September 15, 2025 • 25 mins
This is not the same Atlanta Falcons defense. A dominant performance on that side of the ball helped the Falcons earn their first victory of the season in statement fashion. Will McFadden is joined by Tori McElhaney to share their thoughts on what this win revealed about the 2025 Falcons and how it could impact our opinion of them moving forward. Tori shares the latest from the team's post-game press conferences, and they discuss the resurgence of Atlanta's run game before Will names a few of the most electric players in Falcons history — a list Bijan Robinson is undoubtedly on.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Mile two to the kind of he's.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Gonna slip through its for.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Falcons fans, Welcome back to Falcons Final Whistle. We have
an incredible and exciting Sunday night football game to break
down the Atlanta Falcons one on the road against the
Minnesota Vikings twenty two to six, and boy, you talk
about a performance that really should leave a positive taste
on a lot of fans.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Its because Ree Morris likes to say that identity is
born out on the field, and I think that this
was an identity defining game for the Falcons in one
of the toughest environments in the NFL. So that's kind
of what I'm going to start off with if you're
new to this season's version of Falcons Final Whistle, a
quick rundown. We're going to give four quarters of review
(00:54):
of tonight's game, and tonight's going to be a little
bit different because Tory mclaney is in Minnesota. She was
on site covering this game. She's gonna join me for
quarters two and three and kind of give her thoughts
from location after talking to Raheem Morris and kind of
getting his thoughts on the game. So right off the jump, though,
I want to just kind of get into why this
(01:15):
game just felt so different in kind of the best
possible way and answered a lot of questions that I
think if Falcons fans needed to see from this group.
And it's early on in the season, but to put
together a game like this where in Week one I
felt like Atlanta was the better team. I said that
kind of up top and I with more distance. Yes,
(01:37):
they were the better team, but they they lost kind
of because they shot themselves in the foot in some
of the similar ways that we have seen Falcons teams
do in years past. Tonight they won this game despite
the mistakes they were making because they came up with
the clutch plays and they came up with the clutch
plays against a really good team in their home environment.
(01:58):
And yeah, the offense had to lean on the defense.
I am willing to be patient with the offense to
give them time to figure things out a because offense
is a little bit harder. You do have a new
quarterback in there. It's gonna take some time to adjust.
Didn't get much from Drake Lennon Darnel Mooney tonight. That's fine.
I expect them to be just okay throughout the rest
(02:18):
of the season. But we didn't need to because this defense,
the defense that everybody has been so worried about pulling
their hair out all off season about. Man, they shut
the Vikings down tonight. Are you kidding me? This was
a great performance. They did not allow a touchdown. JJ
McCarthy completed only eleven passes. The leading rusher in this
(02:40):
game thirty yards. I mean, in every single way you
want to look at it, Atlanta's defense steps up. And
that is what I always needed to see this see
from this team is the ability to win in multiple ways,
because that's kind of the secret sauce to it. All Right,
you can talk about defense wins champion, you need a
(03:01):
good run game. I've always believed that really the key
to success, especially in the postseason, is being able to
play in a variety of ways or play left handed.
Is kind of Bill Belichick used to like to say,
because that is what teams are going to do. They're
going to take away the things you like to do best.
And so tonight I kind of felt like Atlanta's downfield
(03:23):
passing game was once again non existent. But I have
to believe that that is the part of the game
that Minnesota was really trying to take away. Now I'm
gonna have to go back and watch the All twenty
two because the broadcast angle doesn't do the best job
of showing you all the coverages out there, so you know,
I asterisk this take a little bit. But if that
was the case, then Atlanta's offense did exactly what it
(03:43):
needed to do, right And I kind of think the
Vikings wanted to play this style of game. The Falcons adapted,
realized what kind of game they were in and said,
all right, we'll beat you at this one too. And
to see that they have the components to be able
to kind of re tool on the fly there and
slide right into the moment and then dominate it was
(04:08):
so so good. And it doesn't mean that every single
week is going to look like this moving forward, right,
But to know that they have this pitch this early
in the season is something that you make a little
tally on when you are providing reasons why this group
can be that surprise team in the NFC. There's one
every year, right, so why not the ones that just
(04:29):
went into Minnesota knocked off a team that was one
of the very best in your conference last year? And
you looked really, really good doing it and answered a
lot of questions. I also thought the kicking game, right,
we talked about kind of night and day differences between
week one and week two. What about Parker Romo right
up until Tyler all Jeers fourth quarter touchdown to cement
(04:49):
the game, he was he was it baby. He had
a field goal for every day that he was a
member of the Falcons leading into this game, which is crazy.
So no idea where that leaves everything with the kicking battle,
but Barber Romo answered every single question and he did
it at the perfect time. So he was nails tonight.
(05:11):
The defense was nails tonight. I thought Michael Pennock Junior
did a great job kind of doing everything that was
needed of him, again in a tough environment. So an
impressive performance and kind of a different performance than we
usually say is impressive from the Falcons.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
We're used to shootouts, we are sometimes used to defense,
but not a pure defense a battle like this. This
felt like a Jets game from the last couple of years.
So it's nice to know that Jeff Olbrick still has
this and brought it to Atlanta. Because the defense looks
so good and I have a feeling that that is
what Tory and I are going to talk about here
in one second when we start our second quarter. So
let's go ahead and get on into that. Tory, nice
(05:53):
to see you. You look well, very excited after a
big win. How is the environment up there in Minnesota?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Oh my gosh, it was crazy.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
I think that the Vikings fans just in general, Like,
I've been to this stadium a couple of times now,
and it always shocks me how loud it is, how
much of an almost sec environment it is. So I
think that it was honestly one of those things that
you knew it was going to be a problem early on,
and it was. But you have to give the Falcons
run game specifically credit for kind of holding down the
(06:23):
fort for long enough to really get this thing going.
