Favorite moment during Falcons division run?

The Falcons recaptured the lead against the Saints on that play, made possible by Matthew Judon, and it provided the signature moment of the best performance in Andersen’s young career. The uproar Andersen’s touchdown elicited from the large crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was one of the loudest I’ve heard in a while, and it came at a pivotal point in the game.

My anticipation for Andersen’s encore performance is nearly boiling over. It felt like that was a true put-it-all-together game for a player who has so much ability, and it was a fantastic sign in his return from last year’s injury.

Whenever he does set foot back on the field, Andersen will join a defense that is developing an opportunistic reputation, and it’s clear he can add to that aspect of the unit. But his speed is truly a unique skill that this defense could use right now, both against the run and in the pass rush.

We will see what the injury report says throughout the week, but I’m hopeful Atlanta will get its trio of linebackers together again soon.

WAACK: ​​Recency bias is definitely coming into play here, but I am choosing to highlight cornerback Clark Phillips III’s interception that solidified the Falcons’ Week 6 win against the Carolina Panthers last Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

For starters, it was Phillip’s first-ever interception in 17 career games since joining the Falcons as a fourth-round draft pick in 2023. That’s always a special moment. Especially for someone like Phillips, who’s listed as a backup on the depth chart, because his live reps are limited. He only played a third of the Falcons’ defensive snaps against the Panthers.

“You practice like you play,” Phillips said. “I felt like I stacked a good training camp. I put some good stuff on film. It was a heavy competition, and it was fun. And then, you get out here in the games, all you hope for and pray about is that you get those opportunities in the game. When they come, you got to capitalize.”

Which he did. Even if it pained him.

Phillips came 6 yards away from scoring his first-ever pick-six, too. There was not a single Panthers defender in his way of the end zone. But instead of breaking the plane of the goal line, Phillips voluntarily collapsed. He knew going down and settling for the turnover was a better move for the team overall. It allowed the Falcons’ offense, rather than the defense, to run out the clock with no worries….