick shameless plug, go check 291 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: out my Jalen Walker story for my cause my cleats. 292 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 1: It was awesome. He is representing Arthur Griposis and his 293 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 1: cousin Edwins, so go check that out. But that is 294 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: our halftime whistle. So here is a great stat brought 295 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 1: to you by Microsoft Copilot, who is our presenting sponsor 296 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 1: for Falcons Final whistle and does a great job helping 297 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: us compile this outline every single week. But we've been 298 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: talking a lot about the defense, specifically the pass rush. 299 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: The Falcons twenty three sacks over their last four games. 300 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: They had another five today. That is their most in 301 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: any four game stretch in franchise history. And the last 302 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: time they were over twenty was season Numero Uno Baby, 303 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 1: the very first season in Falcons franchise history, nineteen sixty six. 304 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: That's the last time they reached over twenty sacks in 305 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: any four game stretch. So what a nice little bit 306 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: of symmetry there here in their sixtieth season. 307 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 3: Ye crazy stat right there, and too, I'll say this 308 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 3: like it was good that they got the win they 309 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 3: got all these sacks, like you know, like that was 310 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 3: again talking about crazy stats. Like one of the craziest 311 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 3: stats I think I've ever heard is like, for the 312 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 3: first time in a Super Bowl era, a team had 313 00:15:56,320 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 3: had what like over eighteen sacks over a three game 314 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 3: period but lost all three of those games. And now 315 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 3: we're sitting here talking about this team doing something that 316 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 3: hasn't been done since the very first season of its inception, 317 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 3: and they fortunately finally have a win to show for it. 318 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 3: Like it just again it goes to show that sacks 319 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 3: aren't everything, but it is nice to see that symmetry 320 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 3: of like they had all these sacks, they did something 321 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 3: very special and they got the win as well. 322 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's it was truly kind of like di icing 323 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: on the cake to be able to do it, because 324 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: how many times are you kind of silver lining a 325 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: stat like that, right, It's like, oh man, yep, they 326 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: needed that win, but look at this great thing that 327 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 1: they accomplished in ultimately loss. But no, we don't have 328 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: to talk about any of that because they've got the 329 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: win and their pass rush keeps rolling right along, which 330 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: is what we're about to do. Wrapping up halftime by 331 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: a Microsoft copilot. Let's move on to the third quarter. 332 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: All right, Tory, you kind of right off the gates 333 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: when we were chatting about what this outline could be, 334 00:16:57,760 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: we got to talk about Kirk. Yeah, here's your opt 335 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: to Neil. Let's talk about Kirk Cousins leading the Atlanta 336 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: Falcons offense. 337 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 2: Yeah. 338 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 3: So I was going, I'm gonna write more about this 339 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 3: in my column after the game. But my main thing, 340 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 3: and this is what I said going into this game, 341 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 3: like you didn't need Kirk to be this like hero 342 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,960 Speaker 3: version of himself. You needed Kirk to be clean, You 343 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 3: needed him to be efficient, and you needed to hit 344 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:24,679 Speaker 3: him to not make really detrimental mistakes and get in 345 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 3: the way of the game. And I will say I 346 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 3: don't think that Kirk Cousins gotten the way of this game. 347 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 3: And even when the Falcons were maybe not getting what 348 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,680 Speaker 3: they wanted offensively, I didn't put that on Kirk Cousins back. 349 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 3: I didn't put that on Kirk cousins shoulder. I think 350 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 3: that he went out and he made plays. He did 351 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 3: enough in a Again, we're talking about this in kind 352 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 3: of this like vacuum of the Falcons are in probably 353 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 3: the lowest spot they have been in at the quarterback 354 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 3: position from a feelings an emotion standpoint, as probably the 355 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 3: day that they sent Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts. 356 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:02,159 Speaker 3: And what I mean by that is exactly what we 357 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 3: talked about on the Friday five episode, where you have 358 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 3: spent two years in quarterback purgatory, you finally feel like 359 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 3: you have a good plan in place to secure your 360 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 3: future and your current day quarterback situation. Those plans went 361 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 3: to crap because Kirk Cousins played pretty bad towards the 362 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 3: middle of last season. Michael Pennix now has a surgery 363 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 3: on deck for this coming week out in Los Angeles. 