The Falcons left Baltimore with a painful overtime loss, but they also left with one clear offensive takeaway: Kyle Pitts is starting to look like himself again.
Atlanta’s 30-23 defeat to the Ravens will sting for a while, and the biggest headline is still Michael Penix Jr.’s rib injury. But before he got hurt, Penix was throwing it well, and the passing game had real rhythm. Drake London did his usual damage, and Pitts delivered his best performance of the season in Week 5.
That progress matters because the first three games were a near standstill for the tight end. Pitts had only two catches for 15 yards across that stretch and barely showed up in the offense.
Over the last two weeks, though, the Falcons have made a clear effort to get him more involved, just as Tommy Rees said they would. That approach paid off against Baltimore.
Pitts followed up his three-catch, 47-yard outing in New Orleans with five receptions for 42 yards on Sunday night, plus his first touchdown of the season. He wasn’t even the intended receiver on the scoring play, which somehow made the moment feel even more fitting.
He entered the game with five catches on the year and doubled that total in one night. Only London had more receptions for Atlanta.
Just as important, Pitts saw six targets in Week 5 - the same number he had in Weeks 1 through 3 combined.
That’s the kind of usage the Falcons were hoping for when they gave him a major extension in July. The three-year, $54 million deal looked rough early on, especially for a player making $18 million per year, the third-highest figure among NFL tight ends. But now he’s beginning to play like the investment Atlanta made.
Kevin Stefanski and Tommy Rees run an offense that can put tight ends in position to do damage, and Pitts is finally taking advantage. Leaving him out of the game plan was never going to help anybody, and when he’s been given chances, he’s shown he can produce.
The Falcons are also doing a better job creating YAC chances for the former top-five pick, letting his athleticism show up after the catch. Those are the kinds of touches that make him dangerous in space, because once he gets moving, he’s tough to bring down.
At the same time, Drake London is still going to be Penix’s top option. Pitts is more of a complementary piece in this passing game, and that’s a role Atlanta can live with.
Defenses are already focused on London and Bijan Robinson, which opens room for Pitts underneath and across the middle. That makes him a useful safety valve, not a secondary thought.
And when Bijan Robinson is contained, like he was on Sunday night, Pitts becomes even more important. Rees knows what this offense leans on most, but Week 5 was a reminder that Pitts can still be a real weapon when Atlanta decides to feature him.
After that slow start, the Falcons were due for this kind of production from him. Now the challenge is making sure it sticks. And with Penix injured, Pitts may be asked to carry even more if he misses time and Tua Tagovailoa is forced to start in his place.
In Other News...
Michael Penix Injury Suddenly Looms Over Falcons After Crushing Loss
The Falcons overtime loss to the Ravens left more than just a mark in the standings, because Michael Penixs health quickly became the bigger concern. Penix had already gone down with a rib injury, briefly returned late in regulation, and then had to leave again as the discomfort built, leaving Atlanta to finish the game without its starter under center.
What happens next is still being sorted out as Penix is set for more testing, but the early indication is that this does not look like something that should keep him out long term. Even so, the timing is less than ideal for a Falcons team trying to steady itself, with a matchup against the Bears up next and a quarterback situation that suddenly needs a little clarity. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Blew A Huge NFC South Chance And Fans Know Why
The Falcons entered Sunday night with a real chance to make noise in the NFC South, but instead walked away from Baltimore with a 30-23 loss that stung in more ways than one. Atlanta, now coached by Kevin Stefanski, got a look at backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in his debut and watched the game swing on mistakes and missed stops as the Ravens kept finding answers in key moments.
Atlantas defense had trouble slowing Baltimores backup quarterback Tyler Huntley and the ground game, which left the Falcons chasing the game longer than they wanted. With the division race still there for the taking, this was the kind of night that can linger, because the Falcons did not just lose a game, they gave away an opening they badly needed to seize. [Read more 🡒]
Kendal Daniels Is Making One Falcons Linebacker Decision Much Easier
Kendal Daniels has gone from promising rookie to a real factor in the Falcons linebacker rotation, and his recent work has made the staffs personnel picture a little clearer. Atlanta has been managing the snap counts for Daniels and fellow rookie Harold Perkins Jr. based on game situations and opponent strengths, but Daniels keeps finding ways to stay on the field with his size, range and versatility.
The more he plays, the easier it becomes to imagine him as part of the long-term answer at linebacker, especially with Divine Deablo set to hit free agency after the 2025 season. Daniels rise does not settle the entire conversation yet, but it does give the Falcons something valuable: a young defender whose role seems to be expanding at exactly the right time. [Read more 🡒]