The Atlanta Falcons were a fringe top-10 defense last year, seeing improvements in how efficiently they stopped the run and pass, two areas they have heavily struggled in for the past decade that happen to be the two main tasks of any NFL defense. These improvements can largely be credited to the additions of ball-hawking safety Jessie Bates and run-stuffing defensive tackle David Onyemata, two players who put up career numbers in their first year in Atlanta.
With last year being the best defensive performance the Falcons have had since 2017 when they ranked ninth in total yards per game, it’s safe to say that the Falcons will be shooting even higher in 2024.