2024 Week 4: Saints 24, Falcons 26
The Falcons should not have won this game. They went up 7-0 thanks to a muffed punt that the Falcons recovered in the end zone for a free TD. The Saints eventually took the lead 14-10 but Carr threw a pick-six to put them down 17-14 at the half. Both teams scuffled around a bit after that and the final score was 26-24 Falcons.
The Falcons were handed 14 points and still needed Younghoe Koo to make a 58-yard field as time expired to win this game. The Falcons can beat any team and lose to any team which makes for exciting football but I’m sure is frustrating for fans.
The Saints looked very good in this game, despite the three mistakes that cost them the game (The two mentioned earlier, and a DPI to help put the Falcons in FG range to ice it). I’m starting to drink the Kool-Aid. Unless the Falcons get their sh*t together then the Saints have a strong chance to win the NFC South.
===================================
WR/TE Report:
- Kyle Pitts (0-0-0/3) looks uninterested in playing right now. He knows even when he tries that he won’t get the ball, so why try at all? Cousins doesn’t look at him in any serious capacity. I’m sure we will see some videos of Pitts’ route running from this game and he will be getting criticism for not running full speed but I know I won’t blame him. He’s been disregarded for years in Atlanta.
- Drake London (6-64-0/12) should be converted to tight end if they won’t throw to Pitts. He’s big, moves sort of awkwardly, and has good hands. He’s not great at getting open but uses his frame to block out defenders. Textbook tight end if you ask me. I’m not sure why London is Cousins’ favorite target but he is, I think Darnell Mooney is better.
- Speaking of Mooney (3-56-0/6), late in this game he was the go-to target. Just like in Week 2 against Philly. When Cousins needs to make something happen he goes to Mooney first. Mooney was close to having a monster game but was also close to having another dud. He made a spectacular contested catch in the third quarter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W39hs-lcdOc
- Rasheed Shaheed (8-83-0/11, 2 rushes for 14 yards) is finally getting real NFL work. This was a career-high 8 catch performance and multiple near-miss touchdowns. Derek Carr (28/36 for 239 yards, 1 INT) and OC Klint Kubiak deserve credit for finally utilizing a fast WR correctly. And it takes both QB and Coach to make this happen.
- Chris Olave (8-87-0/10) is still Carr’s first look, but Shaheed is getting consistent looks which will turn into more opportunities for Shaheed, take some from Olave, especially if Shaheed keeps scoring 50+ yard touchdowns. Does anyone remember DeSean Jackson’s prime?
RB Report:
- As I touched on briefly in the Buccaneers-Eagles recap, the Falcons are starting to do a split with Bijan Robinson (7-28-0, 4 catches for 46 yards) and Tyler Algeier (8-60-0, 2 catches for 10 yards). From where I’m sitting I think Tyler Algeier is the better running back. This isn’t to discredit Bijan, he’s good at what he does, but from a pure running standpoint – patience, vision, physicality – I pick Algeier. Going back to the 2023 NFL Draft I thought Bijan was a horrible pick for Atlanta, they already had Algeier who rushed for 1000 yards as a rookie, and then they wasted a top-10 pick on another RB instead of a position of need. I’m shocked that the Falcons are moving into this split but at least that makes sense… Not throwing to Pitts doesn’t. We’ll see if the Falcons continue with this split on TNF and for their sake I hope they do. Two good running backs > one.
- Taysom Hill (6-24-2) did his best Mike Tolbert impression this game, vulturing two TDs from Alvin Kamara (19-77-0, 7 catches for 42 yards). He might have even had a third but Taysom left early with an injury. Mike Tolbert and DeSean Jackson comparison in one recap? This is just a ‘guys naming dudes’ post at this point.
D/ST Report:
- Troy Anderson (17 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 1 TD) was everywhere in this game and was the Falcons player who took the INT to the house. Anderson was a running back in college and you could tell on his return. That muscle memory has not gone away.
- The Saints' secondary has been bonkers this season, with only 1 passing TD allowed this season. Paulson Adebo (12 tackles, 3 PD) and Alontae Taylor (4 tackles, 2 PD) have been shut down this season, both are making plays all over the field.
image source: (AP Photo/Butch Dill)