With the loss, the Falcons move to 6-4 on the season, and if they miss the playoffs, they will look back at this game as one that they should have had in the victory column. In the NFL, it’s critically important to win games on the road to differentiate yourself from the rest of your competitors. Losing a game like this to a team that is reeling (especially a divisional opponent) is a big problem. Kirk Cousins wasn’t bad; he just didn’t do enough to lead his team to victory.
Bijan Robinson
As a team, Atlanta ran the ball effectively with 32 carries for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Bijan Robinson had 20 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns, and Tyler Allgeier had 11 carries for 59 yards. There was a sequence in the game where Allgeier had three chances on the one-yard line and failed to score until the team finally put Robinson in. Robinson then scored a touchdown on the next play. This needs to be corrected quickly. Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Taylor has given Robinson close to 68-70% of the teams carries up to this point, but as the playoffs loom closer, that percentage might need to go up to 80% due to Robinson’s explosiveness and efficiency.
Alvin Kamara
A lot of the public didn’t think the Saints had a chance to win but they always play well at home. Moreover, they were inspired to play well against a division rival and for a new coaching staff that the players seem to like. Shockingly, Alvin Kamara dropped what would have been a game-winning touchdown, but the Saints defense held the Falcons on the final drive and pulled out the victory.
Derek Carr
Saints quarterback Derek Carr 269 yards and two touchdowns. The player of the game was former Chiefs star receiver and recent Saints free agent signee Marques Valdez-Scantling, who had three receptions for 109 yards and both touchdowns. MVS has taken over as the team’s deep threat downfield.
Saints future?
Alvin Kamara had another terrific game, rushing for 55 yards and grabbing five receptions for 54 yards on six targets. It will be interesting to see how the team uses Kamara in the coming weeks. The team just signed him to a long-term contract, but with the Saints likely to miss the playoffs, they might want to scale down his touches so they can see how some of their younger players (Kendre Miller and Jordan Mims) fit into their plans for next season and beyond. Getting these young players the ball more also means giving it to veteran Taysom Hill less. Hill is seeing snaps at 4 different positions.