Falcons defense continues to punch above its weight

The saying “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” has few better embodiments than the 2026 Atlanta Falcons defense.

Without last season’s top two draft picks, Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., Atlanta developed into one of the NFL’s better defenses through the first seven games, even outperforming units such as the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles in key metrics.

Atlanta Falcons defense performing well so far

Despite ranking 29th in defensive spending, according to Spotrac, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has this group punching well above its weight. The Falcons certainly have talent. All-Pro safety Jessie Bates and cornerback A.J. Terrell lead the secondary, but beyond those two, Atlanta lacks the household names found on some similarly productive defenses.

The best metaphor for the Falcons’ defense might be the Island of Misfit Toys from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Beyond its stars, Atlanta’s defense features former high draft picks looking to revive their careers, rookies and aging veterans seeking another opportunity.

Look no further than the team’s sack leader, Za’Darius Smith.

Smith, 34, signed a one-year deal Aug. 18, four days after the Falcons’ first preseason game. Despite missing nearly all of Atlanta’s training camp, he ranks 11th in the NFL with 4.5 sacks and 16th with seven tackles for loss.

Starting opposite Terrell is former top-10 pick C.J. Henderson. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Henderson ninth overall in 2020, then traded him to the Carolina Panthers the following year in a deal involving back-up tight end Dan Arnold.

After his time in Carolina ended following the 2023 season, Henderson spent a year on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad before becoming a starting cornerback for Atlanta in 2025. Now enjoying his best season, Henderson is PFF’s 10th-ranked cornerback in 2026. He also ranks fifth among cornerbacks with five pass breakups and ninth with 28 solo tackles.

The biggest surprises this season have been rookie linebackers Harold Perkins Jr. and Kendal Daniels, both selected on the third day of the draft. Daniels was a fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma, while Perkins was a sixth-round selection out of LSU.

The duo has been elite, especially in pass coverage. According to PFF’s coverage grades, Perkins and Daniels rank second and third among linebackers. Each has recorded a sack, and just one week after being taken off the field on a stretcher, Daniels made an incredible interception against the San Francisco 49ers to seal Atlanta’s victory.

That marked the third time this season the Falcons held an opponent to 20 points or fewer. Atlanta held the Pittsburgh Steelers to 20 in a Week 1 loss, then dominated the Green Bay Packers in a Thursday night blowout at Lambeau Field. The Falcons limited Green Bay to 14 points and 17 rushing yards while intercepting Jordan Love.

Whenever this defense succeeds, it does so as a team. That has been the theme all season.

While yards and points allowed per game suggest Atlanta is an average to below-average defense, a deeper look reveals the unit’s strengths. The Falcons rank 12th in pressure rate, have allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards and rank fourth in defensive expected points added per rush, according to SumerSports and StatRankings.

According to RBSDM, Atlanta ranks 13th in defensive EPA per play. While that puts the Falcons slightly above average, it also places them ahead of several notable defenses with much larger budgets.

Atlanta is outperforming the Chicago Bears, who rank 13th in defensive spending; the Jacksonville Jaguars, who rank 14th; the Texans, who rank first; and the Eagles, who rank 16th. (all according to Spotrac)

Despite limited spending and the absence of two young pass rushers expected to play significant roles, Atlanta’s defense continues to punch above its weight. Ulbrich turned a collection of overlooked veterans, emerging rookies and players seeking a fresh start into a group that is giving the Falcons more than their investment might suggest.