NE Atlanta News

The Atlanta Falcons' defense has shown a significant transformation in its pass rush capabilities over the course of the NFL season. Initially, the team struggled with only 10 sacks in the first 11 weeks, ranking lowest in the league. However, since Week 13, they have recorded 16 sacks, making them second in the NFL for that period.

Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake highlighted that even when sack numbers were low, their efforts impacted opposing quarterbacks. "It's because the work was put in," Lake said after Week 15. He noted that although it wasn't reflected on stat sheets initially, their strategies led to interceptions and forced punts.

A turning point came after their bye week in Week 12. The Falcons returned with a strong performance against the Los Angeles Chargers, achieving a season-high five sacks. They continued this momentum with subsequent games against other teams like the New York Giants.

Head coach Raheem Morris played a crucial role during this period by offering insights from his extensive experience on both sides of the ball. Improved run defense has been cited as a key factor contributing to their enhanced pass-rush success. "Our rush defense has been the best it's been in the last month," Lake stated.

The Falcons have allowed just 70.3 rushing yards per game since their bye week, compared to an average of 127.2 yards before it. This improvement is part of what allows them to pressure quarterbacks more effectively.

Players like Arnold Ebiketie and Kaden Elliss have been instrumental in this resurgence. Ebiketie recorded four out of his five total sacks post-bye week while Elliss also made significant contributions including a strip-sack against the Giants.

Other players such as DeAngelo Malone and Matt Judon have also increased their output recently, adding depth to Atlanta's defensive efforts.

Looking ahead, the Falcons face Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels in Week 17—a challenging opponent known for his rushing ability.

"It's going to be a chess match all night long on Sunday," Lake remarked about facing Daniels and emphasized that despite improvements there are still areas needing refinement as they prepare for upcoming challenges.