Julio Jones 271 yards off last week's pace, Falcons still beat Broncos
We might end up looking back on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beating the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome in Week 1 as one of the flukier things to happen during the 2016 NFL season. Because the Falcons, kids, are for real.
They proved that with Sunday’s 23-16 win over the Denver Broncos, giving the Falcons victories in the first five weeks of the season over the defending Super Bowl teams. This also was the Falcons’ third road victory of the season in three tries.
And impressive it was. Not only did the Falcons’ high-powered offense keep humming against a Broncos defense widely believed to be either the best (or second-best to the Minnesota Vikings), but the much-maligned defense has shown real improvement the past few games.
Holding the Broncos to one TD and 267 yards in Denver — even with rookie QB Paxton Lynch making his first start — is impressive. Head coach Dan Quinn was hired to whip this Falcons defense into shape, and Vic Beasley was drafted to be one of his ace pass rushers. Beasley had a career day with 3.5 sacks and the Falcons held the Broncos to 84 rush yards.
It was a well-executed game plan on both sides, and using running back Tevin Coleman as a receiver (four catches, 132 yards receiving, 31-yard TD catch) was a new wrinkle that gives Falcons opponents even more to think about going forward. Coleman and Devonta Freeman, who combined for 286 yards from scrimmage and two scores, might be the toughest RB duo to stop we’ve seen in recent years.
What’s also fascinating is that a team that was so wholly dependent on one player — Julio Jones — the past few years now appears to be one that can win with him having a big game or without. The Falcons beat the Saints with Jones’ one 16-yard catch. They beat the Panthers behind his insane 300-yard effort. And on Sunday, Jones was quiet with two catches for 29 yards. And they won again. You can die by poison or fire — your choice.
But there’s tough sledding for the Falcons ahead and plenty more chances to prove the shrinking list of non-believers. The schedule doesn’t appear to soften much. After next week’s game at the Seattle Seahawks, they face the competitive San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers at home, followed by road games against those pesky Buccaneers and the 3-1 Philadelphia Eagles before the Week 11 bye.
Are the Falcons for real? This much we know: Matt Ryan is playing at an MVP level, with 12 TDs and two picks through five games, and Jones has one monster game. The run game is an absolute beast, and the defense is emerging. To us, that spells real — brutal schedule notwithstanding.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!
