The Atlanta Falcons keep finding ways to show off their top-end talent, and Jessie Bates III is right in the middle of it.
In Sunday’s surprise win over the 49ers, the Falcons safety turned in the kind of all-around impact game that can swing a result by himself. Bates picked off a pass and later forced the game-ending fumble by tight end George Kittle, putting his name on the doorstep of a record held by Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, according to Tyler Sullivan at CBS Sports.
"... Both of his turnovers came in the second half, with the interception preventing a scoring opportunity as he approached the Atlanta 10-yard line.
Then, his forced fumble on George Kittle effectively ended the game. This was Bates' sixth career game with an interception and a forced fumble, tied for the second-most in the NFL over the past 40 seasons and trailing only Rod Woodson (7)."
That’s the kind of production that makes Bates so valuable: he’s not just around the ball, he changes the game when he gets there. And the numbers back up how well he’s playing. His Pro Football Focus grade has climbed to 81.4 overall, which puts him sixth among 93 qualifying safeties this season.
For a player who has only made one Pro Bowl, that’s a pretty thin resume line for someone performing at this level.
If Bates keeps this up the rest of the season, he should be in the mix for All-Pro consideration.
In Other News...
Michael Penix Is Giving Falcons Hope With One Big Test Ahead
Michael Penix Jr. has given Atlanta a reason to feel better about the quarterback position again, and the timing matters with the stretch run still offering little room for error. Kevin Stefanski praised Penixs diligent recovery from a torn ACL and pointed to the way he has settled in lately, a welcome sign for a Falcons offense that has needed stability behind center and a clearer sense of what it can be with him operating at full speed.
The challenge now is keeping that momentum when the level of resistance rises. Atlanta has seen enough of the division to know how quickly pass rushers can change a game, and YaYa Diabys recent surge for Tampa Bay is another reminder of what the Falcons will be up against in the weeks ahead. Penix has done his part to build confidence, but the next test will tell far more about where this offense really stands. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Offense Forced The 49ers Into A Deadline Response
Atlantas 29-20 win over the 49ers did more than hand San Francisco its first loss of the season. It also exposed a problem that the Falcons were able to exploit throughout the afternoon, with the offense doing enough to keep the pressure on a defense that never looked fully comfortable chasing the game.
For San Francisco, the response came quickly after the final whistle, a clear sign the loss carried some urgency beyond the standings. The 49ers moved to shore up the front of their defense after a day in which the pass rush never consistently affected Michael Penix Jr., and the ripple effect of Nick Bosas absence loomed over the whole performance. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Rookies Just Made Divine Deablos Future A Real Question
Divine Deablos season has already taken an ugly turn, with injuries and uneven play pushing the Falcons linebacker onto injured reserve. In his absence, Atlanta has gotten a much clearer look at two rookies who were supposed to be developing pieces, not immediate answers, and that kind of shift can change how a front office views a roster spot almost overnight.
Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr. have each shown enough in recent weeks to make Deablos future less certain, especially if the Falcons decide the cheapest and most promising option is already in the building. For a team trying to balance depth, performance and salary, the bigger question now is whether Deablo is still part of the long-term plan or whether Atlanta has already moved on in practice, even if not on paper. [Read more 🡒]