FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Falcons News Now is your go-to source for the real stories coming out of Flowery Branch each week. We're providing a one-stop shop for you to browse through all Falcons-related news at the end of every week of the 2025 season — who's winning reps, who's earning trust and what's happening in and around your favorite team.
From roster move analysis, practice intel, big-play highlights and so much more, this isn't just the news you need, it's what shapes Sundays in Atlanta.
Ultimately, if something matters to this locker room, it makes this newsletter.
So, if you eat, sleep and breathe Falcons football? This is your inside edge — every update, every storyline, all in one place. And this week? The Falcons host their most hated rival, the Saints, at home to close out the 2025 season.
The News, Now
Key developments on the field and roster move analysis
The main piece of news this week involved even more accolades for Bijan Robinson after a 229-scrimmage yards performance against the Rams on Monday night.
He was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after setting a new career high in rushing yards — including a 93-yard touchdown run that was the longest rush in franchise history and the longest run by any NFL player this season. He also surpassed Christian McCaffrey for the most career yards by any player under the age of 24.
In fact, all of that only scratches the surface of Robinson's record-breaking performance. We compiled all of the craziest stats of his Monday night showing here.
Bijan Robinson put on a show in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Rams, delivering a standout performance that earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Relive the moments that defined Week 17 as Robinson led the way with explosive runs, tough finishes and undeniable presence on the field.
As for roster adjustments, the Falcons made a few notable moves in Week 18. This included:
- Opening up S DeMarcco Hellams' 21-day window to return from injured reserve. He joins DB Clark Phillips III and DL Sam Roberts as the individuals in the window for Atlanta currently.
- Placing CB Mike Hughes on injured reserve. Hughes has missed the Falcons last two games with an ankle injury.
- Signing EDGE Khalid Kareem to the active roster from the practice squad. Kareem has been on of Atlanta's standard practice squad elevations the last two weeks.
- Adjusting the practice squad to add DL Patrick Jenkins and P Trenton Gill.
From an injury standpoint, the Falcons dodged a "big-time bullet" with Brandon Dorlus' injury. After being carted off the field Monday night with what was at the time feared to be a knee injury, further imaging and evaluations confirmed Dorlus suffered a hamstring injury. Though he will miss the Falcons' season finale this Sunday, his injury is not one that is expected to take longer than a few weeks to fully recover.
"We feel pretty good about the injury," head coach Raheem Morris said. "He's going to miss a couple of weeks. Obviously, going to miss this game, but we do feel really good about what happened, as opposed to what everybody thought."
You can view Atlanta's injury reports from the week below and check out the full reports from Atlanta and New Orleans here.
Wednesday, Dec. 31: Falcons receive good news about Brandon Dorlus
Thursday, Jan. 1: Darnell Mooney joins Drake London and Kyle Pitts as limited participant
How did the rest of the league fair in Week 17? Tori McElhaney breaks it down in her weekly power rankings, while Will McFadden highlighted the NFC South's performance.
The Mailbag this week asked the main question on everyone's mind: Does Atlanta's late-season surge change opinions of 2025?
Fan Zone Highlights
Tweets, videos and podcasts you may have missed
In the Nest
Behind-the-scenes stories, locker room insight into team culture
Since being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs nearly a month ago, the Falcons have rattled off three consecutive wins against the Bucs, Cardinals and Rams — two of those wins coming in prime-time slots. To this locker room that has found a way to stick together without much to truly play for, it's a sign of what they believed to be true about themselves.
"We confirmed who we are," Falcons safety Jessie Bates III said. "Our record doesn't reflect who we are as a group. We're two, three, four snaps away from being in the same picture with Carolina and the Bucs. But that's not the case."
The Falcons may not be fighting for a playoff berth this weekend, but they could be fighting for a second-place finish in the division. Yes, even after everything there is still that chance. A trending Saints team stands in their way.
Despite their own struggles and uncertainties through the midway point of the season, the back quarter of 2025 has been prosperous for the Saints. They have won their last four games. What's significant is that two of those wins came at the expense of the other NFC South teams, the Bucs and Panthers.
Let's allow Terrin Waack the floor to explain what all of this means as the weekend quickly approaches.
- The Carolina Panthers lead the NFC South entering Week 18 with an 8-8 record. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are second at 7-9. In third, the Falcons are also 7-9, but because of their record in common games, the Buccaneers hold the tiebreaker. Then, the Saints are fourth at 6-10.
- The Panthers and Buccaneers play Saturday. If Carolina wins, it clinches the division.
- The Falcons and Saints play Sunday. If the Atlanta wins, Carolina takes the division. If New Orleans wins and Tampa Bay wins, the Buccaneers claim the division.
- The best the Falcons can finish is second, and that would require a win against the Saints and the Panthers beating the Buccaneers. If the Saints win in that same scenario, then they're second, and the Falcons are last.
Despite all of this, however, the Falcons are singularly focused.
"You can feel it around the building that we want this one bad," Divine Deablo said about playing the Saints to close out 2025.
Game Day Intel
Upcoming match previews and predictions
Catch up on any Falcons lineup changes in the Week 18 depth chart.
As well as who the experts are picking as the Falcons take on the Saints.
Stats and milestones brought to you by StatsPerform:
- The Falcons and Saints are tied at 56 games apiece in the all-time regular season series against one another. With an Atlanta win, this would be the first year it has swept a season series against New Orleans since 2016.
- The Falcons have recorded 53 sacks this season, three shy of breaking their single season franchise record of 55 set in 1997. Atlanta is second in the NFL in sacks. This would mark their third season ranking top three league wide in franchise history (1997, 2004).
- Xavier Watts' five interceptions this season are tied with Deion Sanders for the second-most by a Falcons rookie all-time (Al Richardson holds the record with seven in 1980).
Take a look at our best shots from week eighteen practice ahead of the Sunday matchup against the New Orleans Saints, presented by Gatorade.
