ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS

Analysis: Victory formation was never meant for the kind of trickery the Saints used against Atlanta

The New Orleans Saints players defied their coaches' orders and ran for a touchdown out of victory formation against the unsuspecting Atlanta Falcons on Sunday

JANUARY 9 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chris Blair - Gets reserve/future deal from ATL The Falcons signed Blair to a reserve/future contract Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Impact Blair spent much of his first two professional seasons in the Packers organization before joining Atlanta in 2023. He was elevated from the team's practice squad for Week 12 against New Orleans and saw his first NFL action, logging nine snaps on offense and 10 on special teams without recording any stats. Blair will be able to compete for a roster spot during training camp this summer.

JANUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Barry Wesley - Signs with Falcons Atlanta signed Wesley on a reserve/future deal Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Impact Wesley sustained an injury prior to the start of the season and didn't play at all in 2023, but the Falcons decided to give him a chance to compete for a spot on their 53-man roster for 2024 anyways. He's still looking for an opportunity to make his regular-season debut.

JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Arthur Smith expresses 'love and appreciation' for Falcons players in team meeting after firing

Arthur Smith was back at the Atlanta Falcons’ practice facility for a final meeting with his players after he was fired late Sunday night

JANUARY 8 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Falcons HC Arthur Smith's exit fueled by close finishes and missed chances

The Falcons fired their coach after three 7-10 seasons, the last one a confounding year featuring losses to the worst teams on their schedul...

JANUARY 8

Falcons fire head coach Arthur Smith after three seasons

Arthur Smith went 21-30 over three seasons with the Falcons before being fired Sunday.

JANUARY 8

Falcons fire coach Arthur Smith hours after completing 3rd straight 7-10 season

Arthur Smith has been fired by the Atlanta Falcons after completing his third straight losing season

JANUARY 8 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Falcons fire coach Arthur Smith after third consecutive 7-10 finish

Falcons fire coach Arthur Smith after third consecutive 7-10 finish

JANUARY 8 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

2024 NFL Draft order: Every first-round pick as regular season concludes

How does the 2024 NFL Draft shake out? Check out the latest draft order here.

JANUARY 8

Saints coach Dennis Allen apologizes to Arthur Smith, Falcons after late TD in rout

The decision to score a touchdown at the end of the Saints' blowout of the Falcons was made by Saints players, not the coaching staff, the t...

JANUARY 7

Saints players defy their own coaches and score from kneel-down formation, angering the Falcons

Reserve quarterback Jameis Winston and New Orleans’ offense capped off a convincing victory with an aggressive play call that defied the orders of their own coaches and upset the r...

JANUARY 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Drake London - Four catches to close out season London brought in four of nine targets for 41 yards in the Falcons' 48-17 loss to the Saints on Sunday.

Impact London's second season finished with a quiet performance, even as he logged a team high in targets. London also finished second in receptions and third in receiving yards on the afternoon, but he'll wrap up his sophomore campaign having failed to hit 50 receiving yards in three of his last four contests. London did set a new personal best with 905 receiving yards for the season, and he could certainly enjoy his best season yet in 2024 if there is an offensive/quarterback upgrade in Atlanta.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Bijan Robinson - Big receiving day in loss Robinson rushed 11 times for 28 yards and brought in seven of eight targets for 103 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons' 48-17 loss to the Saints on Sunday.

Impact Robinson scuffled on the ground throughout the afternoon but paced the team in both receptions and receiving yards. The talented rookie also recorded a 71-yard touchdown reception his longest catch of the season. Robinson finishes his first NFL campaign with under 50 rushing yards in three of his last five games, a downturn that helped land him just short of 1,000 rushing yards (976); however, he complemented those numbers with a 58-487-4 line through the air, and a more aggressive offensive philosophy in 2024 could facilitate a true breakout season.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Bill Belichick, Ron Rivera expected to leave Patriots, Commanders after Week 18

Bill Belichick and Ron Rivera are expected to leave their respective teams soon — and a high-profile coordinator is ready to be a head coach...

JANUARY 7

Bucs clinch NFC South title, Saints rout Falcons, Arthur Smith not happy

Busy final day in the NFC South: Bucs clinch, Saints keep their playoff hopes alive for now, and Arthur Smith goes off on Dennis Allen.

JANUARY 7

Derek Carr passes for 4 TDs, Saints rout Falcons but miss playoffs when Packers win

Derek Carr passed for four touchdowns to lift the New Orleans Saints over the Atlanta Falcons 48-17, but both teams missed the playoffs

JANUARY 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

MyCole Pruitt - Leaves with injury Pruitt (knee) has exited Sunday's game against the Saints early, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.

Impact Pruitt is considered questionable to return due to the injury. Tucker Fisk and John FitzPatrick will likely take whatever snaps are left behind by Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith at tight end, while Pruitt is sidelined.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Kaden Elliss - Departs with knee injury Week 18 Elliss hurt his knee in Sunday's game against New Orleans and is questionable to return, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Elliss was injured in the first half of the must-win game for Atlanta. If the linebacker is unable to return, it would be a big blow to the Falcons, as Elliss ranks second on the team with 119 tackles, including 4.0 sacks, on the campaign. For at least the time being, Andre Smith has entered the game in Elliss's stead.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Zach Harrison - Missing Week 18 Harrison (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Saints.

Impact Harrison will miss the Falcons' regular-season finale after sustaining a knee injury during the team's Week 17 loss to the Bears. Expect Albert Huggins to see increased opportunities on Atlanta's defensive line with Harrison missing Week 18.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Desmond Ridder - Will start Week 18 Ridder will start Sunday's matchup against the Saints, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact Ridder has been benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke twice this season, but the 2022 third-round pick will get another crack as a starter in Week 18 with the latter nursing an ankle injury. Ridder has appeared in 14 games this season, completing 63.4 percent of his passes for 2,545 yards, 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He's also fumbled 11 times, losing six of them. Logan Woodside will be Ridder's primary backup, while Heinicke is officially listed as the emergency quarterback.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE