I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The Atlanta Falcons are a better football team than some of these games have made us look.
And after Sunday’s 29-20 victory over the previously undefeated San Francisco 49ers, maybe people will finally start paying attention.
Let’s put this into perspective….. The Falcons entered this game with a 2-4 record, while San Francisco was sitting comfortably at 6-0. Nobody had beaten the 49ers all season.
Well, somebody had to do it!
And I’m glad it was us.
I Wasn’t Expecting This Win
I’m going to be honest. When I turned on my television I wasn’t exactly feeling confident.
My mindset was pretty much…. “Well, let’s see how bad this is going to get.”
That’s how frustrating this season has been.
We’ve had moments where we look like a playoff team, followed by games where I wonder what in the world we’re doing out there.
I’m still a little sour about that terrible loss a few weeks ago. As a Falcons fan, getting embarrassed like that is hard to forget. At times, this season has felt like we were heading somewhere I haven’t seen since the Bobby Petrino days.
But Sunday was different.
The Falcons Finally Took Care of Business
What impressed me most wasn’t just that we won. It was how we fought.
Michael Penix Jr. finished with 213 passing yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He connected with Nick Muse, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London for touchdowns.
London’s 21 yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was a big moment.
But we also have to give our defense some serious credit.
Atlanta forced four turnovers, including two interceptions. Rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels stepped up when it mattered most, picking off Brock Purdy late in the fourth quarter and recovering a fumble that helped seal the victory.
That’s the kind of effort I’ve been wanting to see.
We weren’t perfect. San Francisco still moved the football, and we had moments where things could have gone the other way.
But this time, we made the plays that mattered.
Which Falcons Team Are We Going to Get?
That’s still my biggest question.
I know injuries have affected this team, and that’s part of football. But every NFL team deals with injuries.
There have been games where we looked completely unprepared, and others where we showed just how talented this roster can be.
I can’t put my finger on whether it’s motivation, consistency, preparation, or something else.
Even last week, despite losing, I saw a team willing to fight. We didn’t get the result we wanted, but the effort gave me something to appreciate.
And now we’ve beaten one of the best teams in football.
So clearly, the talent is there.
What we need is consistency.
Don’t Count Atlanta Out Just Yet
This victory brought our record to 3-4. We’re still below .500 but there’s plenty of football left to play.
I’m not ready to start making playoff predictions or acting like all our problems disappeared overnight.
I’ve gotten excited about this team before, only to be disappointed the following week.
But I do believe this win could be the spark we’ve been looking for.
We needed this victory, especially at home. We needed to remind ourselves, our fans, and the rest of the NFL that we’re capable of competing with anybody.
The Falcons still have work to do, but Sunday gave me something I haven’t felt much of this season.
A little confidence.
