Looking at Marcus Mariota’s career against Falcons’ divisional foes

One of the main keys to making the playoffs in the NFL is to win divisional games, and unsurprisingly that is something the Atlanta Falcons have not been doing. Since 2018, the Falcons are a combined 11-13 against the Saints, Panthers, and Buccaneers. Over half of those wins have come against the stumbling Panthers.

There have also been drastic changes in the Falcons organization that will hopefully turn their divisional record around. One of those changes is presumptive starting quarterback Marcus Mariota. Let’s take a look at his stats against each of the three divisional opponents.

Falcons’ QB Marcus Mariota against the Carolina Panthers:

Obviously, with each of these matchups, there is not a lot of history between Marcus Mariota and the Falcons’ rivals because of the fact that he has spent his whole career in the AFC Conference and has not matched up against the NFC South too often, in fact, he has only played each team once.

Here are the stats that Mariota put up against the Carolina Panthers:

• November 15, 2015 – Titans 10, Panthers 27
• Passing: 16/24 | 185 yards | 0 TD | 1 int | 72.4 QBR
• Rushing: 5 attempts | 24 yards | 0 TD
• 2 fumbles | 0 fumbles lost
• 1 sack for 7 yards

These are not his best stats at all and you can certainly understand why as this was a 2-6 Titans team taking on a Panthers team that was 8-0.

The numbers are not good but they certainly could have been worse. The Titans were totally outmatched. Mariota was throwing to Delanie Walker who was a good player, Justin Hunter, Harry Douglas, and Anthony Fasano. He will probably get more help here in Atlanta than he did with the Titans in 2015.

Falcons’ QB Marcus Mariota against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

This was an interesting matchup for the current QB of the Falcons. This matchup was his first NFL game and he faced off against the only player selected higher than him in the 2015 NFL Draft — Jameis Winston.

It will be a similar scenario come week one against the Saints, as we expect Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota will once again go head-to-head, and we hope that history will repeat.

Here are Mariota’s stats against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

• September 13, 2015 – Titans 42, Buccaneers 14
• Passing: 13/15 | 209 yards | 4 TDs | 0 int | 158.3 QBR
• Rushing: 2 attempts | 6 yards | 0 TD
• 0 fumbles
• 2 sacks for 24 yards

These stats are simply remarkable. He had twice as many passing touchdowns as he did incompletions while also putting up a perfect quarterback rating. If he can come close to being that efficient for the Falcons, then this team might be able to go places.

The big problem is that there is a huge difference between the 2015 Buccaneers and the 2022 Buccaneers. The Bucs in 2015 and years prior were the laughing stock of the NFL, while now they are perennial Super Bowl contenders, at least until Tom Brady retires. It will not be nearly as easy for Mariota against Tampa Bay this season.

Falcons’ QB Marcus Mariota against the New Orleans Saints:

Last, and certainly least, are the Atlanta Falcons bitter rivals, the New Orleans Saints. If you were hoping to see eye-catching stats, similar to his numbers against the Buccaneers, then you are in business.

Marcus Mariota, in his only game against the Saints, absolutely torched them, in an overtime win.

Here are Mariota’s stats against the New Orleans Saints:

• November 8, 2015 – Titans 34, Saints 28 (OT)
• Passing: 28/39 | 371 yards | 4 TDs | 0 int | 135.7 QBR
• Rushing: 1 attempt | 5 yards | 0 TD
• 0 fumbles
• 0 sacks

Let’s see, I believe that is what we call amazing stats. Being able to throw for nearly 400 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions is remarkable. It all explains his stellar 135.7 quarterback rating. If there was one complaint, people would probably like to see him take more advantage of his athleticism and have more than one rushing attempt, but who needs that when you can throw for 400 yards.

All of this and we have not even mentioned the fact that he had zero fumbles and took zero sacks. Can’t say he will have as much luck behind this Falcons offensive line but it is still a great sign.

Outlook for the Falcons’ QB against the NFC South in 2022 and possibly beyond

Falcons’ fans know that a lot changes in a year, let alone seven years. Marcus Mariota has not played against any of these teams as the starting quarterback since 2015.

It is fitting that he only lost against the Panthers, who are now one of the worst teams in the entire NFL. It is safe to say that he might be able to have big success against Carolina but it will be much more difficult against the Saints, and especially the Buccaneers.

Here is a look at Mariota’s combined stats against those three teams:

• Passing: 57/78 | 765 yards | 8 TDs | 1 int | 132.7 QBR
• Rushing: 8 attempts | 35 yards | 0 TD
• 2 fumbles | 0 lost
• 3 sacks for 31 yards

Those are the stats that you want to see from your quarterback, but it will not come that easy for him as these are very different teams than they were in 2015.

But you can also say that the Atlanta Falcons are better than the Titans were in 2015, considering they only won three games and that Mariota’s top wide receivers were Kendall Wright, Harry Douglas, and Dorial Green-Beckham.

So, we can only hope that he will help turn the Falcons’ record around against divisional opponents.