But honestly, the story of this game is the defense,
and I feel like I can't overlook what they.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Were for this group.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Yeah, let's start with the defense. Well, we can get
to the run game as well, But do you want
to real quick explain to our listeners why you're whispering
a little bit?
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Right? Yeah, So I'm currently in the visiting team press
conference room, I'm in between Raheem Morris's press conference and
Michael PENNOCKX Junior's press conference. So if I say, hey, guys,
Mike is coming in and I log out, don't worry.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
I'll come back on all right. Well, yeah, I really
wish I was sitting next to you for this game,
because I feel like this is just one that we
would have sunk our teeth into. What did you make
of this defensive performance? It was not one that I
expected necessarily, but you know, I'm not necessarily surprised either.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
So here's the thing is, it was everything that you
wanted it to be when you drafted those four guys
in twenty twenty five, back back in April, back in May,
when you bring in Jalen Walker, James frist Junior, Xavier
why it's Billy Bowman Junior. Like this performance today was
why you got those guys. It's the manifestation of this
(07:40):
youth movement on defense in Atlanta. It's something I'm super
excited to get into the locker room and talk to
some of these guys about what today was and how
meaningful it was to see some of these young guys. Heck,
even Zach Harrison even Ricuerroro, even Brandon Dorles. All of
these names are all guys who are under twenty five
playing for this defense and playing to a clip that
(08:04):
I don't think we've seen since the early two thousands
with this Atlanta Falcons team.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
No, and I mean those were some really fun defenses
back in the day. But that you're right, like and Tori,
I think I was wrong honestly going into this offseason.
If you had asked me what do the Falcons need
to add on defense? I would have said, you need
to get some guys who are going to kind of
play some of those foundational roles for you and be
those connective tissues and building blocks to allow cade Nellis
(08:30):
and Jesse Bates and Ajates are and your stars to
kind of be stars instead. They're kind of aj Terrell,
David On Yamada, Jesse Bates, Divine Diablo. They're your glue,
they are your core on defense, and these young pieces
are the ones making the flashy, standout plays and I
freaking love it.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
No, I mean I think it's so funny too, because
I was joking on Twitter during the game that our
creative team and posting all of these graphics of milestones,
was just turning them out, churning them out, because you're
talking about Brandon Dorlyss, James Frist Junior, Jalen Walker, Billy
Bowman Junior, Xavier Wise. I believe ruquererro like, there were
(09:11):
so many guys who had firsts for this defense, and
I think it's honestly like and I even asked for him, Morris,
this about Ruguerrero and Brandon Dorles specifically. These are two
guys who, let's be honest, this is kind of an
extension of their rookie year.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
To see them have the start that they did in these.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
First two games in a year where you do not
have the veteran leadership of Grady Jarrett anchoring that interior
defensive line, Like, it just shows me that the Falcons
defense as a whole, the defensive unit as a whole,
is heading not just in the right direction, but they
are maybe a step ahead, two step, two steps ahead
from where I thought they would be at this point
(09:50):
in time. And we talked, you know, last week about
how close they were on certain plays like so close
inches millisecond sentis. Yeah, this was something that completely flipped
on its head this time around against a very difficult
Minnesota offense that we saw what they did against the
Bears on Monday Night Football last week. I honestly, I
(10:11):
think that if you're this defense, you leave this game
with absolute like a chip on your shoulder in the
best way possible that Hey, you're young, but you showed
that the youth movement is real in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yeah, in the first quarter, I kind of talked about
how this game felt like a little bit of a
flipped version from Week one, and you're talking about making
those plays in the moments where adversity was going against you,
And I think a really great example of that was
in the first half. I think it was the second
quarter when Minnesota was really putting together their best offensive
drive and JJ McCarthy kind of throws a beautiful out
(10:49):
route against AJ Terrell to Jalen Naylor and moves them
down like deep in a falcon's territory. And the defense
then responds with I think like back to backs as
to get them to kind of force the field goal.
And I was just like, Wow, what a moment to
stand up with your back against the wall in a
pitcher's duel, right, And that's what this game was. And
(11:10):
so for the defense to kind of emerge in this
way at this time again in this environment. Like hats
off to Jeff Olbrick in his group.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Yeah, I mean I think so too. And there was
another moment, you know, to start the fourth quarter the
way that they did with you know, the I believe
that was when the strip sack happened.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Or was that?
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (11:31):
And Zach Harrison another player yep.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Yeah, So sorry, everything's kind of running together as I'm
going through this, but like that moment was an absolute
tone setter for how this game was going to end.
And I think the fact that like it was that
for this team was pretty impressive. Also, Mike's coming in,
so i'll cloil back.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Tory is back. She has spoken with the starting quarterback
of the Atlanta Falcons, Michael Penn Junior. Tory, do you
want to start with what Raheem Morris had to say
or what you just heard from Mike about tonight's game.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Let's talk about Mike because it's fresh in the brain.
