The Atlanta Falcons went into Sunday’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals trying to build on the momentum of last week’s comeback win over Tampa Bay. At 5-9, this team wasn’t playing for playoff position, but for pride, evaluation, and maybe a little redemption-especially in a building that’s haunted them for over two decades.
And while it wasn’t always pretty, the Falcons walked out of Arizona with a 6-9 record and a win that snapped one of the NFL’s more obscure but frustrating streaks.
Let’s break down the biggest winners and losers from Atlanta’s Week 16 victory.
Winner: Bijan Robinson, the engine of the offense
Back in his home state and with family in the stands, Bijan Robinson put on a show. The rookie running back continues to be one of the few constants in Atlanta’s offense, and on Sunday, he was electric again-both on the ground and through the air.
Robinson racked up 76 rushing yards on 16 carries and added 92 receiving yards on seven catches, including a touchdown. What stands out most?
His ability to turn nothing into something. Even when defenders get hands on him early, Robinson finds a way to slip through for extra yards.
That’s the kind of skill set that keeps an offense on schedule, especially on third downs where the Falcons have often struggled.
He’s not just a playmaker-he’s a drive extender. And in a game where Atlanta needed someone to lean on, Robinson delivered.
Loser: Run defense remains a soft spot
For all the talk about Atlanta’s defensive improvements this season, the run defense continues to be a glaring issue. Arizona’s ground game hasn’t exactly been a juggernaut this year, but you wouldn’t have known it watching Sunday’s game.
The Cardinals averaged 5.7 yards per carry-not because they were breaking off huge runs, but because they were consistently chipping away. That kind of efficiency keeps a defense on its heels and opens up the playbook for the opposing offense.
The Falcons’ scheme under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich leans on speed and athleticism, but that often comes at the expense of size and gap control. Until they find a way to plug the middle more consistently, this will remain a vulnerability.
Winner: Finally snapping the Arizona curse
Sometimes, a win carries a little extra weight. This was one of those.
The Falcons hadn’t won in Arizona since 2001-a staggering 24-year drought that spanned five straight road losses to the Cardinals. That streak came to a dramatic end on Sunday, thanks in large part to a late-game interception by cornerback C.J. Henderson, who stepped up in a big moment.
It wasn’t always clean, and it certainly wasn’t dominant, but getting that Arizona monkey off their back is a small but meaningful step for a franchise trying to change its narrative.
Loser: JD Bertrand’s stock takes a hit
Every week in the NFL, someone loses ground in the eyes of the coaching staff. This week, that someone was linebacker JD Bertrand.
After stepping into a starting role earlier this season following Divine Deablo’s injury, Bertrand struggled mightily. The Falcons have since turned to Ronnie Harrison, a converted safety, to fill the void. On Sunday, Bertrand wasn’t just benched-he was inactive.
That’s a telling sign. Even with his value on special teams, the staff opted to keep him out entirely. It’s hard to see a path forward for Bertrand in Atlanta if he’s not even dressing on game day.
Winner: Locking down Trey McBride
Trey McBride has been one of the league’s most productive tight ends over the last month, riding a streak of five straight games with five or more catches. That streak came to a screeching halt against Atlanta.
The Falcons made it a point to take McBride out of the game, and they did just that-holding him to just two catches for 19 yards. While his backup managed to find some space, the game plan was clearly centered on neutralizing McBride, and it worked.
Credit to Ulbrich and the defense for executing a focused plan and shutting down one of Arizona’s top weapons.
Loser: Pass protection under pressure
Even with Arizona missing top pass rusher Josh Sweat for a stretch, Atlanta’s offensive line struggled to keep Kirk Cousins clean.
Cousins was under duress throughout the afternoon, often forced to throw the ball away to avoid sacks. The pressure came from multiple angles, and the left side of the line-particularly Jake Matthews, Elijah Wilkinson, and Ryan Neuzil-had a tough time holding their ground.
For a quarterback like Cousins, who thrives with timing and rhythm, that kind of pressure can derail drives. The Falcons will need to tighten things up in pass protection if they want to finish the season strong and give Cousins the platform he needs to work.
Winner: Kyle Pitts, stepping into his role
Kyle Pitts followed up last week’s breakout performance with another strong showing-but this time, he added a new layer to his game: contested catches.
It’s one thing to flash athleticism and rack up yards in space. It’s another to make tough grabs in traffic, especially over the middle. Pitts did that on Sunday, converting multiple critical third downs and showing the kind of physicality and poise that made him a top draft pick.
We haven’t seen this level of confidence from Pitts since his rookie season. If this version of him sticks around, the Falcons may finally be unlocking the player they envisioned when they took him fourth overall.
Bottom line
This wasn’t a perfect game by any stretch. The run defense remains a liability, the offensive line had its hands full, and the Falcons still have questions to answer heading into the offseason.
But a road win in a place they haven’t won in over two decades? That matters.
And when you’ve got young stars like Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts trending in the right direction, there’s at least something to build on-even in a season that hasn’t gone according to plan.