Atlanta Falcons DB Jessie Bates III Shows 'Why They Brought Him Here' vs. New Orleans Saints

When the Atlanta Falcons needed him most, safety Jessie Bates III delivered a potentially season-saving performance Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Jessie Bates III had his toes on the goal line, heels planted in the endzone, eyes locked on New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr.

As Saints receiver Rashid Shaheed went in motion, Bates began to creep forward. Upon watching Carr receive the snap, this creep turned into a sprint towards Shaheed.

Roughly 12 seconds and 92 yards later, Bates was in the endzone, arms lifted, teammates swarming to his side.

The Atlanta Falcons' 26-year-old safety had just turned Sunday's game on its head and sent Mercedes-Benz Stadium into a frenzy. 

Atlanta was at risk of falling behind by two possessions, with New Orleans facing a 3rd and 3 in the redzone and already holding a 3-0 lead.

Both sides knew the winner claimed first place in the NFC South. The Falcons were trying to avoid a fourth straight loss and prevent their season from spiraling. The Saints wanted to step on their rivals' throat.

Bates didn't let it happen.

“Just trusting my instincts," Bates said. "I saw (Shaheed) motion. It’s film study and all the extra meetings that we do, all our coaches with the cutups. I give all the props to them. Then it’s just me making a play. It’s a play they’ve run and shown on film.

“I took advantage of it and got my fourth (interception) - for a touchdown, too. It was a very special moment for me for sure.”

The pick-six was Bates' first since Week 8 of 2018, his rookie year. It was over five years in the making ... and helped the Falcons take a 24-15 win, marking a big step towards ending a playoff drought that dates back another year longer.

“That's huge," Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder said. "Obviously, that's a huge momentum swing in any game when you get a pick six, especially one that long. It kind of deflates the other team.”

Veteran defensive end Calais Campbell agreed with Ridder, noting it changed the energy and helped foster belief on Atlanta's sideline. Falcons coach Arthur Smith added it was a 10- or 14-point swing, particularly crucial in a game ultimately decided by nine points.

Perhaps most impressive? Bates wasn't supposed to be in position to make the play. He was the single-high safety and left his responsibility to range down and intercept the pass, Carr said.

When Carr reached the sideline, Saints quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry told him Bates simply made a great play. Carr agreed - and went out of his way to deliver Bates the same message.

“Bates is a great player, and he made a great play," Carr said. "Very few times have I told someone good job on a bad play, but that was one where I told him, ‘Hey, you beat me. You made a great play.’ It is what it is.”

Little did Bates - or anybody else - know he was just getting started.

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Bates started in a two-high look on the right hash before rolling down to cover Saints receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. in the flat.

The Indianapolis, Indiana, native pivoted and broke back inside when Saints weapon Taysom Hill took off up the middle of Atlanta's defense.

Hill was in the process of crossing the Falcons' 10-yard line, putting the Saints in prime position to capitalize on Ridder's second interception and score their first touchdown of the game, when Bates loaded his right fist and threw a punch.

Not at Hill - at the ball. Moments later, Falcons defensive tackle Albert Huggins emerged from the melee, football in hand.

“Jessie's play punching the ball out on Hill, that was kind of a turning point in the game,” Smith said.

Nov 26, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III (3) reacts after a stop against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium / Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Bates was quick to give credit to fellow safety Richie Grant, who made the initial open-field tackle on Hill, which started the sequence of events that ultimately flipped the game on its head.

Atlanta's offense followed suit with a nine-play, 95-yard touchdown drive, pushing the lead to two possessions with less than 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

“Anytime you get a turnover in the red zone, you take away points from the opposing offense, it gives our offense a chance to go down there," Bates said. "They had a super long drive after that. It was critical.”

The Falcons took a 21-12 lead and held the Saints to field goal attempts on their final two drives, helping seal a critical win that revamped Atlanta's playoff hopes.

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Like his interception, Bates' forced fumble was a potential 14-point swing ... and served as a fitting illustration for the impact the Falcons' defense made.

“Jessie, again, making that play - but that’s everyone in the defense winning their one-on-one, making big plays and coming up with the ball anytime the ball hits the ground," cornerback A.J. Terrell said. "It's not finished until we get the ball. That was a big play, a big momentum-swing for us, and we took advantage of it.”

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The Falcons made Bates the fourth highest paid safety in the NFL this spring, betting on his production and leadership carrying over after years with the Cincinnati Bengals.

By all accounts, both have. Bates is a captain in his first season in Atlanta, the lone offseason acquisition who earned the title. He also leads the Falcons in tackles (85), interceptions (four) and forced fumbles (three).

And Sunday's game was another strong indication Atlanta made the right call this offseason.

“These are huge plays, especially when you’re at home like that," Smith said. "That’s why we had so much conviction in Jessie. He’s a big-time player, and he’s done a really nice job here.”

Need further proof of Bates' status as a big-time player? Campbell provided all the evidence necessary.

The 37-year-old Campbell is a 238-game veteran. He wasn't shy about declaring the victory over New Orleans as Atlanta's biggest game this season.

And as the adage goes ...

“I told the guys before the game, ‘Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games,’" Campbell said. "I’ve been hearing that since I was six. Up to this point, this was the biggest game of the season. He showed why they brought him here and why he’s the guy.”

Campbell added the Falcons will have many more big games in the coming weeks, starting Sunday on the road against the New York Jets (4-7).

Atlanta will be expecting another big performance from Bates - not just because that's what he's been known to do, but because of his consistency during the week and the fruits it bares on Sundays.

Bates has organized defensive back meetings on Tuesdays, which are days that even coaches aren't always present for. He's helped elevate the room's weekly process and brought an element of stability to the backend that was desperately needed - all the while adding aggression and turnovers, perhaps best shown Sunday.

“It’s the way he prepares," Smith said. "That has a lot to do with it. The guy is very intentional about what he studies. He’s not just sitting there watching himself and logging hours on his iPad or in the film room. He’s got great habits. What he sees, he has great recall. 

“He understands the call and where the weaknesses are and when to take those chances."

Bates' locker is right next to Ridder's in the Falcons' facility. For the 24-year-old Ridder, Bates has emerged as a dependable leader despite being just two years his elder.

But most importantly, Bates is establishing himself as the Falcons' most valuable defender with all he offers both on and off the gridiron.

“Energy and then play making, the way he's able to play the field, play that safety position, be able to be all over the field and confuse quarterbacks - he does a great job of it," Ridder said. “That's why he's our No. 1 safety back there."

When discussing the reasons for Atlanta's defense standing strong against New Orleans, Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss started by calling Bates "special" and "outstanding."

Smith doubled down, dubbing him a "really dynamic football player" while Sunday showed precisely why the Falcons had so much conviction in throwing big money at him this offseason.

Atlanta drew criticism for giving a safety such a sizable contract. But Bates, between his three-takeaway game in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers and his showing against the Saints, has already been arguably the biggest reason for two of the Falcons' five wins.

Winners win, leaders lead, and big-time players make big-time plays in big-time moments ... and when the Falcons needed all of these factors to come together, Bates delivered, validating Atlanta's confidence in him during free agency.

“He's not only a great energy provider, but he's a great leader on this team, great person to have on our team, and he's just going to continue to do great things for us,” Ridder said.