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Result week 6: Won at Carolina 38-20

The Atlanta Falcons entered the 2024 season with more than a little hype following the arrival of quarterback Kirk Cousins. After a rocky start, the Falcons are starting to live up to that hype – Sunday’s decisive win at Carolina was Atlanta’s third in Consequence and fourth game in the last five games.

Defeating an overmatched Panthers team isn’t exactly a Herculean feat, but the Falcons took care of business. Cousins ​​was efficient through the air. Atlanta’s rushing attack averaged more than five yards per carry and flirted with 200 yards.

Speaking to reporters, running back Bijan Robinson said the team’s offensive balance makes it difficult to defend.

“That’s where you want to go with the offense, where the guys don’t know whether they have to stop the run or the pass,” Robinson said. “And then you can do both, it’s just really hard for a defense because then they’re like, ‘Okay, what do we do?'”

Head coach Raheem Morris also emphasized the team’s ability to beat defenses in different ways.

“Last week we threw 58 times for 509 yards and this week we were able to run for (198) and that’s the sign of a good football team when you have to find ways to beat them.” Morris said. “We take what you give us and go out and trade.”

The Falcons just beat a Panthers team that has won three games since the start of the 2023 season. I’m not going to put much stock in Atlanta being 4-2. What impressed me in Week 6 was the continued growth of Atlanta’s offense.

This was a team that had the league’s 11th overall defense in 2023, but was too often thwarted by poor quarterback play and a lack of cohesion on offense. Kirk Cousins ​​has provided significant improvement at center, and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has figured out how to unleash playmakers like Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson.

So far, Atlanta’s plan for a quick turnaround in 2024 is working as planned. The Buccaneers could prevent the Falcons from winning their first division title since 2016, but the playoffs seem virtually inevitable at this point. — Knox