364 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 3: Is just reported by Adam Schefter on Saturday that he 365 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 3: will be undergoing that surgery very very soon. You feel 366 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 3: you don't feel good about the quarterback position, and you 367 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,400 Speaker 3: needed this performance from Kirk Cousins to at least, at 368 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 3: the bare minimum, make you feel content for the time 369 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 3: being and that you're comfortable with Kirk Cousins operating within 370 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 3: this offense. And you have to I also think it 371 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 3: was so obvious how much they were relying on play action, 372 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,400 Speaker 3: how much they were relying on going under center, and 373 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 3: that has honestly sparked even more questions in my head 374 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 3: about Okay, so they wanted to do that for Kirk Cousins. 375 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 3: Raheem Morris said after the game that they were doing 376 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:16,400 Speaker 3: that to accommodate Kirk Cousins. 377 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 2: So my question is is, like, why. 378 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 3: Can't you what was happening with Michael Penix that you 379 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 3: didn't feel like you could do that? 380 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, so I do. I'm glad, like let's get into 381 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: this because I do wonder if all right, so Kirk 382 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 1: Cousins is what you're thirteen or fourteen at this point, like, Yeah, 383 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 1: obviously went to Michigan State where they had kind of 384 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: a more pro style, I think traditional offense there for 385 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:46,639 Speaker 1: a long time. I just kind of think it's about 386 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: the eras in which they came of age playing the 387 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 1: quarterback position. I think Mike obviously kind of grew up 388 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:57,159 Speaker 1: in the seven on seven passing first style of football, 389 00:19:57,160 --> 00:19:59,200 Speaker 1: where there's a lot of shotgun there's a lot of 390 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 1: you know, a little spread it out, get the ball 391 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: out of your hand, fast, take shots doundfield, and realistically, 392 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: I just wonder if the number of reps are there 393 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:12,879 Speaker 1: and the level of comfort with on play action, especially 394 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: under center you're turning your back to the defense out 395 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: of pistol. You don't necessarily have to do that. I mean, 396 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:20,959 Speaker 1: or you do, but it's for a blink of an 397 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: eye because you're taking like a half step back and 398 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: then pivoting background. So I just I wonder if also, 399 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 1: when we look at this initial plan to begin with, 400 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:31,400 Speaker 1: it was kind of kirk for at least one full year, 401 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: if not two, right, and the upside was always going 402 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 1: to be two to me, maybe that is more time 403 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 1: to really truly build Michael's comfort with some of what 404 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,879 Speaker 1: you hope this offense could be and then going to 405 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:47,400 Speaker 1: him quicker. And obviously this is all speculation, but I'm 406 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: just kind of like trying to walk everybody through my 407 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:52,439 Speaker 1: thoughts on it, Like going to him quicker, did they 408 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: have to say, Okay, what is Mike very comfortable with? 409 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: We're going to go with that. It's a lot of pistol. 410 00:20:57,119 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 1: It's a lot of shotgun, which I think Zach wants 411 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,159 Speaker 1: as well, if we're looking back a week one of 412 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 1: last year. So I gave you a lot, But I 413 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:07,200 Speaker 1: do think it is more about the quarterbacks than the offense. 414 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think that makes sense. 415 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 3: I think that I honestly something that I want to 416 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 3: even look at, you know, during this week as you 417 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:17,160 Speaker 3: move forward with Kirk Cousins, is how much more were 418 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 3: they deploying kind of display action under center looks today 419 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 3: through four quarters against the Saints versus the first ten 420 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 3: games of the season last year. Because I think even 421 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 3: that is more Like I think that they were doing 422 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 3: more today. And again this is this is Will and 423 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 3: I speculating based on what we were seeing today, But 424 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 3: we got to watch the tape, right Like, it just 425 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 3: felt like they were deploying that more than they ever 426 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 3: have in the last two seasons. And I'm curious if 427 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 3: that also went to show that maybe Kirk wasn't feeling 428 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 3: comfortable in and of himself at the beginning of last year. 429 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 2: Still, so like, there are all these. 