Atlanta Falcons star Jessie Bates aims for Top 5 defense

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons’ defense is surrounded by as many questions as new high-profile faces arrive this fall.

Atlanta is coming off a vastly improved defensive effort in 2023 in which it finished No. 8 in the league in passing yards allowed, No. 11 in total yards, No. 18 in points scored and No. 20 in run defense.

But the architecture of that unit — defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen — is gone, taking the same role with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, Atlanta’s top two sack-catchers last season, signed elsewhere in free agency. Every position group has a new coach.

Change brings uncertainty, but Falcons safety Jessie Bates III, the team’s only Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection last year, isn’t letting the standard drop. Instead, Bates has raised the bar.

“Our goal for 2024 as a defense is to be in the top five in every category,” Bates said during OTAs. “That’s the goal.”

That mission goes hand in hand with another: winning games. Bates said he felt like last season the Falcons had some good games but then slumped toward the end.

Between Weeks 9-15, the Falcons suffered losses to the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers. Each of those losses came after Atlanta’s defense gave up points in the final minute.

The Falcons ultimately finished the season 7-10, two games behind the NFC South-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bates is aware of that and feels a sense of urgency to reverse that trend in 2024.

“We’re letting offenses score in critical situations, and I think that’s where we have to improve as a defense – being able to finish games,” Bates said.

Atlanta’s defense, led by new coordinator Jimmy Lake, returns several key players from last season, starting with Bates and cornerback AJ Terrell. At linebacker, Kaden Elliss, Nate Landman and Troy Andersen form a trio that presents first-year head coach Raheem Morris with a “profound problem” in terms of who gets snaps.

Defensively, the Falcons have a solid interior line, led by Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata. During the four-game losing streak, Jarrett watched from his couch, unavailable to play due to a season-ending torn ACL that occurred in Week 8.

The Falcons are again facing pass rush questions, but they are optimistic that outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie, who had six sacks as a second-year pro in 2023, can take a step forward. The same goes for second-year defensive end Zach Harrison, who had three sacks and four tackles for loss in his last three appearances as a rookie.

But while there’s uncertainty over the passer and starting positions next to Bates and Terrell, there’s little doubt about this: Atlanta expects to play up front a lot in 2024.

With an offense led by new quarterback Kirk Cousins, the Falcons are the overwhelming favorite to win the NFC South. To live up to the hype, their defense must do what it failed to do last season: finish.

“With an elite quarterback like Kirk, we’re going to score points,” Bates said. “So being able to defend the advantage and take control of a game on defense is something we’re going to continue to emphasize and improve on.”