I'm literally just coming off of that. A big part
of his conversation was about the run game. I mean,
I think that you can't talk about this game without
talking about what this run game was, and I asked
him about the specific moment where it's late in the
fourth quarter and they're running the ball, they're bleeding clock,
and Chris Linstrom just kind of motions to the sideline
(12:30):
like just keep going, keep running it, and he made
Michael Pennix kind of said, you know, everything starts with
the offensive line. He said that during the week, he
said that again today, and it starts with the run
game as well. Everything that the Falcons want to do
leeds off of what they do in the run game
(12:50):
and what they specifically do with Jean Robinson. So the
fact that they were able to have the success that
he did running the ball tonight even though they weren't
getting in the end zone, which Michael Pennack it's also
kind of talked about that and what the Vikings were
doing inside the red zone and how they were executing that.
Those were all yeah, those were all things that he
spoke about as well. But he was like to have
the run game have such a significant jump in production
(13:14):
from week one to week two just shows one how
much the Falcons wanted to get back to their bread
and butter, which they were able to do tonight, but
also to how much they would just rely on it,
and how good it was to get that jump started
and how that could look moving forward.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Yeah, I thought it was a big credit to the
offensive line, Charlie Warner, all those guys who who have
a significant role in the run game. And yeah, it
was a shame, you know, they didn't get more of
those red zone touchdowns, but to possess the ball as
much as they did to kind of, I think keep
the defense fresh, to allow the defense to continue to
be on its front foot all throughout the night in
(13:51):
what was a defensive lead game was important. And that
is another value if not talked about with the run game.
It allows you to kind of when you need to
slow down, take a breather, you hopefully can. But what
did what did Mike have to say about what the
Vikings were doing in the red zone specifically?
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Yeah, so he I mean, when the field shrinks like that,
it's like the margin of error shrinks too. And he
kind of talked about they were out executing them in
the red zone and I think that's like the main
point that he made. He didn't really get into too
many specifics, but he just kind of said, like they
brought it in the red zone and the Falcons were
(14:30):
just having a hard time getting anything going in the
red zone that ultimately turned into six points on the board.
Like and I think that he did say he was like,
you know, I do need to go back and I
need to watch it.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
That's something that always comes up.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I feel like in these post game press conferences that
like it's so fresh, it's really difficult to like really
hone in on specific issues or specific things that popped up.
But he did say that ultimately it's an execution thing.
And he also kind of talked about the early in
the game and the crowd noise and the procedural penalties
(15:05):
and he said he actually said like that's on me,
that's on that he kind of took. He kind of
took a lot of responsibility for those, and he said
it was a miscommunication kind of on his end as well.
And so he's like, those are things that we need
to clean up. Red zone production is something that they
need to clean up. So he was very open and
honest about the mishues that the Austin had, but also
(15:29):
feeling like they do have an opportunity to move forward
in a in a better space.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yeah, I've got two, two more for you, So we'll
move quickly through these two. But uh, on the broadcast
for you, I couldn't see the coverage. I know this
is something you're your keen eye as always looking for.
Were they taking away Drake and Darnell because it was
not a big night from those two guys.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Yeah, so they were kind of doing something similar to
what Tampa was doing where they were putting a cap
on the they.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Were going to felt very similar. It's just like there's
nothing downfield.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Nothing downfield. They were completely taking that away. I also
think that they were doing a good job, especially early
in the first in the first half, in totality of
there were not a lot of routes that were able
to manifest.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
There weren't a lot of.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Ice getting to the top of their routes, simply because
of the pressure that was on Michael Pennocks, like within
zero point two seconds, you know, like it felt like
in the moment, I'm gonna have to go back and watch,
but it felt like, especially in the first three quarters,
that the pressure was on Michael Pennocks from the get go.
And I think that that kind of coupled with the
(16:37):
whole fact that they were really taking away the deep threat.
I think teams know that that's what the Falcons want
to do. They want to push the ball down the
field with Michael Pennocks and the arm talent that he has,
so then taking that away it kind of reinforces that
the Falcons have to really truly rely on their run
game to be their generator for production. If if they're
(17:02):
going to take away the explosives downfield for Michael Pennick Junior, like,
they have to counteract that with some short quick outs,
which you saw them do very early in the first half,
and also the run game just taking over in the
second half and really bleeding that clock down when it
was a pretty close game up until the very very end.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Yeah, I set up top. You know, the Falcons showed
tonight they can win when forced to play left handed.
You know, I forgot at the time Michael Pennix is
actually left handed. But you know it's besides the fact.
Really quick, did Raheem Morris have any update on AJ Trell?
Speaker 3 (17:38):
No, no update on AJ Trell. It is a hamstring injury,
which I'm pretty sure everybody knows that, but I imagine
with those soft tissue injuries, I wouldn't be surprised if
if we kind of go through the week and we
don't really know that much about his status overall, it'll
be something to monitor for sure, though.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
And that is the whistle. All right, Tor, you've got
a bus to cat Thank you for taking time to
top on. We're going to try to do this for
away games this season. So this was a successful first
go great team win, Enjoy, have a safe flight back.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
I'll see all in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
All right, we have heard from Tory. We are back
for the fourth quarter. And yeah, I just am so awestruck,
frankly by Jean Robinson. And I shouldn't be by this
point because I've seen it and I shouldn't be surprised,
and yet I still am. Every single time I watch
him do what he does. I mean, whether it's the
first play, whether it's kind of a third play where
(18:35):
it was like an inside zone that he bounced outside
and he just slips tackles, and every single time he
does stuff that is so electrifying. So I just kind
of started thinking about who in my life have I
seen who is capable of putting up, you know, one
hundred and sixty eight yards in a given game from scrimmage.
