Falcons Highlights: Every Drake London touchdown from the 2024 NFL season
The Atlanta Falcons didn’t have the season they hoped for in 2024, but the offense was an undeniable bright spot. The team’s trio of Michael Penix Jr., Drake London and Bijan Robinson should be formidable for the next few seasons in Atlanta.
Penix started just three games but showed incredible poise each time he stepped on the field. Robinson finished third in the NFL with 1,456 rushing yards and London finished in the top five with 1,271 receiving yards.
It was the first 1,000-yard season of London’s career, and he more than doubled his previous career high in touchdowns with nine. The former USC star benefitted from improved quarterback play. The sky is the limit for the 23-year-old going forward.
Check out all nine of London’s touchdown receptions from the 2024 season, as shared by the team’s social media account below.
Drake London has been fined by the NFL for taunting in the Falcons’ season finale
The Atlanta Falcons ended their season with a 44-38 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 18. Not only did the team miss the playoffs for a seventh consecutive year, but wide receiver Drake London got fined for another touchdown celebration.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the league has fined London $11,255 for taunting the defender following his touchdown reception at the end of the first half. Watch the play and judge for yourself below.
The NFL fined #Falcons WR Drake London $11,255 for taunting after his touchdown catch last week.
London ended the season with one of the best games of his career, finishing with 10 catches for 187 receiving yards and two touchdowns. That performance helped the third-year wideout finish fourth in the NFL in receiving yards (1,271).
Running back Bijan Robinson was also fined for unnecessary roughness in the team’s Week 18 loss to the Panthers. Robinson’s fine was nearly double London’s at a reported $22,511.
The Falcons fired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake on Saturday afternoon in a move that wasn’t entirely shocking after Raheem Morris’ recent comments.
The offense showed a ton of promise with Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback but the defense struggled to stop Jayden Daniels and Bryce Young in the final two weeks.
Falcons defensive line coach Jay Rodgers was also relieved of his duties on Saturday. That leaves two coaching vacancies for the team to fill in the coming weeks.
2024 NFL receiving leaders: Falcons WR Drake London finishes in top 5
The Atlanta Falcons nearly ended the 2024 season with two 1,000-yard receivers. While Drake London finished well beyond the milestone, Darnell Mooney came up eight yards shy (992) after sitting out of the team’s finale.
Nonetheless, both receivers should be better than ever with Michael Penix Jr. solidifying the quarterback position in 2025 and beyond. It won’t be long before London is routinely mentioned among the NFL’s elite pass-catchers.
The former USC star has the numbers to prove it, finishing fourth in receiving yards with 1,271. Check out the top 32 receivers from the 2024 NFL season below.
USA TODAY Sports
NFL receiving yardage leaders: 2024 season
Ja’Marr Chase: 1,708 yards
Justin Jefferson: 1,533 yards
Brian Thomas Jr.: 1,282 yards
Drake London: 1,271 yards
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 1,263 yards
Jerry Jeudy: 1,229 yards
Malik Nabers: 1,204 yards
CeeDee Lamb: 1,194 yards
Brock Bowers: 1,194 yards
Ladd McConkey: 1,149 yards
Trey McBride: 1,146 yards
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 1,130 yards
George Kittle: 1,106 yards
Garrett Wilson: 1,104 yards
Terry McLaurin: 1,096 yards
Courtland Sutton: 1,081 yards
A.J. Brown: 1,079 yards
Davante Adams: 1,063 yards
Zay Flowers: 1,059 yards
Jakobi Meyers: 1,027 yards
Calvin Ridley: 1,017 yards
Nico Collins: 1,006 yards
Mike Evans: 1,004 yards
Jameson Williams: 1,001 yards
Darnell Mooney: 992 yards
DK Metcalf: 992 yards
Puka Nacua: 990 yards
Jauan Jennings: 975 yards
DJ Moore: 966 yards
Tyreek Hill: 959 yards
Tee Higgins: 911 yards
George Pickens: 900 yards
As we looked at on Wednesday, another of Atlanta’s former No. 8 overall picks finished in the top five at his position. Running back Bijan Robinson’s monster 170-yard rushing performance in the finale helped him end the season with the third-most rushing yards in the NFL.
There’s one player the Washington Commanders would love to steal from the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17.
The Washington Commanders host the Atlanta Falcons at Northwest Stadium on Sunday in a historical primetime matchup between rookie quarterbacks. Jayden Daniels has taken the Commanders to a level they didn’t expect to reach this season, and although Michael Penix Jr. only had his first start last week, he has turned heads.
The Falcons are vying with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a playoff spot, and a loss to the Commanders would be detrimental to their efforts. The Commanders haven’t clinched their spot yet, but they will likely make the playoffs. The Falcons have one player the Commanders would love to steal to help them continue to win games: wide receiver Drake London.
