FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons closed out the 2024 regular-season with a head-scratching performance.
A season once filled with promise after a 6-3 start came to an abrupt halt with a 44-38 overtime loss to the Panthers Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The defense – which had been anchored by safety Jessie Bates III, cornerback A.J. Terrell and inside linebacker Kaden Elliss -- gave up 44 points and a season-high 425 yards. It didn’t have a sack nor a quarterback hit.
Here are the five things learned in the loss:
1. Penix to London, looked like Ryan to Roddy White: The connection between rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and receiver Drake London was amazing.
Penix targeted London 18 times. He caught 10 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns. London believes the future is bright for the offense. Early in his career, former Falcon great Matt Ryan leaned on wide receiver Roddy White.
“The fans got a little taste of what it could possibly be,” London said. “I think we’re going to strive for that every game now.”
Penix and London just started working together three weeks ago after Kirk Cousins was benched.
“Offseason, we’ve got to get after it and get right,” London said. “Because we want to get into the postseason and start playing for something real.”
London has enjoyed working with Penix.
“Absolute poise,” London said. “He’s got a freaking rocket. He can sling the ball. He’s got that dog in him. He’s somebody who’s a winner. I think you see that just right off rip.”
They will work on building their chemistry over the offseason.
“Just getting better in every aspect we possibly can so situations like this don’t happen,” London said.
Penix said, “It’s going to be special and we are just now getting started.”
2. Robinson’s special day: Running back Bijan Robinson had 30 touches for 173 yards and two touchdowns.
As the season progressed, the Falcons ran the offense through Robinson, who had a spectacular second season in the league.
He finished with 1,456 yards rushing and 431 yards receiving. He also scored 14 rushing touchdowns to go with the one receiving score.
As the offense tried to stay in the high-scoring game, Robinson keep rolling.
“I felt we could finish the year right,” Robinson said. “But it’s all good, because we have a new opportunity coming in for next season. We have to attack the offseason the right way.
3. Major overhaul on defense is coming: The secondary gave up 270 yards passing to the Panthers and three touchdown passes.
Backup cornerback Clark Phillips III had to come in for Mike Hughes, who left the game with a shoulder injury.
The Falcons gave up 224.5 yards passing per game which ranked 22nd in the league.
The Falcons will have to revamp the cornerback position over the offseason and decide what to do at safety.
Justin Simmons, who took over for Richie Grant, was signed to a one-year contract.
“It wasn’t good enough at all, it wasn’t good,” Simmons said. “I think the most disappointing thing is obviously there’s positives and negatives throughout the season, not a playoff berth and obviously we didn’t have a chance to close it out in a winning season. But to end it like that is just not the way you want.”
4. Front seven of the defense: After seeing of improvement over the second half of the season, the Falcons did not get any pressure on Young.
Outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie lead the team with six sacks. Elliss led the team in tackles with 150 as the Falcons finished in the top half of the league in stopping the run.
They gave 120.6 yards per game which ranked 15th in the league. The Panthers ran 30 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns.
The defense seemed to back-slide against the Panthers.
“I don’t know if I have a good answer for you right this second,” defensive tackle Zach Harrison said. “I need to take some time to reflect on it and think about it. I need to watch and self-scout myself and the guys around me. But like I said, we’ve got a lot of good players, a lot of talented guys, so we’ve just got to put it together.”
5. Record book: London had has third 100-yard game of the season and the sixth of his career.
London finished with 100 catches, 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns, all career-highs for the third-year receiver.
He became the fifth player in Falcons history with at least 100 catches and the first since Julio Jones in 2018.
London is also one of three in the NFL this season to reach the plateau, joining only Justin Jefferson (103) and Ja’Marr Chase (127).
London became the third Falcon with at least 100 receptions, 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns, joining Roddy White (2010) and Terance Mathis (1994).
