Darnell Mooney Set to Spark Falcons’ Offense Against Patriots
The Atlanta Falcons are gearing up to face a formidable New England Patriots squad in Week 9, and the return of wide receiver Darnell Mooney could be the catalyst their struggling offense desperately needs. As the season reaches its midpoint, all eyes will be on how effectively this unit can find its rhythm.
A Season of Setbacks for Mooney
Mooney’s journey has been anything but smooth this season. He has battled injuries since the onset of training camp, where a shoulder injury sidelined him for the entire summer and the opening week of the season. Though he made a brief return during the Falcons’ Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, his participation was cut short due to another setback—a hamstring injury suffered against the Washington Commanders.
As a result of these ailments, Mooney has managed just 11 receptions for 158 yards so far, a stark contrast to his production from the previous season. However, recent reports from Flowery Branch suggest that Mooney is on the mend and may be poised for a comeback.
Anticipation of a Breakout Performance
Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson expressed optimism about Mooney’s potential resurgence. “I anticipate Mooney kind of taking off from here,” he said. “He’s finally getting his legs back. Obviously, we know what he can do at a high level. Had a great season last year. Just the training camp, missing that, and then kind of getting back into the flow, getting his legs back, getting the hammy back, all those things. So, I anticipate Mooney taking a big jump from this point forward.”
This optimism is well-founded, as Mooney displayed flashes of his previous dynamism during last Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. Unfortunately, he was unable to capitalize on a critical opportunity when backup quarterback Kirk Cousins missed him on a potential game-changing play.
The Importance of Mooney to the Falcons’ Strategy
The Falcons have struggled to defeat man coverage this season, largely due to Mooney’s absence. As their primary solution to countering such defensive schemes, his return could significantly impact the team’s offensive strategy. Head coach Raheem Morris recognizes the necessity of synchronizing the entire offensive unit.
“We’ve just got to get all of us going on the same page at the same time and be ready to play the right way,” Morris stated. “This offense is fun when they get going. You get these guys going. You get Bijan [Robinson] going. You get Drake [London] going. You get Kyle [Pitts] going. You get all these guys, [Darnell] Mooney in particular, some of those guys coming back. Offensive line, come off the ball a little. Those are the things you want, and we’ll get those things going pretty quickly here.”
With Mooney possibly ready to make a significant impact, the Falcons’ offense will have an opportunity to showcase its full potential against the Patriots this Sunday.