London has flown under the radar since he was drafted in 2022, but he is on pace to reach 1,000 receiving yards this year for the first time in his career. Kirk Cousins may be gone, but London caught five passes for 59 yards from Penix last week. With his speed and athleticism, he’d make a nice tandem to Commanders’ receiver Terry McLaurin and provide Daniels with another outlet to throw the ball.
Alas, London will suit up for the Falcons on Sunday, but it’s fun to contemplate what could be with these scenarios.
Here are four big matchups to keep an eye on between the Commanders and Falcons.
The Washington Commanders (10-5) will host the Atlanta Falcons (8-7) on Sunday Night Football in Week 17, looking to clinch a playoff berth. Despite the Commanders having the better record, the Falcons are currently a higher seed in the NFC playoff picture because they lead the NFC South.
The Bucs play the Carolina Panthers at 1 p.m. ET, and the result of their game could impact the Falcons and Commanders. Tampa Bay is also 8-7, but the Falcons currently hold the tie-breaker advantage. However, if Carolina upsets the Buccaneers, the Commanders will clinch a playoff spot before their game kicks off.
This matchup looks much different than it did two weeks ago. The Falcons benched quarterback Kirk Cousins and replaced him with first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. Sunday’s game will feature two rookie first-round quarterbacks starting against one another in prime time for the first time in NFL history.
The Falcons have multiple playmakers on both sides of the ball, which makes it a tough matchup for the Commanders. We’ve identified four key matchups for Sunday’s game.
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin vs. Falcons CB A.J. Terrell
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) catches a pass in front of Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell (24). Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Outside of Daniels, the key for opposing defenses is always to slow down wide receiver Terry McLaurin. The veteran wideout went over 1,000 yards receiving for the fifth consecutive season last week, joining some elite company. He is having the best start to his NFL career with 12 touchdown receptions.
On the other side is A.J. Terrell. The fifth-year cornerback signed an extension before the season, making him one of the NFL’s highest-paid cornerbacks. Terrell is having another solid season for Atlanta, but McLaurin presents a big challenge. The Falcons need Terrell to limit any big plays from Daniels to McLaurin.
Commanders CB Benjamin St-Juste vs. Falcons WR Drake London
Benjamin St-Juste #25 of the Washington Commanders tackles Drake London #5 of the Atlanta Falcons. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Yes, you read that correctly. Benjamin St-Juste will likely be back in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game, as Marshon Lattimore looks unlikely to play. Lattimore reaggravated a hamstring injury in his second game for the Commanders last week against the Eagles. Philadelphia targeted Lattimore often, with him and A.J. Brown taking turns getting the best of one another — when officiating let them.
St-Juste hasn’t played much the past two weeks, but in just a few snaps against the Saints two weeks ago, he committed a critical penalty. Last week, with Lattimore out, St-Juste gave up a key fourth-down reception and missed the tackle.
London is a different matchup for St-Juste because they’re built similarly. St-Juste has struggled against smaller, quicker receivers. St-Juste cannot allow London to make multiple big plays downfield. You can guarantee that Penix will target him.
Commanders LB Bobby Wagner vs. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson
Bijan Robinson #7 of the Atlanta Falcons. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Bijan Robinson is similar to Saquon Barkley. Both were former top-10 picks capable of dominating games as a runner or receiver. While Robinson has yet to reach Barkley’s productivity, he’s had to share time. Robinson is the type of player who has hurt the Commanders. Washington did a good job of bottling up Barkley in the second half last week after he went off in the first 30 minutes. The Commanders should employ a similar strategy to slow Robinson, as he will be the focal point of Atlanta’s offense to ease the pressure off Penix.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels vs. Falcons S Jessie Bates III
Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The Falcons get their first look at Jayden Daniels this week. After it looked like an injury impacted Daniels midway through the season, or he hit the rookie wall, he’s back on track over the last three weeks. Daniels had his signature moment last week, passing for five touchdowns and rushing for 81 yards against the NFL’s top defense. He led the Commanders to an upset win over the Eagles, snapping their 10-game winning streak.
Daniels did throw two interceptions, and there’s no better defender at forcing turnovers than Falcons safety Jessie Bates III. Bates isn’t just around the ball; he’s excellent at baiting quarterbacks. Daniels isn’t your average rookie. It will be fascinating to see if the Falcons and Bates can trick Daniels into a mistake or two, which could prove to be the difference in the game.
What’s the latest on Marshon Lattimore and others?
The Washington Commanders (10-5) will host the Atlanta Falcons (8-7) on Sunday at Northwest Stadium in a pivotal NFC matchup.
A current look at the NFC playoff field has the Falcons and Commanders in. Atlanta is the No. 4 seed, while Washington is the seventh seed. The Falcons lead the NFC South but must continue to win as they are tied with the Buccaneers. The Commanders will clinch a playoff berth with a win or if Carolina beats Tampa Bay earlier in the day.
So, what is the status of some injured players ahead of Sunday’s showdown between the Commanders and Falcons?