That's his third most in his career, by the way.
(18:57):
And you know, it's a short list of players pretty
much from the twenty first century, because that's the time
that my memory is watching the Falcons works. So I'm
just gonna kind of share him with you here. I
guess it's maybe in some kind of particular order, but
it not too much thought was given to this, right,
But Alan Rossam was a guy who kind of came
(19:17):
to mind as a former returner. He was just one
of the most dynamic return men in the league during
his era. And as a kid, I loved watching him.
My mom called him awesome Rossam and so I always
just kind of loved him for that reason as well.
Brent Grimes, I mean, who the matchup between Calvin Johnson
and Brent Grimes optimist Grimes versus Megatron. Oh my god,
(19:41):
that was legendary. He could jump out of the building.
I mean, he has to be on this list. Julio
Jones of course, right like he's still I think has
the most two hundred and fifty plus yard games in
NFL history. That diving touchdown against Tampa was incredible. The
leaping catch over Luke Keiklee was in incredible, Like his
(20:01):
first touchdown against Indianapolis was incredible. Then Jon Robinson He's
on this list. What he did tonight outstanding, just outstanding.
He's added an element to his game as a receiver
that I really really like as well. Michael Vick, He's
obviously first on this list, right he is mister electric,
mister dynamic as an Atlanta Falcon. But but Jhon Robinson
(20:24):
is is on that list. I mean I had a
number two. You could quibble with, Julio, maybe Taylor Gabriel's
on this list. You know, there's some other names that
come to mind, Antoine Smith deep cut out there for y'all,
But Jean Robinson is on the shortest possible list of
no freaking way, they just did that players in Falcon's history.
So wanted to share that with you guys, because he
(20:46):
deserves just a little bit more of a shout out
in this episode for what he did tonight. But now
I want to bring on a very special member of
our podcast network. He's been behind the scenes, absolutely kicking
butt for a It is Jared call Jared producer Jared,
as we have called you on the show before. How
(21:06):
you doing, man, I'm doing great.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
The classic producer with the crappy audio setup, so don't
mind that. But yeah, thanks thanks for having me on.
It's good to get a voice on the airwaves.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
I guess there you go. Yeah, what'd you think of
tonight's game?
Speaker 2 (21:22):
It was electric.
Speaker 4 (21:24):
A lot of people, I think a lot of my
family were reaching out being like, wow, what a snoozer
for a Sunday night football game.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
But the defense, the defense was not snooze it. This
was absolutely electric.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
It was so fun to see Billy Bowman, Xavier Watts
get their first NFL picks. You got your first sacks
for James Pierce Junior and Jalen Walker, Like, it was
absolutely electric.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
I was a little bit worried in the first half.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
I think we all were going into halftime after the
Monday night football game last week with JJ McCarthy ealing
this big second half comeback, the two down two scores
in the fourth quarter, Like, I was a little bit nervous.
But the Falcons just they did not let up the
pass rush. I mean apart from the big pass to
Justin Jefferson's right before halftime, Like that was really it
(22:08):
for the Vikings offense. So I was really really impressed
with the Falcons defense tonight.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
That's such a great point because you know, when they
stalled out in the red zone in the first half
a few times, I just kept thinking to myself, Man,
that other shoe is dropping, right. This always happens is
you leave those missed opportunities on the table and the
other team comes back and makes you pay eventually. This
is the NFL. We know what this is. We've seen
this movie before, Jared, and especially last week with what
(22:35):
JJ McCarthy did. One of the first notes I wrote
down in the first quarter was all right, JJ's got
some baker to him, because it was kind of that
first scramble where he steffed the ball out there at
the last second, and I was like, oh, he's got
some sneaky little to him. And man, credit again to
Parker Romo. Just like in those moments, what you have
to do is just keep adding points when you have
(22:56):
an opportunity. At least it's not zero in three, right,
So to just have that drum beat. What do you
think of park Romo tonight?
Speaker 2 (23:05):
I mean, it's absolutely crazy. Like it was, let's say
it was the postgame interview. They're doing with Romo.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
He's standing next to like Leonard Floyd, but John Robinson.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
He didn't even know Leonard Floyd's name.
Speaker 4 (23:15):
Like, this guy has been here for less than a
week and he comes in and just nails what with.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Five field goals like that.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
What a crazy performance by him, especially the big the
big was it fifty four yarder?
Speaker 2 (23:28):
Yeah, to come in nail that, Like, man.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
Just just absolutely nails tonight for him. It's really really
crazy the turnaround that we had from special teams being
one of the contributing factors to the lost last week
to this week being almost the entirety.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Of the point scored by the Atlanta Falcons. Really big turnaround.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Yeah, you know it's gonna be really really hard, I
think to beat out Brandon Aubrey, But man, I would
love to see Parker Romo get NFC Special Teams Player
of the Week for this performance because he deserves it. Dude.
I Like, again, I know I can mentioning the environment,
but like to do this in Minnesota in that stadium
was incredible. Jared yep, And.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
We saw that crab was affecting everybody, just wasn't affecting
park Romo.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
He was absolutely locked in.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
He was so locked in. So again, Yeah, no idea
where this leaves thing kicking wise, but Parker Romo, Hats
off to you, Hats off to the whole Falcons. There's
our final whistle. Hats off to you all for listening
to this show. We appreciate you. If you're whistling while
you work, we appreciate you even more so for Will McFadden,
Tory maclaney, Jared Call joining us. A Falcons win twenty
(24:37):
two to six. We can all rest easy for the
week and they got the Carolina Panthers up next. So
Falcons Audible Friday five on tap for you this week.
