With their playoff hopes on the line, the Atlanta Falcons (7-8) turned in their best overall performance of the season in a 29-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) on Sunday.
The offense moved the ball with ease and the defense forced six sacks and an interception. Here are 10 takeaways from the Falcons’ seventh win of the season.
1
Arthur Smith deserves credit for win, criticism for playing Ridder
It was a good showing for Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, and I’ll give him credit for the team’s best overall performance of the season. However, Smith’s desire for Desmond Ridder to be the starter may end up costing the Falcons the division. Going back to the preseason, Smith chose to sit Ridder when he clearly would have benefitted from the extra reps. Instead, Ridder played just one drive (which ended in an interception) and didn’t play again until Week 1. The offense clearly runs better with Heinicke under center, and the team should have realized this a lot sooner. Still, Smith deserves credit for putting together a terrific game plan on Sunday.
2
Taylor Heinicke provides spark on offense
Heinicke led the team down the field for a touchdown on the opening drive. The veteran QB completed 16 of 22 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Atlanta led 13-7 at halftime. For the game, Heinicke passed for 229 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. Atlanta has enough talent that if Heinicke can make a few plays, the running game and defense should be able to do the rest most weeks. Most importantly, Heinicke didn’t turn the ball over.
3
Defense comes up with 6 sacks and an INT
The Falcons defense turned in another solid effort against the Colts, and no great defensive performance would be complete without a Jessie Bates interception. The play-making safety came down with his sixth interception of the season in the fourth quarter. Rookie Zach Harrison finished the game with two sacks and the team brought down Colts QB Garner Minshew six times. Ryan Nielsen’s unit has played well all year and Sunday was no exception.
4
Bijan bounces back
Bijan Robinson received just seven carries for 11 rushing yards last week, but the rookie bounced back in a big way on Sunday. Robinson finished the game with 72 rushing yards on 12 carries while adding seven catches for another 50 receiving yards. The No. 8 overall pick in the draft has lived up to the hype as a dual-threat weapon. Robinson’s 122 all-purpose yards had a major impact on Sunday’s win.
5
Kyle Pitts finds the end zone
Heinicke found Pitts in stride for a 24-yard touchdown reception on the team’s first offensive drive of the game. Pitts finished the game with three catches for 49 receiving yards on a day when the team rushed for 177 total yards. Hopefully, Pitts can continue to be involved on offense as his early success helped open things up for everyone else.
6
Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier impact game
The Falcons didn’t just rely on Bijan Robinson in Week 16. Both Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson had big games on Sunday. Allgeier helped put the game away with his 31-yard touchdown run. The second-year back finished with nine carries, 69 yards and a score. As for Patterson, he finished with seven carries for 26 yards, with two catches for seven receiving yards. It was a nice day for Atlanta’s running trio.
7
NFC South standings
| W | L | T | Pct. | PF | PA | Home | Away | |
| Bucs | 8 | 7 | .533 | 326 | 302 | 4-3 | 4-4 | |
| Falcons | 7 | 8 | .467 | 287 | 288 | 5-3 | 2-5 | |
| Saints | 7 | 8 | .467 | 331 | 297 | 4-3 | 3-5 | |
| Panthers | 2 | 13 | .133 | 236 | 381 | 2-5 | 0-8 |
8
What's next for Atlanta?
In Week 17, the Falcons will head to Chicago where they will face Atlanta native Justin Fields and the Bears. With two games left, the Falcons have to essentially win out to have a shot at the NFC South title. Chicago may not have a great record, but Atlanta can expect a good fight from this improving Bears team on Sunday.