430 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 3: Different things that I think are kind of like falling 431 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:03,439 Speaker 3: into to this question I have about like play calling, 432 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 3: what works is what works best with who? 433 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 2: Where did the Falcons go from here? 434 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 3: Like there are a lot of pieces of this offense 435 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:14,439 Speaker 3: that I'm still very curious about in how it's going 436 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 3: to evolve down the stretch here. 437 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I totally agree with that. I think 438 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 1: that we will maybe potentially see a little bit of 439 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 1: at least the Michael versus Kirk elements of like under 440 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 1: center play action versus not, because they barely did any 441 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:35,199 Speaker 1: of that with MPJ And I wonder too, just to 442 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 1: your point about last year, like could that be the 443 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: way and how they understood the weapons that they're working 444 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,400 Speaker 1: with and today have it being down Drake London, right, 445 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: you may need to rely on some more of that 446 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: misdirection and drawing the linebackers up. And they obviously wanted 447 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:52,640 Speaker 1: to kind of work over the middle of the field 448 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: with Kyle Pitts a little bit. You need to create 449 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:57,160 Speaker 1: space for that, so it could have just been we 450 00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: know Mike likes to go outside. You don't necessarily need 451 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 1: play act for that because it impacts linebackers. That's our whistle. 452 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: So we are going to keep it moving right along. 453 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 3: And it's a good case study for us to have 454 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 3: moving forward. Let's put a pig in that conversation and 455 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 3: see how it turns out in the coming weeks. 456 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 1: All right, Yeah, we need to come up with like 457 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:16,919 Speaker 1: a little snappy name. Okay, like oh maybe it's just 458 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 1: like now that's that's done, all right, We'll come up 459 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 1: with something we'll come up with something better with something. 460 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 1: We're leaving all of that in though. People need to 461 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,479 Speaker 1: see my real time genius at work, all right. So 462 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: to kind of wrap things up here, because I think 463 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 1: the main part of today was really the defense getting 464 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,199 Speaker 1: that win and kicking that five game streak, and and 465 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins and you know, shout out to darn Oldmoney. 466 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 1: Good to see you back, buddy. That was that was 467 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:45,879 Speaker 1: nice to see that connection once again. But the final 468 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 1: two things that we wanted to get on, and it's 469 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:49,879 Speaker 1: kind of like one thing that worked and one thing 470 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 1: you got to work on. That's the kicking game. And 471 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: something that Tory has been on all season long. It's 472 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: the third quarter offense and what's going on with that? 473 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: So let's start with a third quarter offense. 474 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 2: Okay, yeah, it's not good. Like, I don't know what 475 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 2: else there is to say. 476 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 3: For some reason, this team, this offense is struggling coming 477 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:16,359 Speaker 3: out of halftime, whether it be they get the ball 478 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:19,920 Speaker 3: first or they're you know, they're they're having to come 479 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 3: from behind or whatever whatever the case may be. Regardless 480 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 3: of what the situation has been, third quarter has not 481 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 3: been a place where and a time where this offense 482 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:33,480 Speaker 3: has really shined at all. 483 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 2: I'm trying to look up. 484 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 3: Kind of what what the stats are, because I was 485 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 3: literally asking our. 486 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 1: Art Yeah, I've got in front of me. 487 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 2: You no, I have it too. 488 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 3: So okay, So the Saints in the first well, this 489 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,920 Speaker 3: goes both ways. This is both defensive issues and offensive issues. 