Atlanta Falcons finally display the ability to be fast and physical

The Atlanta Falcons showed something Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles that we had not seen from them since the end of the first half of Super Bowl LI – speed and physicality.

Sure, the Atlanta Falcons have a roster full of guys that are fast and like to hit, they are elite athletes. However, that does not always translate onto the field for various reasons. Unlike week 1 for the Atlanta Falcons, their speed and physicality shined.

The Eagles offense was bruised and battered by halftime. Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, DeSean Jackson, Carson Wentz, and Dallas Goedert all at one point missed drives, quarters or halves. Starting center Jason Kelce got hit so hard by Grady Jarrett that he went off the field to the Falcons sideline and had to be helped back over to the Eagles sideline.

Takk McKinley played the best complete game he has played as an Atlanta Falcon. Sure, if you read the stats, he did not have a great game, however, if you watched the game you know he was all over the Eagles backfield last night and was causing havoc.

The same can be said for Vic Beasley. Fans crack a lot of jokes about his “almost sacks” but he forced Carson Wentz into some bad throws last night and punished the Eagles quarterback repeatedly. If this is what we will see out of the two of them the final 14 games, this franchise will have an opportunity to be one of the last teams standing.

Grady Jarrett, Allen Bailey, Jack Crawford, and Tyeler Davison all had a great night for the Falcons last night. This defensive line has the ability to terrorize opposing quarterbacks and most of the teams remaining on the Falcons schedule do not have as good an offensive line as the Eagles.

For college football fans in the southeast, we are all acutely aware of the phrase “SEC speed”, which means teams from the Southeastern Conference are allegedly bigger and faster than anyone else. While that is no longer the case, the Falcons displayed a lot of that last night on both sides of the ball.

Deion Jones, Desmond Trufant, Ricardo Allen, and Keanu Neal were flying all over the place last night making play after play. Isaiah Oliver had his moments, but still has a lot to learn.

Julio Jones, Ito Smith, and Calvin Ridley stood out last night making play after play. Yes, everyone will remember Julio’s game-winning touchdown when he took a wide receiver screen got two great blocks from Mohamed Sanu and Jake Matthews and took it 54 yards to the house. During that 54 yards run, ESPN reported he got up 20 miles per hour.

No one knows what team will show up this week against the Colts, but if this version of the Falcons shows up, they will leave no doubt.