Atlanta Falcons Win Ugly vs. New York Jets, But Make NFC South Standings Look Pretty

"You've got to find a way to win - you're in a playoff chase, you're trying to win a division," Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith said after Sunday's win over the New York Jets.

The Atlanta Falcons (6-6) totaled less than 200 net yards of offense and picked up one first down in the fourth quarter - but still walked away from MetLife Stadium victorious, taking a 13-8 win over the New York Jets (4-8) on Sunday.

Most importantly, the Falcons now hold sole possession of first place in the NFC South, as their victory coupled with the New Orleans Saints' loss to the Detroit Lions gives Atlanta a one-game lead plus the tiebreaker with five weeks left to play.

It's a stark contrast from where the Falcons stood entering their bye week, when they'd lost three consecutive games and were at risk of watching their season slip away.

Atlanta was given a chance to regroup, and it did. A 24-15 victory over the Saints last weekend paved way to Sunday's slugfest in East Rutherford, a game the Falcons desperately needed to win ... and they did.

Since returning from the bye week, the Falcons are 2-0 and have gone from trailing the division by a game to leading it. They haven't allowed a touchdown in two games. Their offense has made plays when needed.

And, perhaps more critically, the rest of their division continues to struggle, leaving the door open for the Falcons to make their first playoff appearance in six years. It's now up to them to seize the moment.

But Atlanta's not worried about that or anything else that won't help them prepare for next Sunday's home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who entered this week just a game back in the division.

"We're just ready to go back to work and get better," Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder said postgame. "We haven't stacked three wins in a row this year - we've stacked two twice now. We've got to be able to keep our head, come back home and be able to get a third win."

Ridder had a difficult day amidst rainy conditions, going 12 of 27 for 121 yards and one touchdown. It's the first time in his 14-game career he's completed less than 50 percent of his passes.

Since returning to the starting quarterback role following the bye week, Ridder's numbers aren't eye-opening - he's 25 of 48 for 289 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.

But the Falcons are 2-0 in those games, finding different ways to win.

Against New Orleans, it was a strong rushing attack that netted 228 yards on the ground and a defensive performance that held the Saints to five field goals.

This time around, Atlanta's defense proved suffocating at the end of the game, forcing three punts, two takeaways and one turnover on downs across New York's final six possessions.

The Falcons weren't overly convincing Sunday, but they didn't have to be - they just had to survive, and they managed that feat.

Dec 3, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) celebrates a fumble recovery against the New York Jets during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium / Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons coach Arthur Smith is trying to build a culture of winning in Atlanta. Winning is hard in the NFL - finding ways to win on difficult days is a big step in that process.

That said, Atlanta knows if it wants to capitalize on its playoff prospects, growth is needed - and Smith is ready to keep the train rolling this week.

"The biggest thing is we've got to focus on ourselves," Smith said postgame. "You're in a playoff chase, you're trying to win a division. Sometimes, the game gets ugly, whatever happens - you adjust. At the end of the day, you've just got to find a way to win. We'll go back to work, and we'll focus on us.

"We've got to correct things that didn't work this week that may have worked a week ago. That's why we practice and we're thankful to get that win."

Of Atlanta's final five opponents, only one - the Indianapolis Colts (7-5) - have a record above .500. Opportunity exists to finish strong and carry momentum into the postseason.

Falcons Get Just Enough From Ridder to Top Jets on Road

Now, the challenge becomes stacking wins ... and the Falcons are solely focused on going game-by-game, week-by-week, all the while fulfilling overarching dreams that began this spring and permeated throughout the offseason.

For a moment, those hopes appeared dashed. Now, they're as strong as ever - and Atlanta, regardless of how ugly, grew closer to realizing the end goal Sunday in East Rutherford.