The Atlanta Falcons are preparing for a significant matchup as they travel to Berlin for their first-ever regular-season NFL game in Germany, where they will face the Indianapolis Colts, who have secured seven wins this season.
This week saw several key developments within the Falcons’ roster. Following a missed extra point against the New England Patriots, kicker Parker Romo was released and replaced by Zane Gonzalez. Head coach Raheem Morris explained the decision: “When they went out there to compete, it was a very tight battle. Zane was the elder statesman, and Parker was the younger statesman. We went with the younger statesman.” Gonzalez now becomes Atlanta’s third kicker of 2025, with hopes that he can provide stability at a position that has lacked consistency.
Injuries continue to affect the team’s offensive line. Matthew Bergeron will not play this weekend due to an ankle injury sustained last Sunday; Kyle Hinton is expected to fill in at left guard. Morris commented on Hinton’s readiness: “He’s been in that next-man-up mentality for us for a while. He has started and played in a couple games for us here and within the same system. He’s been around for a while. It’s the reason you sign those kind of guys, because you got so much trust and belief in those guys to go out there and get it done when you need to get it done.” Chris Lindstrom is listed as questionable along with another starter.
Rookie edge rusher Jalon Walker returned from injury last week and made an immediate impact with two sacks and one forced fumble against New England, earning him NFL Rookie of the Week honors. Fellow rookie James Pearce Jr. noted Walker’s contribution: “You see how much he means to the team, just with his impact and his energy,” adding, “He made the plays out there (Sunday).” Walker is now Atlanta’s second rookie defender this season to receive league recognition.
The Falcons’ defense faces a challenge against Colts running back Jonathan Taylor in Berlin. Taylor leads all running backs in missed tackles forced and averages 5.7 yards per carry this season. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said: “I’ve gone against him, he’s just given me nightmares… He’s complete in every way… It feels as though this is the first year, I think, that he’s really getting the national attention.” Ulbrich emphasized fundamentals as key: “Ultimately, you stop the run with fundamentals and mindset… Getting off blocks, setting edges, eliminating space, and being really good tacklers—that’s going to be the key.”
Statistically, Jalon Walker’s performance marked only the eighth multi-sack game by a Falcons rookie since 1982 when sacks became official statistics. The defense has also recorded multiple games this season with at least six sacks and two turnovers—the first time since 2003 they’ve achieved such numbers more than once in a single year.
Wide receiver Drake London had nine receptions and three touchdowns against New England—making him one of three players league-wide this season to reach both marks in one game.
Meanwhile, Indianapolis made headlines by acquiring cornerback Sauce Gardner from New York Jets via trade involving two future first-round picks plus wide receiver AD Mitchell; Gardner is expected to play Sunday despite joining on short notice.
London addressed facing Gardner: “It really doesn’t change the approach or anything like that,” he said Friday about potentially matching up against Gardner. “Obviously you respect his game and who he is. But it’s the same mentality every game no matter what.”
As part of their international debut in Berlin—and efforts to grow their fan base—head coach Raheem Morris highlighted running back Bijan Robinson’s role as an ambassador: “We need to share Bijan… Give Bijan the chance to be out here and be around your children… I think that is outstanding.” Robinson added regarding expectations abroad: “We need to come down here and win… everybody has to know we’re going to come out here and give them a show.”
