On Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons secured a 31-26 road victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to move to 5-3. Despite having some obvious flaws, this team continues to win games in different ways each week.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins and safety Jessie Bates have led the way all season, and that was the case again in Week 8. Cousins was deadly accurate, completing 23 of 29 passes for 276 yards, four touchdowns and a passer rating of 145.9.
Bates made plays throughout the game, forcing and recovering a fumble in the first half before making an incredible interception in the second half. Cousins and Bates are a huge reason Atlanta is leading the NFC South.
The two veterans tied for the team’s top Pro Football Focus grade in Week 8. Check out the Falcons’ five highest-graded players from Sunday’s win over the Buccaneers:
- S Jessie Bates: 90.9
- QB Kirk Cousins: 90.9
- RB Bijan Robinson: 89.5
- TE Kyle Pitts 86.8
- RG Chris Lindstrom 86.2
Running back Bijan Robinson just barely missed out on an elite grade, earning an 89.5. Tight end Kyle Pitts, who led the team with 91 receiving yards and two touchdowns, earned a PFF grade of 86.8.
Offensive tackle Jake Matthews, tight end Charlie Woerner, cornerback A.J. Terrell and wide receiver Darnell Mooney were among the team’s other top-rated players in Week 8.
Cousins has passed for 2,106 yards, 14 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a passer rating of 97.8 this season. Bates has been equally impressive, racking up 50 tackles (32 solo), two interceptions and three forced fumbles over the first eight games.
The Falcons will host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9. The Cowboys have lost two straight games to fall to 3-4 in the NFC East while the Dan Quinn-led Washington Commanders lead the division with a 6-2 record.
Atlanta will face the Quinn and the Commanders on the road in Week 17.
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