It took the Atlanta Falcons just two games to go from hapless to possible NFC contender.
It’s likely that few Atlanta fans believed on September 21 – following a 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers – that the team could confuse and dominate the Buffalo Bills and reigning league MVP Josh Allen just a few weeks later.
But with the NFL’s No. 1 overall defense and a running back in Bijan Robinson that head coach Raheem Morris lauds as the best player in the league, the Falcons’ season has quickly been revived.
Atlanta’s defense, which is allowing just 253.4 yards per game, held Allen to 180 passing yards, while intercepting him twice and sacking him four times.
Robinson tied a career-high with 170 rushing yards and set a franchise record with 238 yards from scrimmage in Monday’s win. He leads the NFL with 822 scrimmage yards (484 rushing, 338 receiving).
“Last night for us was a chance to go out and put our best foot forward and I really was proud of the effectiveness of the guys, being able to execute our game plan and get a big-time win versus a really good opponent,” Morris told reporters on Tuesday following Atlanta’s 24-14 win over Buffalo. “It was a fun team win.”
Morris and company know the team is far from a finished product with a long way to go before snapping a seven-year postseason drought. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who threw for 250 yards and a touchdown on Monday, said after the game that the win makes the Falcons “legit.”
In an NFC that’s shaping up to be as competitive as it’s been in years, Atlanta will have to continue to stack wins. Morris isn’t quite ready to put that label on his 3-2 team.
“We played a legit team, so when Penix says that the win makes us legit, it’s more that he’s giving Buffalo a compliment as opposed to talking about who we are and what we are,” Morris said. “But if you can beat a team like Buffalo, you can put yourself up against anybody in the league.”
The Falcons did sustain a scare up front, as veteran left tackle Jake Matthews didn’t play in the second half with an ankle injury. Seemingly avoiding a massive blow, Morris said the 33-year-old former sixth-overall pick is day-to-day.
“We know who he is. We know that he doesn’t miss anything,” Morris said of Matthews. “We’ll just have to see. But I feel really positive about him and what happened based on not having any idea last night.”
Atlanta will look to post another signature win Sunday night when it travels to face the San Francisco 49ers (4-2).