Check out all the covers Atlanta Falcons dot com. Until
next time, everybody, take care,
Mile two to the kind of he's.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Gonna slip through its for.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Falcons fans, Welcome back to Falcons Final Whistle. We have
an incredible and exciting Sunday night football game to break
down the Atlanta Falcons one on the road against the
Minnesota Vikings twenty two to six, and boy, you talk
about a performance that really should leave a positive taste
on a lot of fans.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Its because Ree Morris likes to say that identity is
born out on the field, and I think that this
was an identity defining game for the Falcons in one
of the toughest environments in the NFL. So that's kind
of what I'm going to start off with if you're
new to this season's version of Falcons Final Whistle, a
quick rundown. We're going to give four quarters of review
(00:54):
of tonight's game, and tonight's going to be a little
bit different because Tory mclaney is in Minnesota. She was
on site covering this game. She's gonna join me for
quarters two and three and kind of give her thoughts
from location after talking to Raheem Morris and kind of
getting his thoughts on the game. So right off the jump, though,
I want to just kind of get into why this
(01:15):
game just felt so different in kind of the best
possible way and answered a lot of questions that I
think if Falcons fans needed to see from this group.
And it's early on in the season, but to put
together a game like this where in Week one I
felt like Atlanta was the better team. I said that
kind of up top and I with more distance. Yes,
(01:37):
they were the better team, but they they lost kind
of because they shot themselves in the foot in some
of the similar ways that we have seen Falcons teams
do in years past. Tonight they won this game despite
the mistakes they were making because they came up with
the clutch plays and they came up with the clutch
plays against a really good team in their home environment.
(01:58):
And yeah, the offense had to lean on the defense.
I am willing to be patient with the offense to
give them time to figure things out a because offense
is a little bit harder. You do have a new
quarterback in there. It's gonna take some time to adjust.
Didn't get much from Drake Lennon Darnel Mooney tonight. That's fine.
I expect them to be just okay throughout the rest
(02:18):
of the season. But we didn't need to because this defense,
the defense that everybody has been so worried about pulling
their hair out all off season about. Man, they shut
the Vikings down tonight. Are you kidding me? This was
a great performance. They did not allow a touchdown. JJ
McCarthy completed only eleven passes. The leading rusher in this
(02:40):
game thirty yards. I mean, in every single way you
want to look at it, Atlanta's defense steps up. And
that is what I always needed to see this see
from this team is the ability to win in multiple ways,
because that's kind of the secret sauce to it. All Right,
you can talk about defense wins champion, you need a
(03:01):
good run game. I've always believed that really the key
to success, especially in the postseason, is being able to
play in a variety of ways or play left handed.
Is kind of Bill Belichick used to like to say,
because that is what teams are going to do. They're
going to take away the things you like to do best.
And so tonight I kind of felt like Atlanta's downfield
(03:23):
passing game was once again non existent. But I have
to believe that that is the part of the game
that Minnesota was really trying to take away. Now I'm
gonna have to go back and watch the All twenty
two because the broadcast angle doesn't do the best job
of showing you all the coverages out there, so you know,
I asterisk this take a little bit. But if that
was the case, then Atlanta's offense did exactly what it
(03:43):
needed to do, right And I kind of think the
Vikings wanted to play this style of game. The Falcons adapted,
realized what kind of game they were in and said,
all right, we'll beat you at this one too. And
to see that they have the components to be able
to kind of re tool on the fly there and
slide right into the moment and then dominate it was
(04:08):
so so good. And it doesn't mean that every single
week is going to look like this moving forward, right,
But to know that they have this pitch this early
in the season is something that you make a little
tally on when you are providing reasons why this group
can be that surprise team in the NFC. There's one
every year, right, so why not the ones that just
(04:29):
went into Minnesota knocked off a team that was one
of the very best in your conference last year? And
you looked really, really good doing it and answered a
lot of questions. I also thought the kicking game, right,
we talked about kind of night and day differences between
week one and week two. What about Parker Romo right
up until Tyler all Jeers fourth quarter touchdown to cement
(04:49):
the game, he was he was it baby. He had
a field goal for every day that he was a
member of the Falcons leading into this game, which is crazy.
So no idea where that leaves everything with the kicking battle,
but Barber Romo answered every single question and he did
it at the perfect time. So he was nails tonight.
(05:11):
The defense was nails tonight. I thought Michael Pennock Junior
did a great job kind of doing everything that was
needed of him, again in a tough environment. So an
impressive performance and kind of a different performance than we
usually say is impressive from the Falcons.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
We're used to shootouts, we are sometimes used to defense,
but not a pure defense a battle like this. This
felt like a Jets game from the last couple of years.
So it's nice to know that Jeff Olbrick still has
this and brought it to Atlanta. Because the defense looks
so good and I have a feeling that that is
what Tory and I are going to talk about here
in one second when we start our second quarter. So
let's go ahead and get on into that. Tory, nice
(05:53):
to see you. You look well, very excited after a
big win. How is the environment up there in Minnesota?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Oh my gosh, it was crazy.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
I think that the Vikings fans just in general, Like,
I've been to this stadium a couple of times now,
and it always shocks me how loud it is, how
much of an almost sec environment it is. So I
think that it was honestly one of those things that
you knew it was going to be a problem early on,
and it was. But you have to give the Falcons
run game specifically credit for kind of holding down the
(06:23):
fort for long enough to really get this thing going.
