Standout performance: Falcons pass rush. The defense finished with six sacks against Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. It was the second game so far this season with at least six sacks. The last time the Falcons managed that was 2004.
- More: The Falcons have had a sack in each of their first eight games this season, which is their longest streak to start a season since 2012 when they had 14 consecutive games of such.
- Honorable mention: Drake London. The wide receiver had himself a game. More on his accolades below, though, under player milestones.
Number to know: 0-for-4. The Falcons’ third-down conversion rate in the first half. The offense didn’t convert a third down until its second-to-last play in the third quarter. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. completed a 7-yard pass to running back Bijan Robinson to convert on a third-and-1. That put the Falcons at 1-of-6 through three quarters of work.
- With his 11-yard reception in the first quarter, wide receiver Drake London notched his 23rd straight game with at least one catch for 10-plus yards. That is the longest streak by a Falcons player since wide receiver Julio Jones had 28 straight games of such between 2018-20.
- London’s 1-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter marked his NFL-best third first-quarter receiving touchdown since Week 4 of this season and his NFL-best seventh first-quarter receiving touchdown since the beginning of last season.
- London scored on a 2-yard catch in the second quarter, too. It made Sunday his second multi-touchdown game in his career. He finished with three total, adding an 8-yarder in the fourth quarter, to become the first Falcons player with at least three receiving touchdowns since 1991.
- Defensive lineman LaCale London notched his first career sack in the first quarter, taking down Patriots quarterback Drake Maye for a loss of 2 yards. Sunday was London’s 13th career appearance, his fifth this season.
- Running back Bijan Robinson broke 3,000 career rushing yards Sunday, his 42nd career game. Only one other Falcons player has reached that milestone in fewer games — running back Williams Andrews in 1981 after 39 games.
- Kyle Pitts Sr. reached 3,000 career receiving yards Sunday, becoming the third Falcons tight end to do so in franchise history. The others were Alge Crumpler in 2006 and Jim Mitchell in 1975.
- Safety Jessie Bates III grabbed his first interception of the season, picking off Maye in the third quarter. That gives Bates a total of 25 interceptions in his career, having at least one every season since he was drafted in 2018. He’s one of only five active NFL players with at least 25 career interceptions.
- Left guard Matthew Bergeron injured his ankle during the Falcons’ first offensive drive. He was deemed questionable to return but did not. Kyle Hinton filled in for Bergeron along the offensive line.
- Edge rusher Leonard Floyd injured his hamstring during the second quarter. He was deemed questionable to return but did not. The Falcons consistently rotate their edge rushers.
A quick tweet: Tori McElhaney and Terrin Waack share their gut reactions to Sunday’s outcome in 280 characters or less.
- McElhaney: The kicking game remains a significant area of concern. This can’t go on.
- Waack: Curious how the tie would have broke.
- On both sides of the ball, the Falcons needed to improve in the run game. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson explained how his unit can better run the ball. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich detailed how his unit can better stop the run.
- Only one of the 14 NFL experts pulled each week predicted the Falcons would straight-up beat the Patriots.
- Defensive lineman Zach Harrison (knee) and cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. (hamstring) were ruled out on Friday’s game report. Harrison said Thursday the plan was for him to play, but then he did not practice Friday. Sunday marked Harrison’s second consecutive miss. It was Bowman’s fourth.
- Although they were listed as questionable on Friday’s game report, safety Jessie Bates (knee), edge rusher Leonard Floyd (hamstring) and edge rusher Jalon Walker (hamstring) were not among Sunday’s inactives. Though, as noted in the above “injury update” section, Floyd was pulled out of the game with a hamstring injury.
- Catch up on all the news that came out in the lead-up to Sunday’s game in one spot here.
Looking forward: The Falcons are going international for Week 10, playing the Colts in Berlin, Germany, at Olympic Stadium next Sunday.
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