Falcons safety Jessie Bates had a monster game in Week 12, leading Atlanta to a 24-15 win over the Saints to take first place in the NFC South. Bates returned a Derek Carr interception 92 yards for a touchdown and later forced a fumble on Taysom Hill.
On Wednesday, the league awarded Bates with the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his outstanding performance against New Orleans.
.@jlbiii3 really is hIIIm!https://t.co/buGG7P1kB1 pic.twitter.com/fbM19LvhXS
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 29, 2023
For the season, Bates has 85 tackles (55 solo), four interceptions, three forced fumbles and six passes defended over 11 games.
The former Bengals safety signed a four-year, $64 million contract in free agency and he’s been worth every penny for this first-place Falcons team thus far.
Check out Atlanta’s updated depth chart heading into the team’s Week 13 matchup against the New York Jets.
