Falcons vs. Saints: Week 16 Snap Counts For Atlanta

Offense

Jake Matthews: 65 (100%)
Ryan Schraeder: 65
Matt Ryan: 65
James Stone: 65
Gabe Carimi: 63
Justin Blalock: 65
Roddy White: 60
Levine Toilolo: 57
Julio Jones: 48
Harry Douglas: 41
Jacquizz Rodgers: 31
Devonta Freeman: 24
Bear Pascoe: 16
Patrick DiMarco: 15
Devin Hester: 13
Steven Jackson: 11
Eric Weems: 7
Jonathan Scott: 3
Drew Davis: 1

Everything lined up as you'd expect on offense...except for the running back snaps. With Steven Jackson exiting the game with an injury, Rodgers and Freeman combined for 55 snaps, with Rodgers throwing some very effective blocks and Freeman putting up over 80 combined yards. Julio Jones also took about 75% of the snaps because he's superhuman.

This was the first time Jonathan Scott got on the field this season, I believe.

Defense

Desmond Trufant: 70 (100%)
Robert McClain: 69
Paul Worrilow: 69
Dwight Lowery: 67
Kroy Biermann: 60
Jonathan Babineaux: 49
Kemal Ishmael: 42
William Moore: 41
Corey Peters: 40
Javier Arenas: 30
Osi Umenyiora: 30
Malliciah Goodman: 28
Tyson Jackson: 26
Dezmen Southward: 24
Paul Soliai: 22
Cliff Matthews: 20
Prince Shembo: 20
Joplo Bartu: 19
Josh Wilson: 19
Jonathan Massaquoi: 14
Ra'Shede Hageman: 11

You'll note that aside from increased snaps for Peters and Babineaux at the expense of others, plus Osi Umenyiora's 30 snaps, that these counts didn't change overmuch. Massaquoi got 14 snaps a week after not playing and Hageman slotted in around 11 again despite his effectiveness, but the defense played a sharp game against Drew Brees and company.

It's fairly obvious that the team needs to play some of its run-stoppers less, and they certainly did so in this one. It's fair to wonder aloud, despite the performance, whether Hageman in particular should have gotten more opportunities. Given how well Babs, Peters, Biermann and Osi played, however, it's probably fair to table that discussion for the week.

Give special credit to McClain, who stepped up and played well in this one, and Arenas and Southward, who stepped in due to injury and held their own. All three of those guys will be called upon again in Week 17.

Special Teams

Nate Stupar: 20
Eric Weems: 18
Matt Bosher: 17
Javier Arenas: 15
Kemal Ishmael: 15
Patrick DiMarco: 15
Drew Davis: 14
Cliff Matthews: 13
Josh Harris: 11
Malliciah Goodman: 11
Matt Bryant: 6

The 99 yard kick return to open the game was an embarrassing misstep for the special teams unit, which thanks to Matt Bosher and Matt Bryant was otherwise fine in this one. None of these snap counts are out of the ordinary at this point.

Your thoughts on the counts?