For the 2025 NFL season, digital team reporter Terrin Waack will provide select stats, facts and quotes from the most recent Atlanta Falcons game to consume with Miller Lite.
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons lost to the Miami Dolphins, 34-10, on Sunday in their Week 8 game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of 71,344 ticketed fans.
STATS TO CHEERS OVER
-- Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. had himself quite the game on National Tight End Day, catching all nine of his targets for a team-high 59 yards.
- Pitts' nine receptions tied for his most in a game since Week 5 of the 2021 season when the Falcons beat the New York Giants.
- Pitts is the third Falcons tight end ever to record nine or more receptions in multiple games (two). The others were Tony Gonzalez (seven) and Austin Hooper (five).
- Pitts' 16 receptions over the last two games are tied for the most he has recorded in a two-game span since Weeks 5 and 7 of 2021. Week 6 was the bye that year.
-- Running back Tyler Allgeier scored the Falcons' sole touchdown, a 6-yard run in the fourth quarter. That gave him four touchdowns on the season, which ties his single-season high from 2023. The schedule isn't even halfway over.
- Allgeier's 14 scrimmage yards Sunday put him at 3,009 career scrimmage yards, making him the 14th Falcons running back in franchise history to break the 3,000-yard milestone.
-- The Falcons forced the Dolphins to go three-and-out on the opening drive. It was the third time this season Atlanta has done that to an opponent. At the time, the Falcons were one of seven teams to force three or more three-and-outs on an opening drive so far this season.
FACTS TO SIP ON
-- The Falcons are now 0-2 in games this season where the opponent scores first. The Dolphins put up the first points with a 3-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. The other game Atlanta lost in such a way was Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers, who scored on a 4-yard run in the first quarter.
-- The Dolphins entered Week 8 ranked last in rushing defense, allowing 159.3 yards per game. The Falcons, who were fourth in rushing offense with an average of 136.3 yards, finished with a season-low 45 yards on the ground.
-- The Falcons had 11 total first downs against the Dolphins, which tied for their fewest in a game since 2008. They converted two of their 11 third-down attempts for a season-low 18.2% success rate.
-- Sunday marked the second game in which Tua Tagovailoa has thrown at least four touchdowns passes against the Falcons, making him the ninth quarterback to do so all time. The others are Tom Brady (three games), Jameis Winston (three), Drew Brees (two), Brad Johnson (two), Dave Krieg (two), Joe Montana (two), Aaron Rodgers (two) and Kurt Warner (two).
-- The Falcons had the fewest penalties in the NFL prior to Sunday with 33. They ended the day with eight, which tied for their most in a single game this season. Atlanta also had eight penalties in its Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
QUOTING RAHEEM MORRIS
On keeping the locker room together after a loss like this…
"This is a team. These guys won't stray away from each other. The locker room will stay together. They'll stay bonded. Not worried about that, but we've definitely got to correct the physical mistakes that we made."
QUOTING THE FALCONS
Running back Bijan Robinson
On the up-and-down energy this season…
"This is my third year, and I don't want to keep saying, 'We played low on Sunday and high on another Sunday.' Consistency has been the biggest thing for us as a team, and that's what needs to be preached."
Inside linebacker Kaden Elliss
On whether he was surprised by the outcome…
"Very. This was a game I expected us to come out and win."
QUOTING THE OPPONENT
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel
On whether Kirk Cousins being the quarterback altered defensive game plan…
"The plan from the onset was to have a pack mentality on the runner, that it wasn't going to be one player that was going to have 45 tackles to stop him. It was going to have to be a lot of population around the ball and a lot of strain because a small window or shortcoming in your run fit and they make a living on the explosives and having those big gains. Trying to keep them one-dimensional was a priority, regardless of the quarterback, just based on the offense they have."
GAME LEADERS
Top passers
- Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa | 20-of-26 for 205 yards, 4 touchdowns (1 sack)
- Falcons: Kirk Cousins | 21-of-31 for 173 yards (1 sack)
- Dolphins: Zach Wilson | 1-of-1 for 0 yards
Top rushers
- Dolphins: De'Von Achane | 18 carries for 67 yards
- Dolphins: Ollie Gordon III | 10 carries for 46 yards
- Dolphins: Jaylen Wright | 9 carries for 28 yards
Top receivers
- Dolphins: Jaylen Waddle | 5 receptions for 99 yards, 1 touchdown
- Falcons: Kyle Pitts Sr. | 9 receptions for 59 yards
- Dolphins: Malik Washington | 4 receptions for 36 yards, 1 touchdown
Top tacklers
- Falcons: Kaden Elliss | 12 total tackles, 7 solo (2 TFLs, 1 PBU)
- Dolphins: Jordyn Brooks | 10 total tackles, 7 solo (1 sack, 3 TFLs)
- Falcons: JD Bertrand | 9 total tackles, 3 solo (1 PBU)
LAST CALL
The Falcons (3-4) have their first of two consecutive road games with a Week 9 contest against the New England Patriots (6-2) at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. CBS will carry live coverage.
The Patriots defeated the Cleveland Browns, 32-13, last Sunday for their own Week 8 game at home.
Get an inside look at the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during Week 8, presented by Grady.
