No one has made more progress than the Falcons’ offense from 2023

What a difference a year makes; The Atlanta Falcons actually have an offense worth getting excited about.

Around this time last season, some Falcons fans were trying to convince Desmond Ridder that he could be a serviceable starter. We now have the most improved offense per game in football, according to the EPA.

“The Falcons made the biggest jump from #26 last season to #7 this season by Week 9.” The Athletic’s Mike Sando writes. “The Falcons are already 93 percent toward their 2023 full-season total in terms of yardage when targeting wide receivers. “They threw for 1,535 yards passing to wide receivers through Week 9 after having 1,650 yards last season when Ridder started 13 games for them.”

Kirk Cousins ​​has already scored 17 goals; That’s as many goals as Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke scored last season. He is clearly in the top 10 among players in his position; He is fourth in the league in passing yards (2,328), fourth in touchdowns (17), ninth in completion percentage (69.2%) and ninth in passer rating (101.9).

A $180 million investment in the veteran signal caller has paid big dividends. Cousins ​​has helped Atlanta’s Big 3, Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson, reach their full potential. Darnell Mooney is in the midst of a career year and we’re only halfway through the 2024 campaign.

There’s no reason to think this train is slowing down. The more Cousins ​​and Zac Robinson get used to each other and the Falcons’ offensive pieces, the better the entire group will look.

This is already an effective offense, but there is room for improvement. What a difference a year makes!

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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire