ATLANTA — For the first time this season, the Atlanta Falcons truly put a game away, defeating the New York Giants inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium to rise above .500 and move to 8-7 on the year. The last time Atlanta won by at least 27 points was back in Week 12 of 2020, when they bested the Las Vegas Raiders, 43-6. The final score on this occasion was notable: Falcons 34, Giants 7.
Why does this matter? The Falcons made a pivotal change midweek, switching from veteran Kirk Cousins to rookie Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback. Although this move was risky, it paid dividends as Atlanta remains firmly planted within the playoff picture, regardless of the outcome of other games on Sunday.
If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were to win their game, the Falcons would be just one game behind them in the NFC South race. But Atlanta has the tiebreaker advantage over Tampa Bay due to their earlier victories against the Buccaneers this season. Conversely, if the Buccaneers lost, the Falcons would take the lead.
One key takeaway from this game was the performance of Penix. He led the Falcons fluidly, completing 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards without throwing any touchdowns. While he did technically record an interception, it was caused by tight end Kyle Pitts bobbling the ball, which was then picked off by Giants cornerback Cor'Dale Flott.
A pivotal moment early on came from Falcons safety Jessie Bates III, who scored on a pick-six. The Giants were leading 7-3 and threatening to score when Bates intercepted quarterback Drew Lock’s pass intended for Wan'Dale Robinson and returned it 55 yards for the touchdown, flipping the momentum squarely to Atlanta's favor.
The Giants struggled offensively following Bates' momentum-changing interception, managing only five plays for 10 yards on their next drive. Meanwhile, the Falcons constructed a nine-play, 86-yard scoring drive finished off by Bijan Robinson, who scored on a 4-yard run to extend Atlanta's lead to 17-7 at halftime.
Bijan Robinson was another standout player for the Falcons, finishing with 22 carries for 94 yards and scoring two touchdowns. He marked his 10th rushing touchdown of the season and surpassed the 100-yard mark for scrimmage yards for the ninth time out of the last ten games. His efficiency provided the cushion required for the new quarterback to settle comfortably.
A noteworthy number from this matchup is two — the number of interceptions the Falcons' defense returned for touchdowns. Not only did Jessie Bates III score, but Matthew Judon also returned another interception for 26 yards, marking his first career touchdown after nearly nine seasons.
This game also featured some player milestones. With just over ten minutes remaining in the first quarter, Bijan Robinson became the fastest Falcons player to reach 3,000 career scrimmage yards, reaching the milestone within only 32 games. Kicker Riley Patterson also made his first field goal of the 2024 season, hitting from 52 yards.
Despite the celebratory atmosphere for Atlanta, they also faced injury challenges. Cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. left early with a quad injury, and wide receiver Drake London sustained a hamstring injury late, leaving both players questionable for the remainder of the season.
Looking forward, the Falcons' upcoming challenge lies against the Washington Commanders as they prepare for their final road trip. The game is set for Sunday Night Football, and it will be Atlanta's fifth prime-time feature this season.
On the contrary, the loss for the Giants, who have now dropped their last ten matches, only compounds their difficulties as they try to assess their future player selections leading up to the draft. New York has less pressure since they are out of playoff contention but can still play the role of spoiler against other teams as they finish the season strong.
The game encapsulated the excitement and unpredictability of the NFL, leaving fans eager for more as the playoff picture becomes clearer for some, and for others, the focus shifts to rebuilding and preparation for next year.
