Falcons’ improved pass protection ‘the reason we are where we are’: 5 factors

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When the Atlanta Falcons hired an offensive coordinator from the Los Angeles Rams , there were a lot of questions about whether they could pass block well enough to run the Sean McVay system effectively. There were a lot more after the Pittsburgh Steelers racked up seven quarterback hits and held the Falcons to 10 points in Week 1.

Two months later, things look much different.

"Obviously, we started off the season against arguably the toughest pass rush you can play in the league," offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said. "You look back at that game, and that doesn't feel like us at all."

Atlanta (6-3) is sixth in the NFL in sack percentage (5.4 percent), according to TruMedia. From 2021 to 2023, the Falcons ranked 20th (7.2 percent).

"There are some new pass protection schemes that we've asked those guys to do dating back to the spring, and like everything it just takes a little bit of time to work through," Robinson said. "They have done an unbelievable job. They are the reason we are where we are."

In their six wins this season, the Falcons' pass blocking has graded above 65 percent in Pro Football Focus' charting. In their three losses, it has been at 65 or below. Left tackle Jake Matthews (81.7 grade) has been Atlanta's best pass blocker, according to PFF. Left guard Matthew Bergeron (69.9) comes in second, followed by center Ryan Neuzil (62.4), right guard Chris Lindstrom (58.3), right tackle Kaleb McGary (55.6) and center Drew Dalman (50).

Quarterback Kirk Cousins , a 13-year veteran, gets a lot of credit for the Falcons' improved pass protection. They rank 18th in the league in pressures allowed at 35.1 percent, which is essentially the same rate they had from 2021 to 2023 (35 percent), but Cousins' ability to get the ball out quickly has helped the Falcons avoid the worst outcomes.

"I think the (offensive line has) done a really solid job. I have been real pleased with the pockets I have had," Cousins said. "We do ask a lot of them in protection. It's a difficult job. They are not going to bat 1,000, but they have done a really good job of answering that challenge week to week."

The Falcons are sixth in the league in passing yards per game (246.3), their highest average since the 2020 season (272.7).

The interim factor

Cousins considers himself a student of the league and prides himself on his knowledge of personnel and trends around the NFL, which makes him nervous about facing the Saints (2-7) the week after they fired head coach Dennis Allen .

"In my experience observing in the league, I believe the team plays very well the following week," Cousins said. "I see it as a real challenge that we have been thrown. You know they are going to be emotionally and mentally at their best."

In fact, Cousins has experienced it himself. He was the quarterback in Minnesota in 2020 when the Falcons fired coach Dan Quinn and replaced him with Raheem Morris, who was then the Falcons' defensive coordinator and is now their head coach.

The Falcons were 0-5 at the time but won that game 40-23.

"They kicked our tails," Cousins said. "I think I threw an interception on the first play of the game and they never looked back. It can galvanize a team."

Morris doesn't remember his time replacing Quinn fondly.

"I was just flat-out honest with the guys, I thought it sucked losing a good friend in Dan Quinn and not being able to do the things you wanted to do for him," Morris said. "The biggest challenge is addressing the team, having your different vibe of who you are without making it seem like you're taking shots at your predecessor. For me, that was my biggest challenge because of the respect level I have for Dan Quinn."

Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett , who was in his sixth year then, said the move from Quinn to Morris "felt like a breath of fresh air for us at the time."

"Whenever you get the interim coach, you are always going to get that jolt of new energy, so they are going to come out with their best effort," Jarrett said.

Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi will serve as the Saints' interim head coach on Sunday.

? At this pace, 'the sky's the limit'

Starting to feel it

After winning five of their last six games, the Falcons seem to be developing a new level of confidence. Linebacker Kaden Elliss used the word "special" to describe the feeling around the team after they beat Dallas on Sunday, and Jarrett emphatically agreed this week.

"Without a doubt," he said. "I definitely feel like this is a special team, and it's so much more than what is on the surface. There are genuine relationships between guys player to player and coach to coach. The most important thing is we've got really, really good players on this team."

The Falcons have a 92 percent chance of winning the NFC South and 95 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to The Athletic's most recent projections . One more win will match their season total from each of the last three years.

"The only thing that has held us back this whole season is our execution. We have never been outmatched," Jarrett said. "We have never felt like we were out of any fight. You ask anybody in that locker room and we feel like we could have won every game we played so far. And we still feel like we are getting better every week. We definitely don't want to let this moment in time slip."

The last meeting

The Falcons beat the Saints 26-24 in the teams' first meeting in Week 4, but Cousins has not forgotten that the Falcons didn't score an offensive touchdown. Younghoe Koo kicked four field goals, including the 58-yard game-winner with two seconds remaining, and Atlanta scored on special teams and defense. Cousins also remembers that Saints linebacker Demario Davis didn't play in the first game because of a hamstring injury.

"We have to be at our absolute best to have a chance," Cousins said.

Getting a few breaks

Falcons fans probably feel like their team is owed some good luck this season after its recent struggles, and Atlanta looks to be getting some. Saints wide receiver Chris Olave may miss Sunday's game with a concussion , which would mean the Saints would be without their top two pass catchers because Rashid Shaheed already is out for the season with a knee injury.

That continues a trend for Atlanta's opponents this year. The Falcons faced the Eagles without wide receiver A.J. Brown ; the Saints without Davis and offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz ; the Bucs the first time without safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey , and the second time without wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans ; and the Cowboys without linebacker Micah Parsons and cornerback DaRon Bland .

The Falcons expect to get inside linebacker Troy Andersen back from injury this week after he missed the last five weeks because of a knee injury. Jarrett (Achilles) also expects to play.

(Top photo: Kevin C. Cox / )