The Falcons have more 30 point games against the Seahawks than any other team since 2011

The Atlanta Falcons didn’t just win against the Seattle Seahawks. They also put up 30 points yet again, marketing the fourth time they’ve managed that feat against Seattle since 2011. You’ll recall, of course, that Seattle has been one of the NFL’s elite defensive teams over that span, though last night’s squad was badly depleted.

That impressive run of 30 point games is double what any other team in the NFL has managed, which is striking. This Seahawks team is built around the strength of their defense, and even with missing pieces, many NFL teams aren’t scoring 34 points on a night like Monday night.

Whether Mike Smith and Dan Quinn had/have some sort of magic power that allowed their teams to drop 30 points on a great defense, or this offense is simply so good it’s hard to hold in check, might be up for debate. What isn’t up for debate is that the Falcons have become a leading thorn in the side for Seattle, having dispatched them in the 2012 and 2016 playoffs, and now dealing a real blow to their playoff hopes.

The Falcons’ ongoing ability to play down to poor teams and play up to the NFC’s leading lights, like the Seahawks and Packers, is baffling. I’ll certainly take these kinds of impactful wins against contenders, though, regardless of circumstance.