But honestly, the story of this game is the defense,
and I feel like I can't overlook what they.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Were for this group.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Yeah, let's start with the defense. Well, we can get
to the run game as well, But do you want
to real quick explain to our listeners why you're whispering
a little bit?
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Right? Yeah, So I'm currently in the visiting team press
conference room, I'm in between Raheem Morris's press conference and
Michael PENNOCKX Junior's press conference. So if I say, hey, guys,
Mike is coming in and I log out, don't worry.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
I'll come back on all right. Well, yeah, I really
wish I was sitting next to you for this game,
because I feel like this is just one that we
would have sunk our teeth into. What did you make
of this defensive performance? It was not one that I
expected necessarily, but you know, I'm not necessarily surprised either.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
So here's the thing is, it was everything that you
wanted it to be when you drafted those four guys
in twenty twenty five, back back in April, back in May,
when you bring in Jalen Walker, James frist Junior, Xavier
why it's Billy Bowman Junior. Like this performance today was
why you got those guys. It's the manifestation of this
(07:40):
youth movement on defense in Atlanta. It's something I'm super
excited to get into the locker room and talk to
some of these guys about what today was and how
meaningful it was to see some of these young guys. Heck,
even Zach Harrison even Ricuerroro, even Brandon Dorles. All of
these names are all guys who are under twenty five
playing for this defense and playing to a clip that
(08:04):
I don't think we've seen since the early two thousands
with this Atlanta Falcons team.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
No, and I mean those were some really fun defenses
back in the day. But that you're right, like and Tori,
I think I was wrong honestly going into this offseason.
If you had asked me what do the Falcons need
to add on defense? I would have said, you need
to get some guys who are going to kind of
play some of those foundational roles for you and be
those connective tissues and building blocks to allow cade Nellis
(08:30):
and Jesse Bates and Ajates are and your stars to
kind of be stars instead. They're kind of aj Terrell,
David On Yamada, Jesse Bates, Divine Diablo. They're your glue,
they are your core on defense, and these young pieces
are the ones making the flashy, standout plays and I
freaking love it.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
No, I mean I think it's so funny too, because
I was joking on Twitter during the game that our
creative team and posting all of these graphics of milestones,
was just turning them out, churning them out, because you're
talking about Brandon Dorlyss, James Frist Junior, Jalen Walker, Billy
Bowman Junior, Xavier Wise. I believe ruquererro like, there were
(09:11):
so many guys who had firsts for this defense, and
I think it's honestly like and I even asked for him, Morris,
this about Ruguerrero and Brandon Dorles specifically. These are two
guys who, let's be honest, this is kind of an
extension of their rookie year.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
To see them have the start that they did in these.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
First two games in a year where you do not
have the veteran leadership of Grady Jarrett anchoring that interior
defensive line, Like, it just shows me that the Falcons
defense as a whole, the defensive unit as a whole,
is heading not just in the right direction, but they
are maybe a step ahead, two step, two steps ahead
from where I thought they would be at this point
(09:50):
in time. And we talked, you know, last week about
how close they were on certain plays like so close
inches millisecond sentis. Yeah, this was something that completely flipped
on its head this time around against a very difficult
Minnesota offense that we saw what they did against the
Bears on Monday Night Football last week. I honestly, I
(10:11):
think that if you're this defense, you leave this game
with absolute like a chip on your shoulder in the
best way possible that Hey, you're young, but you showed
that the youth movement is real in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yeah, in the first quarter, I kind of talked about
how this game felt like a little bit of a
flipped version from Week one, and you're talking about making
those plays in the moments where adversity was going against you,
And I think a really great example of that was
in the first half. I think it was the second
quarter when Minnesota was really putting together their best offensive
drive and JJ McCarthy kind of throws a beautiful out
(10:49):
route against AJ Terrell to Jalen Naylor and moves them
down like deep in a falcon's territory. And the defense
then responds with I think like back to backs as
to get them to kind of force the field goal.
And I was just like, Wow, what a moment to
stand up with your back against the wall in a
pitcher's duel, right, And that's what this game was. And
(11:10):
so for the defense to kind of emerge in this
way at this time again in this environment. Like hats
off to Jeff Olbrick in his group.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Yeah, I mean I think so too. And there was
another moment, you know, to start the fourth quarter the
way that they did with you know, the I believe
that was when the strip sack happened.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Or was that?
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (11:31):
And Zach Harrison another player yep.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Yeah, So sorry, everything's kind of running together as I'm
going through this, but like that moment was an absolute
tone setter for how this game was going to end.
And I think the fact that like it was that
for this team was pretty impressive. Also, Mike's coming in,
so i'll cloil back.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Tory is back. She has spoken with the starting quarterback
of the Atlanta Falcons, Michael Penn Junior. Tory, do you
want to start with what Raheem Morris had to say
or what you just heard from Mike about tonight's game.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Let's talk about Mike because it's fresh in the brain.
I'm literally just coming off of that. A big part
of his conversation was about the run game. I mean,
I think that you can't talk about this game without
talking about what this run game was, and I asked
him about the specific moment where it's late in the
fourth quarter and they're running the ball, they're bleeding clock,
and Chris Linstrom just kind of motions to the sideline
(12:30):
like just keep going, keep running it, and he made
Michael Pennix kind of said, you know, everything starts with
the offensive line. He said that during the week, he
said that again today, and it starts with the run
game as well. Everything that the Falcons want to do
leeds off of what they do in the run game
(12:50):
and what they specifically do with Jean Robinson. So the
fact that they were able to have the success that
he did running the ball tonight even though they weren't
getting in the end zone, which Michael Pennack it's also
kind of talked about that and what the Vikings were
doing inside the red zone and how they were executing that.
