The Atlanta Falcons squared off against their NFC South rival, the New Orleans Saints, in a Week 12 contest that proved the Falcons still have some fight after being 3-7 heading into the game.
There were some concerns about how the offense was going to look without Drake London, but another wide receiver stepped up in a big way.
Drake London Sidelined by PCL Sprain
London suffered a knee injury against the Carolina Panthers in Week 11 after catching seven passes for 119 yards, which ended up being a sprained PCL. The Falcons lost to the Panthers 30-27 in overtime. London is a significant component of the offense as he’s one of the best wide receivers in the league. But they needed to figure out how they were going to keep things afloat vs. New Orleans.
Earlier in the week, it was reported by Terrin Waack of the official team site that quarterback Kirk Cousins spoke in support of wide receiver Darnell Mooney, saying,
“He had a tough, tough hand dealt to him, with the collarbone even going back to last season and then training camp. So, you kind of have to build from there. I’d love to see him really be able to take off here in the last stretch of the year.”
Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson spoke of the veteran wideout, saying, “It feels like Mooney’s close”, which would lead some to believe that he’d be a focal point of the offense Sunday with London absent, and that he was.
Falcons’ Darnell Mooney’s Breakout Game
Against New Orleans on Sunday, Mooney had three catches for 74 yards, leading the team and scoring a touchdown. Mooney hasn’t had the most productive season due to injuries and such, catching only 16 passes for 224 yards this year, but he has shown his talent as a reliable target for Kirk Cousins. Mooney was clutch, playing well when it really counted.
PFSN has Mooney at a 59.1 Wide Receiver Impact Score while the Offense is at a 74.6 Impact Score. Mooney was initially drafted in the fifth round by the Chicago Bears in 2020. Mooney was a productive player for Chicago, having 213 catches for 2,593 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Falcons signed Mooney back in March 2024, and in that season, he had 64 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns. His 2025 campaign hasn’t been up to par as he’s missed two games due to injury, but he’s still found ways to contribute.
The Falcons defeated the Saints 24-10, improving to 4-7, while the Saints dropped to 2-9.
