Box scores tell you what happened. Snap counts tell you what a coaching staff actually believes. After the Atlanta Falcons’ 16-0 shutout loss in the Tampa Bay monsoon vs the Buccaneers, what changed or remained the same from our Week 1-7 look at the snap counts?
Baker Mayfield’s zero completions in the win, yes, you read that correctly, was the first time an NFL team won a game without a completed pass since the 1974 Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets 16–12. The turnover being lost 1-4 by the Falcons, and QB Michael Penix Jr.’s four interceptions were the difference in landing at 3-5 on the season before traveling to Spain to play the Bengals.
Okay Penix it ain’t raining THAT hard pic.twitter.com/HLbu8VIn2E https://t.co/lXb24LxaNm
— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) November 1, 2026
In win or defeat, the snap counts get that much more clearly indicative of how this Kevin Stefanski and this new regime actually want to run things, so let's go over what we learned.
What did we learn from the Atlanta Falcons' Week 8 snap counts?
You’ll notice it is only a defensive look this week for the first time. No real anomalies to explore with the offense.
Get this out of the way: S DeMarcco Hellams is not a factor this season for Jeff Ulbrich’s unit, and I’d imagine he is hitting the road for free agency at the end of the season. This marked three straight weeks without a snap, and he has only logged 20 snaps on the season of a possible 552 (3.6%). Sydney Brown has stamped his ticket for that new role + his looks at nickel with a staggering 34.8% snap share.
On the topic of a defender cementing a job, C.J. Henderson is the new CB2 over Mike Hughes. The difference in performance was visible to the average fan of the team. You did not need to be a defensive football savant to see it. The last two weeks since Henderson returned from his sole missed game of the year in Week 7: Henderson 97.6%/Hughes 18.3%.
Beyond 2026? Hughes is under contract for 2027 at a $8.67M cap hit (highest yet). With an “out” conversely costing $1.67M, I imagine Hughes is heading for free agency. Henderson, on the other hand, is only signed through this season, making $1.23M (what a steal..). Henderson is a year and a half younger than Hughes and would imagine he is extended with those savings.
The Falcons made roster moves this week, including releasing ED Drake Jackson and Jared Ivey, both added from waivers this season. Ivey has subsequently been added back to the practice squad. These moves can be tethered to the end of James Pearce Jr.’s suspension and Yasir Abduallah returning from IR. They also tell us this much in relation to the snap count: the team preferred recent addition Charles Snowden. Just looking at the Bucs matchup snap count percentage? You see the translation of the pecking order: Snowden 43%/Ivey 28%/Jackson 0%.
That’s the most snaps we have seen from LaCale London this season, and justly so, that’s the best he has played in Atlanta. The massive uptick came for Zach Harrison, handling 52% of the snaps. How great a job Harrison has done responding to being released and stashed on the practice squad momentarily early in the season, while GM Ian Cunningham played the roster spot math game.
Have no qualms declaring how important this early Sunday matchup in Spain vs Joe Burrow and the Bengals is for this Falcons team. Tied with the Bucs at a half-game back of the Panthers, that is not quite the full story or truth. Both those teams hold the tie-breaker over the Falcons having beat them head-to-head. The entire division faces a gauntlet this weekend as underdogs: Falcons/Bengals, Panthers/Broncos, Bucs/Bears, Saints/Browns. Who is going to get it done and make some traction? Get to 4-5. 4-5 or 5-4 is about where this team should be, in relation to new management’s timeline, the division, and the personnel employed vs. a strong schedule.
Add us as a preferred source on Google