With the NFC South up for grabs, the Falcons seized the opportunity with a 24-15 victory over the Saints in Week 12. Sunday’s win wasn’t pretty, but the team rose to the occasion in the fourth quarter to improve to 4-1 at home.
In spite of everything that has gone wrong this season, Atlanta has a perfect 3-0 record in the division. Check out our studs and duds from Sunday’s win over New Orleans.
Stud: Jessie Bates
Jessie Bates was instrumental in the Falcons winning this game. After scoring the team’s first touchdown on a pick-six, Bates punched the ball free from the arms of Taysom Hill to halt a surging Saints offense. It’s safe to say that without Bates, the Falcons would have almost certainly lost on Sunday. It’s also not the first time that Bates has saved the team this season.
Dud: Desmond Ridder
Desmond Ridder completed some critical passes down the stretch, including a pretty touchdown throw to Bijan Robinson, but it’s important not to let the final drive overshadow his overall performance. Ridder added two more interceptions and didn’t top the 100-yard mark or record his 10th completion until the fourth quarter. It’s obviously good to see him perform well at the end of games, but there has to be more overall consistency from the Falcons QB.
Stud: Drake London
Drake London may have not found the end zone on Sunday, but the second-year wide receiver played an important role in setting up Atlanta’s two touchdown drives. London ended Week 12 with a team-high five catches for 91 yards while averaging over 18 yards per reception. The former USC star continues to show all the traits of a prototypical No. 1 receiver.
Stud: Bijan Robinson
Like London, Bijan Robinson played a key role in Sunday’s win. The rookie recorded 123 all-purpose yards and two total touchdowns against the Saints. Robinson’s first score was a 10-yard run in the first half and his second was a 26-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. It’s important to note that the Falcons’ other backs also played well. Tyler Allgeier finished with 10 carries for 64 yards and Cordarrelle Patterson had eight carries for 43 yards.