490 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 3: I know we're talking about third quarter offense, but the 491 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:53,399 Speaker 3: defense has kind of had some slow starts coming out 492 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 3: of having I do too, I do to and then 493 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 3: and we'll get into this. So the Falcons have an 494 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,320 Speaker 3: negative twenty two point differential coming out of half in 495 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 3: third quarters this year coming into this game against the Saints. 496 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 3: That was tied for the fifth lowest differential in the 497 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:14,199 Speaker 3: third quarter coming into today. What's interesting about that is 498 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:18,159 Speaker 3: you look at something that was even crazier looking at 499 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 3: this third quarter, the Falcons had three they ran three 500 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:25,880 Speaker 3: offensive plays three three three three offensive plays in a nine. 501 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 2: Yeah. 502 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:32,879 Speaker 3: Meanwhile, the Saints had ninety five total yards in the 503 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:36,200 Speaker 3: first half. They had one hundred and six total yards 504 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 3: in the third quarter alone. I think upwards of like 505 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 3: twenty four plays maybe more than that in the third quarter. 506 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:45,680 Speaker 3: I don't know off the top of my head, I'm 507 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:46,199 Speaker 3: not looking at it. 508 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 1: They converted like multiple third and ones, yeah, from one, 509 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 1: Like they just kind of kept this drive chugging right along. 510 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:53,159 Speaker 2: Yeah. 511 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 3: So, I mean it's to your point, it's it's all related. 512 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:57,959 Speaker 3: It all works off of each other. The defense kind 513 00:25:58,000 --> 00:25:59,679 Speaker 3: of not being able to get off the field, the 514 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:02,159 Speaker 3: offense and it's not able to string anything together in 515 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 3: the third quarter. 516 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:04,640 Speaker 2: And I really do. 517 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 3: That's one of those things where this game, they could 518 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 3: have put this game on ice way earlier than when 519 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:14,880 Speaker 3: they did in the fourth quarter, Like if they would 520 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,160 Speaker 3: have come out offensively and put up points in that 521 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 3: drive coming out of halftime, Yep, it's a different feeling 522 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:26,879 Speaker 3: of a game, whereas at the end of this third quarter, 523 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:31,360 Speaker 3: where they didn't do anything offensively, it was a one 524 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 3: score game going into that fourth quarter. 525 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:37,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, so you allowed back to back drives 526 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 1: by the Saints of fifteen plays, right, So that first 527 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:44,440 Speaker 1: drive for the Saints in the second half fifteen plays, 528 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 1: sixty two yards. You get them off the field at 529 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:50,640 Speaker 1: the one yard line. I know, so freaking loved that. 530 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 1: I'll take that all day long. You know, as long 531 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:55,360 Speaker 1: as you're ahead in the game, which they were at 532 00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:59,360 Speaker 1: the time, sure, sure, empty calories all day. Then their 533 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:02,440 Speaker 1: second drive kind of spans the end of the third 534 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: quarter because you got him down at the one, but 535 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 1: then again nine yards and you're punning from your end zone. 536 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: So the Saints turn right around, fifteen more plays, fifty 537 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 1: yards and they get a field goal. So like thirty 538 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:18,760 Speaker 1: plays for three points. That is such a testament I 539 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 1: do think to the defense, because we talk a lot 540 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 1: about the third quarter point margin, and that I do 541 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:28,439 Speaker 1: think has a lot to do with the Falcons offense 542 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 1: just just keeping the defense on the field and wearing 543 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 1: them down and getting them tired, and you see kind 544 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: of the Ben Ben bend and then maybe there is 545 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 1: a little bit of a break because they're just spending 546 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:39,880 Speaker 1: so much. But today they didn't, and I really feel 547 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 1: like that allowed the offense to find its footing with 548 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 1: that big plate to Mooney. 