The Falcons put themselves in a tough spot by winning just one game over the first half of the season. After two weeks of dominant, complementary football, it seems as if the team has moved past its 1-7 start and is simply focusing on what it can control.
Atlanta’s playoff chances are razor thin at this point, but until the team is mathematically eliminated, things should be interesting at the very least.
With six games remaining, here are six players to watch as the Falcons try to do the unthinkable and sneak into a wild card spot.
K Younghoe Koo
Atlanta’s kicker Younghoe Koo had another good game in Week 11. He is 7-for-8 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra point attempts. Cutting veteran Matt Bryant was a controversial move with the season in complete disarray, but Koo has been solid in his first NFL game action in two years. The Falcons are likely to play in some tighter games over their final six weeks, meaning we should get a chance to see Koo in some high-pressure situations as he looks to lock down the kicker job long-term.
WR Calvin Ridley
Ridley dominated against a good Panthers secondary in Week 11, catching all eight of his targets for a 143 yards and a touchdown. Without tight end Austin Hooper for at least another week, Ridley should remain highly involved in the Falcons’ offense. It’s clear that quarterback Matt Ryan trusts the second-year receiver. As the two continue to build chemistry, Ridley will continue to frustrate defenses with his elite speed and route-running ability.
S Damontae Kazee
Kazee is playing better now that he’s moved to the free safety spot where he spent some time last season. Ricardo Allen is playing more in the box as a strong safety, and that’s helped the secondary improve its communication over the past two games. Kazee recorded the team’s fourth interception in the Falcons’ Week 11 win over the Panthers. He is clearly more comfortable in that safety role and his confidence is growing each week.
RT Kaleb McGary
McGary played extremely well two weeks ago against Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, and followed it up with another solid game against the Panthers in Week 11. The Falcons finally seem to have built some chemistry up front after an extremely rocky first eight games. Look for McGary to continue his development going forward, especially when right guard Chris Lindstrom — the team’s other first-round pick — returns from his broken foot in a few weeks.
DE Takk McKinley
McKinley finally got a sack last week, despite bringing good pressure off the edge pretty much all season. Atlanta’s defensive line has been a factor since the team made a few coaching and schematic changes during the bye, recording 11 sacks over the past two weeks. Many were expecting big things this season from the former UCLA standout, and I still expect to see McKinley notch 5-6 more sacks before the year is over.
LB Deion Jones
Deion Jones is one of the young building blocks on this Falcons team. He, along with the rest of the defense didn’t play up to their potential over the first eight weeks. Still, Jones is the second highest-graded Falcons defender through their first ten games, with a Pro Football Focus grade of 80.6. Atlanta’s defense has really turned things around since Week 9. It should only be a matter of time before Jones has one of his trademark standout performances.
