With the Atlanta Falcons squaring off against the Dallas Cowboys this weekend, and them going up against a semi-mobile quarterback in Dak Prescott, one question still looms in everyone’s minds: will they be able to get to and sack the quarterback? The Falcons are dead last in the NFL in sacks with a whopping total of six, less than seven individual defensive players. But sacks do not tell the entire story of how this 2024 Falcons defense has performed.
Although they are last in the NFL in sacks, they are tied for sixth in the league in total turnovers with ten, and fourth in interceptions with seven. It’s not just the raw turnovers that are making a difference, it is WHEN these turnovers are happening. Last week, Jesse Bates forced a fumble on the second play of the game that quickly gave momentum to the Falcons, that they were able to capitalize on with a Kyle Pitts touchdown. Later on in the game, A.J. Terrell had an interception in the fourth quarter that iced the game for the Falcons. Being last in the league in sacks is not ideal, and maybe the Falcons will address this before the Tuesday trade deadline. As a whole, the Falcons defense has played well enough thus far in the season, and while they will need to improve their sack numbers to make a playoff run, the timely turnovers by the defense has mask this inefficiency. Andy Bunker and Randy McMichael talk about how the Falcons will stop the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
