One of the consistently frustrating pieces of the Atlanta Falcons' recent failures has been the inability to get to the opposing quarterback. It has been well-covered ground that no matter where the Falcons have attempted to find answers, the result has always been failure in the last few seasons. Matthew Judon, Vic Beasley, Takk McKinley, and Dante Fowler Jr. serve as a few recent examples of blockbuster additions who simply didn't measure up to franchise expectations. Something that has quietly started to change as fan attention has remained on another dismal season.
The Falcons entered Sunday's clash with the New York Jets ranked third in the league in sacks with 39.0 on the season behind the standout Denver Broncos (49.0) and the Cleveland Browns' pass rush (42.0). It's safe to say that Atlanta has gone from one of the league's absolute worst units to a group capable of haunting any quarterback, and that shouldn't fly under the radar anymore.
Falcons' Pass Rushing Success Gives Hope for Future
What is so exciting about the drastic improvement is the fact that it isn't on the shoulders of one standout performer. Brandon Dorlus, Jalon Walker, Zach Harrison, Kaden Elliss, LaCale London, and James Pearce Jr. all have 3.0 sacks or more on the 2025 season thus far. Nine other Falcons players have gotten to the quarterback as well, speaking to just how much of a group effort this has been in a season full of improvement.
As a result, the Falcons own the 12th-best pass rush grade (74.3) on Pro Football Focus. For comparison, they finished tied for 30th with a mark of 59.0 last season, highlighting just how monumental the turnaround has been.
Seeing both Pearce and Walker have such an immediate impact in their rookie seasons has been encouraging as well. While coaching and quarterback questions remain, Atlanta has at least offered one future answer for a team that simply remains frustratingly out of playoff contention. As of Sunday morning, Walker owns the second-best AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds (+800) on FanDuel Sportsbook, while Pearce is tied for eighth (+4000).
Still, the future is brighter when you consider the improved pass rush and the talent you still have in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Fixing the pass rush has been an issue for much of the last decade and has finally found an answer, giving hope that perhaps there are better days ahead for Falcons fans.
It is important to note as well that the Falcons have managed to fix the position without top-dollar contracts or trading away star players. Atlanta was able to use free agency and the draft to put together a unit that appears capable of remaining one of the more consistent pass rushes in the years to come. This is especially the case when you consider the youth at the edge position and the likely improvement in 2026 and 2027. All of this is combining to paint a bright picture for a fan base badly in need of a win.
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