Washington was without starting cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) and right tackle Andrew Wylie (groin) on Thursday. Lattimore reinjured his hamstring late in last week’s win over the Eagles. If he doesn’t practice on Friday, he’ll likely miss Sunday’s game, which would be a tough blow for the Commanders.
If Wylie can’t go, Washington has Cornelius Lucas.
Wide receiver Dyami Brown injured his hamstring on a deep catch last week. Brown has become more involved in the offense in recent weeks, and he’d be a bigger loss than some realize. Brown gives the Commanders another player, outside of Terry McLaurin, who can make plays down the field.
Atlanta had several players limited, including wide receiver Drake London (knee). However, London was limited last week, too, and played on Sunday.
We’ll continue to monitor Washington’s injury situation ahead of Sunday Night Football.
Raheem Morris gave an update on the status of Drake London after the Falcons’ win over the New York Giants.
The Atlanta Falcons have avoided the injury bug for some time now, but they lost a few players during their 34-7 win over the New York Giants. Wide receiver Drake London was the most notable of Sunday’s injuries.
London was sidelined during the second half due to a hamstring injury. Aside from being listed as questionable, little was initially disclosed about the severity of his injury. As many in the press box speculated, the third-year wide receiver did not return to Sunday’s game.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris provided an update on London’s status in his postgame press conference. Not only is London okay, it seems that holding him out was a precautionary measure more than anything else.
“I believe he could have gone back in,” Morris said. “I look forward to him being able to practice next week.”
London caught plenty of action before having to leave Sunday’s contest — both good and bad. He was the instigator of what became a rather large in-game scuffle with multiple flags thrown, and he also had totaled five receptions for 59 yards as the team’s leading receiver when he went down.
The Falcons will look forward to having London back at full capacity as they face Washington Commanders on the road at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Drake London is questionable to return vs. the Giants due to a hamstring injury
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London is questionable to return against the New York Giants after he suffered a hamstring injury in the second half.
While he is listed as questionable, there is some doubt as to whether the wideout will be able to return with time winding down in the fourth quarter.
This marks one of multiple injuries in this game after the Falcons had largely evaded the injury bug for some time now. In addition to inciting an in-game scuffle, London had totaled five receptions for 59 yards as the team’s leading receiver when he went down.
He is now second to Darnell Mooney, who has reeled in four receptions for 70 yards. The Falcons lead the Giants, 34-7 with just over 10 minutes left to play in the fourth quarter.
Here are some important things to know about the Falcons ahead of the Week 13 matchup with the Chargers.
The Chargers are on the road to face the Falcons on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 10:00 a.m. PT.
To get you prepped for the Week 13 bout, here are a few key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.
How things are going…
The Falcons are 6-5 on the season. They’re in first place in the NFC South.
Prolific passing offense
The Falcons made an offseason move to acquire quarterback Kirk Cousins, which has seemed to pay dividends. Atlanta ranks No. 5 in passing offense, averaging 243.6 yards per game. They’re eighth in yards per play (7.8). Cousins’ top targets, Darnell Mooney and Drake London, have over 700 receiving yards.
Beware of Bijan
Running back Bijan Robinson is another skill player the Chargers need to account for at all times. Robinson is good on the ground and can catch the ball. He has over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns.
Not so good on the other side of the ball
The Falcons have struggled on defense this season. They’re allowing 24.9 points per game, which ranks 25th. Atlanta is 19th against the run and 26th against the pass. The Falcons have ten sacks through 11 games, the fewest in the league.
Look out for…
Robinson. The Chargers struggled to stop the run last week against the Ravens, and they will have a tall task against Robinson, who has proven to be electric on the ground.
Tuli Tuipulotu and Amon-Ra St. Brown were the best of the best for USC in the NFL this past weekend. Trojans are showing out on the pro football stage.
On Saturday, the current USC team took care of business against Nebraska, holding on for a 28-20 victory. On Sunday, numerous former USC players showed out for their respective NFL teams. Let’s take a look at some of the top performances by Trojans in the NFL from Week 11.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
The Detroit Lions’ superstar wide receiver caught 11 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns in his team’s 52-6 blowout of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Talk about a monster day.
Tuli Tuipulotu
In a primetime showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals, the Los Angeles Chargers’ young defensive lineman was more than ready for the moment. Tuli Tuipulotu had 1.5 sacks of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in a 34-27 LA win.
Sam Darnold
After a few rough weeks, Darnold bounced back on Sunday. The Minnesota Vikings quarterback completed 20 of his 32 pass attempts for 246 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-13 win over the Tennessee Titans.
Jordan Addison
On the receiving end of one of Darnold’s TDs was Jordan Addison. The second year wideout caught three passes for 61 yards and a score in Minnesota’s win.
Drake London
It was a rough afternoon for the Atlanta Falcons, who suffered a 38-6 blowout loss to the Broncos in Denver. But London still had a solid day, catching three passes for 61 yards.
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