The Atlanta Falcons have neither appeared in the postseason nor had a winning record since 2017. You have to go back one year before that to find Atlanta's last NFC South title.
Sunday's heart-pounding 31-26 road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pushed the Falcons one step closer to ending each of those droughts.
Atlanta sits 5-3 on the season, but more importantly holds a 4-0 record against its divisional foes, including a season sweep of second-place Tampa Bay. For the time being, the Falcons are in the driver's seat of the division, with the Buccaneers one game behind and the woeful New Orleans Saints (2-6) and Carolina Panthers (1-7) quickly watching their seasons crumble.
Atlanta was committed to revamping its offense in the offseason, and the moves to sign quarterback Kirk Cousins and wide receiver Darnell Mooney were effective in bolstering that unit. On Sunday, Cousins threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns, while Mooney hauled in four receptions for 86 yards and a score.
"That was probably (Cousins') cleanest game as an Atlanta Falcon," head coach Raheem Morris said in Monday's press conference. "As far as throwing the ball exactly where it needs to go, exhausting his progressions, feeling really comfortable, being decisive.
"I was really pleased with our quarterback play (Sunday) and you can see the confidence in our offense when he's playing that way."
Two of Mooney's best games as a Falcon came in the two meetings with Tampa Bay. He collected 13 receptions for 191 yards and three touchdowns in those games. The veteran receiver, who spent four seasons with the Chicago Bears, is Atlanta's second-leading receiver behind Drake London.
The Falcons have now eclipsed the 30-point mark in three of their last four games, a total they failed to reach a single time in 2023. Morris knows, however, that divisions aren't won in October, and there's plenty of football left to be played, starting with this Sunday's home game against the Dallas Cowboys.
"The enjoyment part of the win probably ends immediately for us," Morris said. "You start the process of going upstairs and looking at Dallas, find out what they do well and see what you can try to do better from the previous week."
Morris also updated the injury outlook for center Drew Dalman (ankle), who's been out since Week 3; linebacker Troy Andersen (knee), who last played Sep. 29; and defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro (ankle), who left Sunday's game.
"Andersen is probably going to be day-to-day as we talk about it this week," Morris said. "He went out there last week in practice, so we'll see where he is this week. Ruke's injury is fresh, so we'll get the results from his ankle injury as the week goes on. Dalman is definitely progressing back towards health. I feel really good about him, so we'll see where that goes."
