South Atlanta News

The Atlanta Falcons showcased a strong offensive performance in their Week 5 overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, largely due to the contributions of wide receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney. Both players achieved over 100 yards receiving, marking the first time since 2020 that multiple Falcons surpassed this milestone in a single game.

Drake London expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "I think everybody felt the need to just go out there and play their best ball. So very, very happy." This achievement draws comparisons to past performances by Julio Jones, Russell Gage, and Calvin Ridley, who last reached similar statistics in a game against the Seattle Seahawks in 2020. However, unlike that previous occasion which resulted in a loss, this year's effort led to a win.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins played a pivotal role by spreading opportunities among his teammates. "We spread it around," Cousins explained. "That's kind of how we're built, is to get a lot of people involved." He completed 42 of his 58 passes for a career-high 509 yards and four touchdowns.

London recorded 12 receptions for 154 yards and one touchdown during the game. Meanwhile, Mooney caught nine passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Their efforts contributed significantly to the team's season-best totals of 550 total offensive yards and 36 points.

Cousins noted an improvement in his decisiveness compared to earlier games this season: "I've been trying to ensure that's where they're going... Felt tonight there was a little bit more... 'No, I know where they're going.'" This adjustment seemed beneficial as both London and Mooney secured their first 100-yard games of the season.

Drake London has been with Atlanta since being drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In contrast, Darnell Mooney joined as an offseason acquisition after starting his career with the Chicago Bears as a fifth-round pick in 2020.

Thursday's performance highlighted London's expected role as top target while revealing Mooney's potential impact on offense. As Mooney put it succinctly: "Guys keep running routes... Staying confident in the offense."