1. The no-spin zone
Washington coach Dan Quinn has the Commanders on the verge of returning to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1991 season.
The Commanders, fresh off taking down No. 1 seed Detroit, are set to face the Eagles in the NFC Championship game at 3 p.m. Sunday in Philadelphia.
Quinn, the former Falcons coach from 2015-2020, is in his first season as the Commanders head coach. They finished 12-5 in the regular season and split their series with the Eagles.
He was asked how rewarding it has been to surpass leaguewide expectations on Monday.
“Well, I would say first off, we didn’t want to let any narrative define us,” Quinn told the Washington media. “It was just us. We knew how to get it done. We would stay together in the difficult moments. We kept our chin down and kept swinging, like you do when you’re in a fight.”
Y’all remember that Quinn’s a big boxing fan for his days with the Falcons.
“I can even think back to months ago, (limited partner Earvin) Magic (Johnson) spoke to us and everybody’s heard, ‘Process,’” Quinn said. “He added the word ‘winning’ on the end of that. And so, the “process of winning’ for us week-to-week was what our focus was and we really stayed disciplined to that.”
The Commanders opened the playoffs on the road and took down NFC South-champ Tampa Bay, 23-20.
Before that game Quinn had some of veterans with playoff experience talk to the team.
“‘It’s still football,’” Quinn said was the basic message. “And where do we go? As I got ready to go out with the team, I did feel a little, they wanted it so bad. I said, ‘Everybody just take one big breath.’ And you felt the whole locker room. Just let’s go, be us. I was glad that I did that, to make sure, this environment was lit.”
The Commanders defeated the Lions. 45-31.
“We were going to make sure we stayed consistent…even knowing that there were going to be some plays that the other team was going to make,” Quinn said. “Man, chin down, keep swinging. You’re in a fight. Like they had a reverse for 60 or 70 yards for a touchdown. Keep your chin down, keep swinging…I like that we didn’t ride these emotions. Get into the next one, get the correction, whatever that looked like to go ... attack them again, go attack them again.”
Quinn is looking for his fourth trip to the Super Bowl and his second as a head coach.
Back when Coach Dan Quinn give my 5U Fast Furious Smyrna Seahawks a shout out before their banquet in 2018.
2. Commanders vs. Eagles
There are several former Falcons and players with Georgia connections in the NFC title game.
Former Falcons outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, inside linebacker Mykal Walker and quarterback Marcus Mariota are now with the Commanders.
Fowler played 40 defensive snaps (50%) and made three tackles in the upset of Detroit. Zaccheaus had two targets and no catches over 33 offensive snaps (44%). Mariota had a carry for minus-1 yard. Walker played three defensive snaps (4%) and 21 special-teams snaps (72%).
The Eagles have former Georgia players Jalen Carter, defensive tackle Jordan Davis, linebacker Nolan Smith, safety Lewis Cine and cornerback Kelee Ringo. Linebacker Nakobe Dean was injured.
They also have tight end E.J. Jenkins, who played at Georgia Tech. Tight end C.J. Uzomah (North Gwinnett High) is on injured reserve.
Carter had two sacks and played 69 defensive snaps (97%). Smith had three tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble over 58 defensive snaps (82%). Davis had a tackle and played 17 defensive snaps (24%). Ringo played nine defensive snaps, and Cine was inactive.
Jenkins played three snaps (5%) and 15 special-teams snap (47%).
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
3. Bills vs. Chiefs
There are several former Falcons and players with Georgia connections in the AFC title game, also.
Buffalo’s rushing attack is led by former Georgia player James Cook, who had 17 rushes for 67 yards and caught three passes for 15 yards in the win over Baltimore in the divisional round.
Former Falcons wide receiver Mack Hollins plays for the Bills, who also have kicker Tyler Bass (Georgia Southern), safety Cole Bishop (Starr’s Mill High) and former Georgia offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, who was inactive for the Baltimore game.
The Chiefs have kicker Harrison Butker (Georgia Tech), offensive tackle Wanya Morris (Grayson High), defensive end Malik Herring and wide receiver Mecole Hardman (Georgia), who is trying to make it back from knee surgery. Also, tight end Jody Fortson (Valdosta State) is on injured reserve.
4. Pass-rush rankings
New Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich must prioritize the pass rush and getting sacks.
No one wants to hear about moving quarterbacks off the spot.
Here are the Falcons’ sack-per-pass-attempt numbers for the past 10 years.
