The Atlanta Falcons' secondary has been riding a season-long roller coaster, and in Week 13, it hit another sharp drop. Facing the New York Jets, Atlanta’s defensive backfield was exposed - particularly in single-high coverage, a staple of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s scheme. That decision proved costly in a 27-24 loss, as one young Jets receiver had the kind of breakout game that could change the trajectory of both his career and that of the man covering him.
Let’s start with the good: A.J. Terrell continues to play at a high level, anchoring the Falcons' secondary with the kind of consistency and technique you'd expect from a top-tier corner.
Dee Alford has also shown flashes, and Billy Bowman Jr., before his season-ending injury, looked like a long-term piece in the nickel. But beyond those bright spots, the depth has been shaky - and Sunday’s loss put that under a microscope.
Mike Hughes, who was expected to be a stabilizing force in this group after a solid 2024 campaign, had a game to forget. Matched up for most of the day against Jets wideout Adonai Mitchell, Hughes simply couldn’t keep up. Mitchell hauled in eight receptions for a career-best 102 yards and a touchdown - and seven of those catches, along with 97 of the yards, came directly against Hughes.
That’s not just a bad day - that’s a statistical low point. According to Next Gen Stats, it was one of the worst coverage performances by any cornerback in the league this season.
Mitchell tied the season-high for most catches against a single defender in a game and recorded the fourth-most receiving yards in such a matchup. For Hughes, it was a glaring spotlight on a season that’s been trending in the wrong direction.
To add context, Mitchell’s performance wasn’t just a random outburst. The former Texas standout was at a crossroads just weeks ago, struggling to find his footing with the Colts. But after landing in New York as part of the Sauce Gardner trade, he’s quickly found a home - and Sunday may have been his official “I’ve arrived” moment.
Meanwhile, Hughes - a former first-round pick from 2018 - has struggled to recapture the form that earned him a contract extension with Atlanta last offseason. His 2024 campaign was solid, even promising.
But this season has told a different story. He’s been inconsistent, and worse, he’s been a liability against big plays - the exact thing he was brought in to prevent.
That was painfully clear on Sunday, when he gave up a 52-yard touchdown from Tyrod Taylor to Mitchell. It was a back-breaking play in a game that was otherwise within reach for Atlanta, and it underscored the growing concern around Hughes' ability to hold down his role in this defense.
The numbers back it up. Per Pro Football Focus, Hughes has posted a 56.5 grade this season - a steep drop from his 71.9 mark in 2024, which had him ranked among the league’s top 25 corners. This year, he’s been well below average across the board, and it’s hard to ignore the contrast.
With Bowman positioned as the long-term option at nickel and Alford outperforming expectations, Hughes is starting to look like the odd man out in Atlanta’s secondary. And while he’s under contract through 2027, the Falcons structured the deal in a way that gives GM Terry Fontenot some flexibility. That could be critical in the offseason as Atlanta evaluates how to reshape a secondary that’s flashed potential but hasn’t been able to put it all together.
Sunday’s loss wasn’t just another tally in the L column - it was a statement game, both for a rising receiver in New York and for a veteran corner in Atlanta whose grip on a starting role may be slipping fast.