Saying that Kevin Stefanski's coaching debut with the Atlanta Falcons didn't go as planned would be the understatement of the decade.
The Falcons looked woefully unprepared in their preseason opener, as they were held to just seven points and below 200 yards of offense in a 27-7 loss to the Denver Broncos last Friday night. But their second game of the preseason told a different story as Stefanski picked up his first win with Atlanta.
It goes to show you what difference a week can make in the NFL world, as the Falcons were the team looking dominant this time. Following two joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts, the preparation Stefanski instilled in his team paid off, as things went far smoother in a 31-6 road win over the Colts.
It was a massive turnaround for a new regime in need of the momentum, And through such a commanding performance, Stefanski and this new regime sent a resounding message: the Atlanta Falcons are not to be underestimated, and he's already looking like the right hire to right the ship.
The Atlanta Falcons are not a team that should be taken lightly in 2026
What we need to realize is that the Dirty Birds didn't play any of their starters: their second and third-stringers did all the dirty work. They still amassed over 460 yards of offense while the Colts failed to score a touchdown and Jeff Ulbrich's defense held Indianapolis under 200 yards of total offense.
That in itself is impressive, since the main stars of the game were quarterbacks But that isn't what matters, the culture finally showed up, and this team looks like they'll be a tough out this season. They clicked on both sides of the football, and even the special teams looked much more cohesive.
While the Falcons fell flat last time around, this time they brought the energy. When Goodson scored his 49-yard rushing touchdown, the entire bench got up to celebrate with him--which resulted in Atlanta being flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. But they had Stefanski's permission to do so.
As you probably suspected, this celebration and ensuing penalty was pre-approved by Kevin Stefanski.
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) August 22, 2026
"I told them just one." https://t.co/xCxW9qmI6N
Too often the Falcons have been underestimated this offseason. Too many people have labeled this team as a shoo-in to finish last in the NFC South and to pick top 10 in the 2027 NFL Draft, which is in large part due to the QB production (and sometimes coaching), which feels like an unfair assessment.
This is a team that went 8-9 with Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson leading things. Between Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts and an above-average defense, the pieces are there. On paper, all they need is solid QB play and Stefanski to be even slightly better than Morris to make the playoffs.
If this team is cooking with backups like Jack Strand and Tyler Goodson, there's no telling how the starting lineup will click with this staff. Their run game will tire teams out like we saw yesterday, and Bill Callahan has this offensive line in better shape--and Ulbrich and Nate Ollie stand out as per usual.
The two-time Coach of the Year generated some major momentum with this win. I know it's only preseason, but the vision that this new regime was on full display. And when the Atlanta Falcons are executing at their best, there aren't many teams in the NFL who will be able to slow them down.
Kevin Stefanski was able to take the Browns to the playoffs in Year 1, who's to say he won't do the same with the Falcons? The NFC South is wide open, and the more people underestimate this team, the more likely they use the chip on their shoulder to come prepared and snap the playoff drought.
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