Falcons Face Daunting Challenge Against Seahawks’ Smith-Njigba
The Atlanta Falcons are gearing up for a crucial Week 14 matchup against the soaring Seattle Seahawks, led by a remarkable talent in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. For a Falcons defense that has shown resilience throughout the season, containing Smith-Njigba will be paramount. This contest presents a uniquely formidable challenge for Atlanta’s secondary.
Smith-Njigba’s Record-Breaking Pace
Entering Week 14, Smith-Njigba has emerged as one of the NFL’s breakout stars. With 1,336 receiving yards before December, he ranks fourth all-time in this category. Averaging an impressive 111.3 yards per game, he is on track to challenge the record for most receiving yards in a single season—a staggering 1,964 yards. Even after a game where he did not catch a single downfield pass, his 961 yards on such throws this season are far ahead of the next closest competitor by 324 yards.
“He’s on one of those record-breaking paces this year. He’s looked unbelievable,” said Falcons head coach Raheem Morris. “He’s already been high on himself, but now he’s just playing like that lead-dog number one. I’d guess stepping into those shoes with the void of DK [Metcalf] has really provided that for him. He has really emerged into one of our league’s best, and it’s great to see when players develop that way.”
A Talented Receiving Corps
Smith-Njigba is not the sole threat in Seattle’s receiving arsenal. The addition of Cooper Kupp this offseason has provided the Seahawks with a seasoned veteran who has etched his name into the record books. Alongside Kupp, the Seahawks feature Rashid Shaheed, a dynamic deep threat who the Falcons remember well from his time with the New Orleans Saints. Although Shaheed has yet to find his statistical footing in Seattle, his potential remains a significant concern for opposing defenses.
Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak expertly leverages these weapons, creating mismatches that can exploit defensive weaknesses. “When you get into the passing game, it’s pick your poison,” remarked Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. “You want to try to take away 11 [Smith-Njigba], and 22 [Shaheed] hits you. You want to try to take away 22, 88 [tight end AJ Barner] hits you. You want to try to take away the receivers, but the back [Kenneth Walker] becomes an issue. It’s going to be a great challenge.”
Strength-on-Strength Matchup
The Falcons’ secondary has been a stronghold this season, allowing only three games where opposing quarterbacks surpassed 200 passing yards. This sets the stage for an intriguing strength-on-strength battle in Sunday’s game.
Cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. has been particularly impressive, allowing just 0.5 yards per coverage snap, the lowest among cornerbacks with over 250 coverage snaps. While Terrell typically does not shadow a single receiver, the unique challenge posed by Smith-Njigba may necessitate a change in strategy.
Containing Smith-Njigba will undoubtedly be a tall order for the Falcons. However, if they can manage to limit his impact during this critical matchup, they may very well position themselves for success on Sunday.