Those were all yeah, those were all things that he
spoke about as well. But he was like to have
the run game have such a significant jump in production
(13:14):
from week one to week two just shows one how
much the Falcons wanted to get back to their bread
and butter, which they were able to do tonight, but
also to how much they would just rely on it,
and how good it was to get that jump started
and how that could look moving forward.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Yeah, I thought it was a big credit to the
offensive line, Charlie Warner, all those guys who who have
a significant role in the run game. And yeah, it
was a shame, you know, they didn't get more of
those red zone touchdowns, but to possess the ball as
much as they did to kind of, I think keep
the defense fresh, to allow the defense to continue to
be on its front foot all throughout the night in
(13:51):
what was a defensive lead game was important. And that
is another value if not talked about with the run game.
It allows you to kind of when you need to
slow down, take a breather, you hopefully can. But what
did what did Mike have to say about what the
Vikings were doing in the red zone specifically?
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Yeah, so he I mean, when the field shrinks like that,
it's like the margin of error shrinks too. And he
kind of talked about they were out executing them in
the red zone and I think that's like the main
point that he made. He didn't really get into too
many specifics, but he just kind of said, like they
brought it in the red zone and the Falcons were
(14:30):
just having a hard time getting anything going in the
red zone that ultimately turned into six points on the board.
Like and I think that he did say he was like,
you know, I do need to go back and I
need to watch it.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
That's something that always comes up.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I feel like in these post game press conferences that
like it's so fresh, it's really difficult to like really
hone in on specific issues or specific things that popped up.
But he did say that ultimately it's an execution thing.
And he also kind of talked about the early in
the game and the crowd noise and the procedural penalties
(15:05):
and he said he actually said like that's on me,
that's on that he kind of took. He kind of
took a lot of responsibility for those, and he said
it was a miscommunication kind of on his end as well.
And so he's like, those are things that we need
to clean up. Red zone production is something that they
need to clean up. So he was very open and
honest about the mishues that the Austin had, but also
(15:29):
feeling like they do have an opportunity to move forward
in a in a better space.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yeah, I've got two, two more for you, So we'll
move quickly through these two. But uh, on the broadcast
for you, I couldn't see the coverage. I know this
is something you're your keen eye as always looking for.
Were they taking away Drake and Darnell because it was
not a big night from those two guys.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Yeah, so they were kind of doing something similar to
what Tampa was doing where they were putting a cap
on the they.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Were going to felt very similar. It's just like there's
nothing downfield.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Nothing downfield. They were completely taking that away. I also
think that they were doing a good job, especially early
in the first in the first half, in totality of
there were not a lot of routes that were able
to manifest.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
There weren't a lot of.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Ice getting to the top of their routes, simply because
of the pressure that was on Michael Pennocks, like within
zero point two seconds, you know, like it felt like
in the moment, I'm gonna have to go back and watch,
but it felt like, especially in the first three quarters,
that the pressure was on Michael Pennocks from the get go.
And I think that that kind of coupled with the
(16:37):
whole fact that they were really taking away the deep threat.
I think teams know that that's what the Falcons want
to do. They want to push the ball down the
field with Michael Pennocks and the arm talent that he has,
so then taking that away it kind of reinforces that
the Falcons have to really truly rely on their run
game to be their generator for production. If if they're
(17:02):
going to take away the explosives downfield for Michael Pennick Junior, like,
they have to counteract that with some short quick outs,
which you saw them do very early in the first half,
and also the run game just taking over in the
second half and really bleeding that clock down when it
was a pretty close game up until the very very end.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Yeah, I set up top. You know, the Falcons showed
tonight they can win when forced to play left handed.
You know, I forgot at the time Michael Pennix is
actually left handed. But you know it's besides the fact.
Really quick, did Raheem Morris have any update on AJ Trell?
Speaker 3 (17:38):
No, no update on AJ Trell. It is a hamstring injury,
which I'm pretty sure everybody knows that, but I imagine
with those soft tissue injuries, I wouldn't be surprised if
if we kind of go through the week and we
don't really know that much about his status overall, it'll
be something to monitor for sure, though.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
And that is the whistle. All right, Tor, you've got
a bus to cat Thank you for taking time to
top on. We're going to try to do this for
away games this season. So this was a successful first
go great team win, Enjoy, have a safe flight back.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
I'll see all in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
All right, we have heard from Tory. We are back
for the fourth quarter. And yeah, I just am so awestruck,
frankly by Jean Robinson. And I shouldn't be by this
point because I've seen it and I shouldn't be surprised,
and yet I still am. Every single time I watch
him do what he does. I mean, whether it's the
first play, whether it's kind of a third play where
(18:35):
it was like an inside zone that he bounced outside
and he just slips tackles, and every single time he
does stuff that is so electrifying. So I just kind
of started thinking about who in my life have I
seen who is capable of putting up, you know, one
hundred and sixty eight yards in a given game from scrimmage.
That's his third most in his career, by the way.
