Statistically Speaking: Breaking down Atlanta’s Week 5 numbers

Here we are again. The Atlanta Falcons are now 0-5 and have relieved both general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn of their duties. But, we are here to talk statistics and so we shall. This won’t be a deep dive into the analytical side of the numbers put up, but more of a broad outlook on weekly and seasonal stats so we can keep track of milestones and where this team stands with league leaders.

Without further ado, lets get started.

Falcons have a 100+ yard rusher for the first time since 2018

As the title states, the Falcons have finally had their first 100+ yard rusher since the 2018 season. On 14 carries Sunday, Todd Gurley rushed for 121 yards and scored on a 35-yard touchdown, averaging 8.4 yards per carry. Before that, the last Falcons rusher to have 100 or more rushing yards was Tevin Coleman in Week 14 of the 2018 season.

Julio Jones is close to the franchise record for touchdown receptions

Julio Jones is phenomenal, we all know that. But long after a player has retired and grown old, the statistics are highlights are what the next generations will look at. He has the highlights already, and he’s still climbing the leader boards. Jones is very close to breaking Roddy White’s franchise record of 63 receiving touchdowns, as he’s currently at 57. With that being said, I don’t know when this will happen. Jones has been dealing with a hamstring injury which has already caused him to miss two of the first five games in 2020, but if he can get healthy soon it’s still within reach.

Todd Gurley joins an exclusive rushing club

After scoring on a 35-yard rushing touchdown, Gurley entered a prestigious club full of some of the best players in NFL history. Gurley is the 5th player in NFL history to record 75 touchdowns before his 27th birthday, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, LaDainian Tomlinson and Randy Moss.

Falcons 0-5 for the first time since 1997

It’s been 23 years since the Falcons started a season 0-5. It’s a depressing stat, but still one that can’t go unrecognized. For those of you already looking forward to week 6, the Falcons have started 0-6 just three times: 1996, 1985 and 1966. The Falcons did start 0-5-1 in 1967, but regardless, they obviously didn’t make the playoffs any of those seasons.