549 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean they needed it. 550 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:48,639 Speaker 3: Like I think that you can't have a third quarter 551 00:27:49,359 --> 00:27:51,719 Speaker 3: like that and not really get anything going again if 552 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 3: they would have had that was a big that touchdown 553 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:59,120 Speaker 3: to Darnell Mooney from from Drake London to London doing 554 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:03,280 Speaker 3: here Kirk Cousins, Like, I think that was a moment 555 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:08,159 Speaker 3: where if the Falcons didn't put up points on that drive, 556 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 3: then the Saints get the ball back. It's still a 557 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,359 Speaker 3: one score game. They're moving the ball pretty well. Like, 558 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 3: I mean, there were a lot of if. You can 559 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 3: always play the if ands or what game of what 560 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:21,439 Speaker 3: could have happened, like what maybe would have happened if 561 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:22,960 Speaker 3: you wouldn't have done this, But at the end of 562 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:27,280 Speaker 3: the day, like that swing was ultimately what won the 563 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:28,719 Speaker 3: team this game. 564 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely. And speaking of swings, how about the swing 565 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:36,160 Speaker 1: from one Zane Gonzalez on Sunday. I mean, he became 566 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 1: the first Falcons kicker since Morten Anderson did it against 567 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: these very Saints to kick two field goals of fifty 568 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: four yards or more. It's kind of hard to believe 569 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 1: Matt Bryant never did that, but man, I mean he was. Yeah, 570 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 1: I guess it didn't come down to like the field 571 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 1: goal game, but again, just the psychology and the momentum 572 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 1: of this game, he did so much. Yeah, as much 573 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 1: as the defense, I think in just kind of keeping 574 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 1: you in it. 575 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 3: I mean, it's it's just nice, you know, I'm not 576 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 3: feeling I'm not going to feel like one hundred percent 577 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 3: on the kicking game for probably a while, because you know, 578 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 3: you don't want to get too there to j like, 579 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 3: I'm still a bit jaded of what's been to this point, 580 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 3: but I think what Zen Gonzales did two kicks beyond 581 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:22,560 Speaker 3: fifty yards, and it's heightened because of the fact that 582 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 3: the Saints missed two kicks themselves. So I mean, you 583 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 3: literally saw both sides of the coin, and the Falcons 584 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 3: for a long time have been on the bad side 585 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 3: of the coin. 586 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 2: So it was really nice. 587 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 3: Again, it goes back to the sacks thing, the fact 588 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 3: that the Falcons had as many sacks as they did 589 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 3: and won the game, the fact that they had a 590 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,840 Speaker 3: kicking game that saw two fifty. 591 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:45,960 Speaker 2: Fifty plus yarders. 592 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:47,680 Speaker 3: I mean, it's just it's just really nice to be 593 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 3: able to talk about that kind of stuff because we haven't. 594 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 2: For so long. 595 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 1: Absolutely also got to cover the kicks kick offs a 596 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 1: little bit better. Yeah, here we go. That's all we're 597 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 1: gonna say except for this, and Jared's gonna kill me 598 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 1: because we've been going along on podcasts recently and I 599 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 1: feel bad for doing it again. But because I mentioned 600 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 1: earlier Jeff Ulbrick wanting to be able to get pressure 601 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:09,040 Speaker 1: with only four. I just saw this from next Gen Stats, 602 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 1: and I felt compelled. The Falcons defense blitz at a 603 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 1: season low rate today fifteen point seven percent, and instead 604 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 1: they generated nineteen pressures and five sacks when sending four 605 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 1: or fewer pass rushers. Toy, it's coming to fruition. The 606 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 1: plan is coming alive. I love to see it. 607 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 3: It's so good. I mean, it's everything that Jeff Ulbrick 608 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 3: said that he wanted months ago, Like really, you know, 609 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 3: like this is a domino that's been falling that he's 610 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 3: wanted to see this defense do. And the fact that 611 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:38,400 Speaker 3: they were able to do it today is just one. Yes, 612 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 3: it was against the Saints that have won two games 613 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:44,239 Speaker 3: this year, but you need a start. You need to 614 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 3: show this defense that they could do it. And I 615 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 3: think that's kind of what you wanted to. Now you've 616 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 3: done it, do it again. 617 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: Now you've done it, do it again. This doesn't count 618 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:56,680 Speaker 1: as the third straight game for the Falcons going in overtime, 619 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 1: but we definitely went in overtime a little bit today, 620 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 1: So we appreciate you guys sticking with us. For Tory 621 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 1: knack lady, i'mom with that, and we got Falcons Audible 622 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:08,080 Speaker 1: coming midweek. We got Friday Five coming on Friday, and 623 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:10,000 Speaker 1: then we got another big game against New York Jets, 624 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 1: and you guys can find this after that one as well. 625 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 1: So thank you all so much for listening. We will 626 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:15,000 Speaker 1: see you next time.