The Atlanta Falcons defense had one of its best, if not their best, performances on Sunday when it held the Los Angeles Chargers to just 187 total yards of offense (131 passing yards, 56 rushing yards), forced two fumbles, recovered one of the fumbles, sacked Justin Herbert five times, and did not allow the Chargers offense to score a touchdown. How can the Falcons defense have a repeat performance against the Vikings this Sunday?
“I think if you can come up a little bit and say 'look we gotta play a little risky. If we can make Sam Darnold hold the ball a tick longer he will throw it to you,'" said Beau Morgan. "We've seen that, but maybe you can get home, and that’s the hope.”
Beau thinks it’s a good idea for the Falcons defense to play a little more risky this week because between Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson one of those Vikings pass-catchers is going to get theirs anyway, so why not take some chances and play tighter coverage on the outside, and try to get some extra sacks, and potentially some turnovers.
“Do whatever you gotta do to get home,” Beau said. The Falcons’ five sacks last Sunday kept the Chargers in long down and distances, which caused the Chargers offense to only be 3-for-11 on third down. That resulted in the Falcons defense getting a lot of stops. If they want to have the same success this Sunday in Minnesota when they take on the Vikings they will have to pressure Darnold the same way they pressured Herbert.
Beau also mentioned that the Falcons’ stout rush defense also helped get the Falcons some sacks because of how the Falcons front seven took away the Chargers running game.
The Falcons defense was solid from front to back, and if they help each other this Sunday against the Vikings like they did last week against the Chargers, the Falcons defense could be in line for another nice day.