2024: 5.36% — 31st in the league, Jimmy Lake, defensive coordinator
2023: 7.65% — 19th, Ryan Nielsen
2022: 3.74% — 32nd, Dean Pees
2021: 3.12% — 32nd, Dean Pees
2020: 4.64 — 25th, Raheem Morris, Jeff Ulbrich
2019: 5.29 — 29th, Dan Quinn
2018: 6.32% — 26th, Marquand Manuel
2017: 7.05% — 14th, Marquand Manuel
2016: 5.19% — 26th, Richard Smith, Dan Quinn
2015: 3.39% — 32nd, Richard Smith
5. Important offseason dates for the Falcons
Here’s what the offseason calendar looks like for the Falcons:
Jan. 30: East-West Shrine Bowl. Arlington, Texas. Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams will be the head coach of the East team. Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen will coach the West team.
Feb. 1: Senior Bowl. Mobile, Alabama. Here’s the list of accepted invitees.
Feb. 18: Beginning this date through 4 p.m. March 4, clubs may designate Franchise or Transition Players.
Feb. 24-March 3: NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
March 4: Before 4 p.m., deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 10-12: Free-agent negotiation period.
March 12: The 2025 league year and trading and free agency signing period begins at 4 p.m.
March 30-April 2: Annual league meeting, Palm Beach, Florida.
April 16: Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at its team facility.
April 21: Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 24-26: NFL draft. Green Bay, Wisconsin.
May 1: Deadline for fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2020 draft. (Drake London, Falcons)
May 2-5 or May 9-12: Teams can hold one three-day post-draft rookie minicamp on one of two weekends following the draft.
June: Mandatory minicamp
Late July: Start of training camp
6. What’s the 15th NFL draft pick worth?
After finishing 8-9 on the season, the Falcons will pick 15th overall in the NFL draft, April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
What can the Falcons get for the 15th pick? A lot.
Here’s a hypothetical using the traditional Jimmy Johnson trade-value chart. If the Texans, or whomever ends up in the 25th spot, want to come up from 25th (720 points) to the 15th spot (1,050) points, the Falcons ask for the 25th spot plus 330 points (a second-rounder).
“We can pick up some draft picks,” Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said. “We’re picking at 15, so obviously we can move down and pick up more capital in the first- or second-round or wherever that is, and so we’ll have those discussions and determine.”
The key will be the depth of talent in the draft from the 15th pick on back.
“We just have to make sure that we’re as effective, whether it’s the draft, free agency, extensions, everything that we’re doing,” Fontenot said. “We have to be effective with each one of those moves so we can put this team in position to win.”
7. 2025 NFL draft order (first 28 picks)
Picks 25 thought 28 became locked in after the divisional round of the playoffs.
The 2025 draft will be held April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Here’s the updated draft order.
1. Titans
2. Browns
3. Giants
4. Patriots
5. Jaguars
6. Raiders
7. Jets
8. Panthers
9. Saints
10. Bears
11. 49ers
12. Cowboys
13. Dolphins
14. Colts
15. Falcons
16. Cardinals
17. Bengals
18. Seahawks
19. Buccaneers
20. Broncos
21. Steelers
22. Chargers
23. Packers
24. Vikings
25. Texans
26. Rams
27. Ravens
28. Lions
8. Falcons opponents for 2025 season
The Falcons’ opponents for the 2025 season are set.
After losing 44-38 to the Panthers in overtime in the regular-season finale, the Falcons finished in second place in the NFC South, which means they’ll face Washington from the NFC East, Indianapolis from the AFC South and Minnesota from the NFC North.
The Falcons will play all teams from the NFC West and the AFC East.
Here are the home opponents: Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle, Bills, Dolphins and Washington.
The away opponents: Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Arizona, New England, New York Jets, San Francisco, Minnesota and Indianapolis.
9. Latest reserve/future signing by Falcons
The Falcons signed wide receiver David Sills, who last played for the Broncos, on Tuesday.
Sills, 28, who’s 6-foot-3 and 211 pounds, played at West Virginia. He was originally signed by the Bills in 2019. He has played in 16 NFL games and has made seven starts in his time with the Giants (2019-22) and Broncos (2023-24). The Falcons now have 16 players signed to reserve/futures contracts.
Junior Aho, defensive tackle; Matthew Cindric, offensive lineman; Phillip Dorsett II, wide receiver; Elijah Dotson, running back; Dylan Drummond, wide receiver; Joey Fisher, guard; Jovaughn Gwyn, guard; Lamar Jackson, defensive back; Emory Jones, quarterback; Khalid Kareem, defensive end; LaCale London, defensive tackle; Jesse Matthews, wide receiver; Makai Polk, wide receiver; Benny Sapp III, defensive back and Tyrone Wheatley Jr., offensive tackle.
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