ATLANTA — A third-quarter surge pushed the Seattle Seahawks ahead of the Atlanta Falcons far enough to carry them through a Week 14 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Final score: 37-9
Why it's important: The Falcons are officially eliminated from playoff contention. The best record they can finish this season with is 8-9.
Key takeaway: Third-quarter struggles continued to plague the Falcons. The Seahawks scored 17 points in the third quarter, their most since 2020 and the most the Falcons have allowed this season. Meanwhile, the Falcons didn't add to their half of the scoreboard through those 15 minutes.
- More: Atlanta entered Week 14 with a minus-19 point differential in the third quarter this season, which ranked 26th in the NFL.
Key moment: With 1:01 left in the first half, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a deep ball to wide receiver Darnell Mooney toward the left corner of the end zone. Mooney caught the ball and looked for the touchdown signal. However, the refs called it incomplete, claiming Mooney failed to re-establish himself in bounds after getting pushed to the sideline during his route. That forced the Falcons to settle for a 43-yard field goal instead, giving them a three-point lead, which the Seahawks immediately answered with a 48-yard field goal of their own before halftime.
Standout performance: Kyle Pitts Sr. The Falcons tight end had multiple big catches, including a 20-yarder in the first quarter, a 30-yarder in the second quarter and a 26-yarder in the third quarter. He finished with six receptions for 90 yards, setting a new season-high for yardage.
Number to know: 100. The distance Seahawks returner Rashid Shaheed covered on the Falcons' opening kickoff of the second half to score a touchdown and give Seattle its first lead. Atlanta entered Week 14 with the highest kickoff return average allowed at 29.8 yards per return.
Player milestones:
- Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. recorded his sixth sack of the season in the first quarter, taking down Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold for a loss of 8 yards on a third-down play. Pearce is now tied for second-most sacks by a Falcons rookie in a single season since 1982, when sacks became an official stat. Defensive lineman Mike Pitts had seven in 1983.
- Cornerback Mike Hughes intercepted a pass intended for Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo in the second quarter. It was Hughes' first interception this season and fourth of his career. He became the seventh Falcons player with a pick in 2025. Atlanta is tied for fifth-most players with an interception in the NFL.
- Running back Bijan Robinson surpassed 3,500 career rushing yards, making him the third player in NFL history with at least 3,500 rushing yards and 1,500 receiving yards through three career seasons. The other two are Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson and former Falcons running back Williams Andrews.
Injury updates:
- Edge rusher Jalon Walker was deemed questionable to return in the second quarter due to a quad injury.
- Inside linebacker Kaden Elliss went down after the Seahawks' 28-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. He walked to the sideline under his own power and returned to play the next defensive series.
A quick tweet: Tori McElhaney, Will McFadden and Terrin Waack share their gut reactions to Sunday's outcome in 280 characters or fewer.
- McElhaney: Falcons are playing for pride now.
- McFadden: I still don't know what a catch is.
- Waack: James Pearce Jr. deserves all the flowers for what he is doing as a ROOKIE.
Setting the storylines:
- Week 14: Inactives | Practice squad elevation
- Pro Bowl voting is still open.
- Cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. was named the Falcons' 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year club winner.
- This week's Nerdy Birds analyzed the Falcons' red-zone turnaround.
- Edge rusher Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. have grown into the Falcons’ dynamic duo. Both of the first-round draft picks should contend for 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year.
- Of the five NFL players with the most yards from scrimmage entering Week 14, Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is the only one who plays for a team with a losing record. He's shining brightly amid a gloomy season.
- 14 NFL experts predicted the Seahawks would beat the Falcons.
- Catch up on all the news that came out in the lead-up to Sunday's game here.
Looking forward: The Falcons have a quick turnaround in Week 15. They take to the road for an NFC South rematch and the "TNF on Prime Video" game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
