Grady Jarrett: Fans Fueling Falcons' 2-0 Start
The Atlanta Falcons are 2-0 after a couple of home victories started their season on the right foot. Holding opponents to just 34 points has helped make Atlanta’s ground-and-pound style successful.
For that, they have offseason acquisitions to thank. The impact of safety Jessie Bates III on the defense has been immeasurable, and defensive lineman Calais Campbell has ushered in a new level of respect for the front seven.
Star defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, however, praised an asset that doesn’t take up any cap space.
He spoke about Atlanta’s home-field advantage on Wednesday.
“It’s been amazing, man. That energy is just crazy,” Jarrett said via FOX 5 Atlanta. “I love it, everybody on the team loves it, coach loves it. It’s a part of the reason we’re winning, too. We go out there, and the fans showing up like that makes you want to play harder.”
Jarrett has had a strong start to the season, too. He has a sack and four quarterback hurries in his two games hovering over the B-gap.
A Week 1 win over the rival Carolina Panthers was a testament to his point. Few environments are more hostile for a rookie quarterback, especially one like Bryce Young, who was making his NFL debut. He threw for only 146 yards on 38 attempts, mustering just 10 points for his offense.
Further, Jarrett can expect the fans to have his back deep into the season. The Falcons are expected to compete for an NFC South title in 2023. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints are also 2-0, which could pave the way for some intense matchups down the line. Atlanta plays host to Tampa Bay in Week 14 and New Orleans two weeks prior.
“It’s time for it,” Jarrett said. “ATL has been begging for it and it feels very good to see them having fun. Coming to Atlanta, I can’t imagine being a visiting team and seeing from the culture to whatever it may be; we got entertainers and the crowd’s going crazy [in a] world-class stadium.”
The Falcons will be away from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 3. They’ll visit the Detroit Lions for their first test in enemy territory. A home game will effectively be lost in their Week 4 trip to London, but Jarrett seems confident they’ll be welcomed back by the Atlanta faithful in Week 5.
