The Atlanta Falcons haven’t exactly been an offensive juggernaut this season, but their defense is playing at an extremely high level. After years of bargain-bin shopping during free agency, the team finally had enough cap space to go after some bigger names this offseason.
Safety Jessie Bates III has transformed an average secondary into a borderline top-10 unit. Defensive lineman David Onyemata has been an absolute force on the interior. Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree have made nice contributions, and Kaden Elliss has been a stud at inside linebacker.
No team in the NFL has allowed fewer rushing touchdowns than the Falcons have through the first seven games. Atlanta has given up just one score on the ground, while no other team has allowed less than two this season.
We’re a brick wall 😤 pic.twitter.com/u3U9kZZrT5
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 23, 2023
The Falcons are becoming a more physical team under defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. The added talent obviously helps, though. If Atlanta can get things figured out on offense, this team’s ceiling will continue to rise.
In Week 8, the Falcons take on the Tennessee Titans (2-4) on the road. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday, the Titans could be without starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