(18:57):
And you know, it's a short list of players pretty
much from the twenty first century, because that's the time
that my memory is watching the Falcons works. So I'm
just gonna kind of share him with you here. I
guess it's maybe in some kind of particular order, but
it not too much thought was given to this, right,
But Alan Rossam was a guy who kind of came
(19:17):
to mind as a former returner. He was just one
of the most dynamic return men in the league during
his era. And as a kid, I loved watching him.
My mom called him awesome Rossam and so I always
just kind of loved him for that reason as well.
Brent Grimes, I mean, who the matchup between Calvin Johnson
and Brent Grimes optimist Grimes versus Megatron. Oh my god,
(19:41):
that was legendary. He could jump out of the building.
I mean, he has to be on this list. Julio
Jones of course, right like he's still I think has
the most two hundred and fifty plus yard games in
NFL history. That diving touchdown against Tampa was incredible. The
leaping catch over Luke Keiklee was in incredible, Like his
(20:01):
first touchdown against Indianapolis was incredible. Then Jon Robinson He's
on this list. What he did tonight outstanding, just outstanding.
He's added an element to his game as a receiver
that I really really like as well. Michael Vick, He's
obviously first on this list, right he is mister electric,
mister dynamic as an Atlanta Falcon. But but Jhon Robinson
(20:24):
is is on that list. I mean I had a
number two. You could quibble with, Julio, maybe Taylor Gabriel's
on this list. You know, there's some other names that
come to mind, Antoine Smith deep cut out there for y'all,
But Jean Robinson is on the shortest possible list of
no freaking way, they just did that players in Falcon's history.
So wanted to share that with you guys, because he
(20:46):
deserves just a little bit more of a shout out
in this episode for what he did tonight. But now
I want to bring on a very special member of
our podcast network. He's been behind the scenes, absolutely kicking
butt for a It is Jared call Jared producer Jared,
as we have called you on the show before. How
(21:06):
you doing, man, I'm doing great.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
The classic producer with the crappy audio setup, so don't
mind that. But yeah, thanks thanks for having me on.
It's good to get a voice on the airwaves.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
I guess there you go. Yeah, what'd you think of
tonight's game?
Speaker 2 (21:22):
It was electric.
Speaker 4 (21:24):
A lot of people, I think a lot of my
family were reaching out being like, wow, what a snoozer
for a Sunday night football game.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
But the defense, the defense was not snooze it. This
was absolutely electric.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
It was so fun to see Billy Bowman, Xavier Watts
get their first NFL picks. You got your first sacks
for James Pierce Junior and Jalen Walker, Like, it was
absolutely electric.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
I was a little bit worried in the first half.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
I think we all were going into halftime after the
Monday night football game last week with JJ McCarthy ealing
this big second half comeback, the two down two scores
in the fourth quarter, Like, I was a little bit nervous.
But the Falcons just they did not let up the
pass rush. I mean apart from the big pass to
Justin Jefferson's right before halftime, Like that was really it
(22:08):
for the Vikings offense. So I was really really impressed
with the Falcons defense tonight.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
That's such a great point because you know, when they
stalled out in the red zone in the first half
a few times, I just kept thinking to myself, Man,
that other shoe is dropping, right. This always happens is
you leave those missed opportunities on the table and the
other team comes back and makes you pay eventually. This
is the NFL. We know what this is. We've seen
this movie before, Jared, and especially last week with what
(22:35):
JJ McCarthy did. One of the first notes I wrote
down in the first quarter was all right, JJ's got
some baker to him, because it was kind of that
first scramble where he steffed the ball out there at
the last second, and I was like, oh, he's got
some sneaky little to him. And man, credit again to
Parker Romo. Just like in those moments, what you have
to do is just keep adding points when you have
(22:56):
an opportunity. At least it's not zero in three, right,
So to just have that drum beat. What do you
think of park Romo tonight?
Speaker 2 (23:05):
I mean, it's absolutely crazy. Like it was, let's say
it was the postgame interview. They're doing with Romo.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
He's standing next to like Leonard Floyd, but John Robinson.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
He didn't even know Leonard Floyd's name.
Speaker 4 (23:15):
Like, this guy has been here for less than a
week and he comes in and just nails what with.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Five field goals like that.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
What a crazy performance by him, especially the big the
big was it fifty four yarder?
Speaker 2 (23:28):
Yeah, to come in nail that, Like, man.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
Just just absolutely nails tonight for him. It's really really
crazy the turnaround that we had from special teams being
one of the contributing factors to the lost last week
to this week being almost the entirety.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Of the point scored by the Atlanta Falcons. Really big turnaround.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Yeah, you know it's gonna be really really hard, I
think to beat out Brandon Aubrey, But man, I would
love to see Parker Romo get NFC Special Teams Player
of the Week for this performance because he deserves it. Dude.
I Like, again, I know I can mentioning the environment,
but like to do this in Minnesota in that stadium
was incredible. Jared yep, And.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
We saw that crab was affecting everybody, just wasn't affecting
park Romo.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
He was absolutely locked in.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
He was so locked in. So again, Yeah, no idea
where this leaves thing kicking wise, but Parker Romo, Hats
off to you, Hats off to the whole Falcons. There's
our final whistle. Hats off to you all for listening
to this show. We appreciate you. If you're whistling while
you work, we appreciate you even more so for Will McFadden,
Tory maclaney, Jared Call joining us. A Falcons win twenty
(24:37):
two to six. We can all rest easy for the
week and they got the Carolina Panthers up next. So
Falcons Audible Friday five on tap for you this week.
Check out all the covers Atlanta Falcons dot com. Until
next time, everybody, take care,
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