The Atlanta Falcons’ season has taken a sharp turn south over the past month, and Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets was another gut punch in a stretch that’s been full of them. Atlanta let a fourth-quarter lead slip away-again-and watched Nick Folk drill a 56-yard game-winner as time expired. That marks six losses in the last seven games for the Falcons, and the road ahead isn’t getting any smoother.
Next up? A home matchup with the 9-3 Seattle Seahawks, one of the NFL’s most complete teams and a defense that features a ball-hawking secondary playing at an elite level. Not exactly the kind of opponent you want to face when your offense is banged up and struggling to find rhythm.
On Monday, head coach Raheem Morris gave a bit of clarity-or at least some hope-regarding the status of star wideout Drake London, who’s been sidelined with a PCL sprain. When asked about London’s availability for Week 14, Morris said, “[He] certainly has a chance [to play]. We'll need to see him move around a little bit this week.”
London suffered the injury back in Week 12 during Atlanta’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, another game that saw the Falcons cough up a late lead. That game also delivered a major blow under center: Michael Penix Jr., the promising rookie quarterback, went down with a season-ending knee injury.
Since then, veteran Kirk Cousins has stepped back into the starting role. But so far, the results have been mixed.
Cousins has experience, sure, but the offense hasn’t exactly clicked with him back at the helm. Whether it's rust, age, or a lack of chemistry, the passing game hasn’t looked quite right-and without London on the field, the margin for error has shrunk even more.
Before the injury, London was having a breakout year. In just nine games, he hauled in 60 catches for 810 yards and six touchdowns.
That’s a pace that would have put him well north of 100 receptions and 1,500 yards over a full season-numbers that would’ve placed him among the league’s elite. His ability to stretch the field, win contested catches, and serve as a reliable target on third downs has been sorely missed.
Now the question becomes whether London can get back in time to help this team salvage what’s left of the season. PCL sprains typically require a couple of weeks to heal, and with Seattle’s secondary looming, there’s a real possibility the Falcons err on the side of caution. It’s a tough call: push London back into action to try and spark the offense, or hold him out another week and hope the rest of the unit can find a way to survive without him.
Either way, Atlanta’s injury report will be one to monitor closely this week. With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread and a brutal opponent on deck, the Falcons need all the help they can get. Getting London back would be a big step in the right direction-but only if he’s truly ready to go.