ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are planning for a second interview with Bill Belichick after talking with Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson for the head coaching vacancy on Thursday.

Belichick made the Falcons his first known interview on Monday since leaving the New England Patriots. Belichick won a record six Super Bowls in his 24 seasons with New England. He will be the first candidate to have a second interview with Atlanta.

The team has not disclosed details of the second meeting with Belichick, 71.

The Falcons are looking for a successor to Arthur Smith, who was fired after his third straight 7-10 finish.

Including the playoffs, Belichick has 333 victories, second all time to Hall of Famer Don Shula’s 347. He led the Patriots to 17 division titles.

The plans for a second meeting between the Falcons and Belichick indicates an agreement on Belichick’s possible role in player personnel decisions should he accept the job. Belichick had control of player personnel with New England.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank and CEO Rich McKay are leading the coach search. Blank said recently general manager Terry Fontenot would continue to be in charge of personnel decisions while the new coach and Fontenot would report to McKay.

Johnson was promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator for the 2023 season. He joined the Eagles staff in 2021.

Johnson is the second offensive coordinator to interview with Atlanta, following Cincinnati’s Brian Callahan.

The Falcons interviewed Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh on Tuesday.

The Falcons said Thursday the interview with Johnson was held virtually. The Eagles’ season ended with their 32-9 loss to Tampa Bay in an NFC wild-card game on Monday. All interviews with employees of other teams must be held virtually before the end of the divisional playoffs on Sunday.

Before joining the Eagles’ staff, Johnson worked as a college coach for 10 years, including three years at Florida from 2018-20. He was the Gators’ offensive coordinator in 2020.

Johnson is the eighth coach to be interviewed by the Falcons.

Other candidates to interview virtually with Atlanta: Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, Carolina defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, San Francisco defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

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The Atlanta Falcons have fired head coach Arthur Smith after three seasons with the team. Smith has finished each season 7-10. According to a release by the team, a search for a new head coach will be led by Falcons Owner and Chairman, Arthur M. Blank, the team’s CEO, Rich McKay, with input from Falcons General Manager Terry Fontenot, and several other appropriate members of Blank’s Atlanta Falcons and AMB Sports and Entertainment organizations. There is no timetable for filling the role.

In his third season, Smith was dogged by persistent questions regarding the play of quarterback Desmond Ridder. Before the season, Smith let it be known that Ridder was his guy. Ridder would finish the season with 2,836 passing yards, twelve touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Ridder’s inability to protect the football inside the red zone has doomed the Falcons time and time again. There were at least four instances in which Ridder’s turnovers games resulted in the Falcons stealing defeat from the jaws of victory. Notably, games against Minnesota, the road game against Carolina, the road game against the Titans and the comedy of errors in the Cardinals game in November.

Additionally, Arthur Smith’s indecisive play calling in the red zone and in end-of-game situations complicated matters. The game against Washington which Smith was unable to get the play into Ridder’s helmet and the quarterback promptly threw his third interception of the game.

Smith’s inability to effectively feature wide receiver Drake London, running back Bijan Robinson, and wide receiver Kyle Pitts was bane of contention for fans and observers alike. Despite running for 976 yards, catching 58 passes for 487 yards and eight combined touchdowns, Robinson was never the every-down back that Smith had promised his first round pick would be during the offseason. Kyle Pitts struggled once again to be featured in an offense that didn’t have an above average quarterback. Pitts only had 53 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns. London finished the season with 905 yards and two touchdowns.

The Falcons averaged 18.9 points per game, 7th worst in the National Football League. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s offense turned the ball over 28 times, tied for seventh most during the season.

“Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good,” said Blank. “We have profound respect for Coach Smith and appreciate all the hard work and dedication he has put into the Falcons over the last three years. He has been part of building a good culture in our football team, but the results on the field have not met our expectations. After significant thought and reflection, we have determined the best way forward for our team is new leadership in the head coaching position.”

A press conference will be held at 4:00 PM Monday afternoon.

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CHICAGO (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons had a chance to increase their slim chances of making the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

They failed. And a familiar problem played a major role.

Taylor Heinicke threw three of Atlanta’s four interceptions during the Falcons’ 37-17 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday. He was 10 for 29 for 163 yards in his second straight start after Desmond Ridder was benched for the second time this season.

“Ultimately, when you turn the ball over four times and don’t get any takeaways, that’s a recipe for a bad result,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said.

Atlanta (7-9) had a chance to move into a tie for the NFC South lead, but it lost for the third time in four games. It stayed in the postseason race thanks to Tampa Bay’s 23-13 loss to New Orleans.

The Falcons can still take the division if they win at New Orleans next weekend and the Buccaneers lose or tie at Carolina. There is no pathway to a wild card for Atlanta.

“The fact that we still have a chance going into Week 18, last week of the season, the fact that we’re still in that, that’s what you want,” Heinicke said. “If someone told us, Week 18 you are going to have a chance to go to the playoffs, you’ll take it.”

It remains to be seen if Heinicke will be available for the matchup with the Saints. He was replaced by Ridder with 3:39 left because of a left ankle injury that already had him on the injury report going into Sunday’s game. Ridder threw the Falcons’ final interception.

Heinicke, who led Atlanta to its best offensive performance this season during a 29-10 win over Indianapolis, had a walking boot on his left leg after the loss at snowy Soldier Field.

“Later, as the game went on, you could tell his ankle was hurting him,” Smith said.

Heinicke was Atlanta’s second-leading rusher with four carries for 46 yards, including a 24-yard scramble for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He said he thinks someone stepped on his foot on one of his last passes, causing “a little bit of sharp pain.”

“Once you’re in the heat of the battle, the adrenaline kind of takes over and you just go,” he said. “On most of those scrambles I wasn’t feeling it. It was mostly when you get to the sideline or you’re kind of sitting there in the huddle with the cold, it kind of creeps in your mind. Again, I’ve just got to play better.”

Atlanta was down 21-7 when Heinicke threw his first interception of the day — a diving catch by Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards right before halftime. He was picked off by Tyrique Stevenson in the third quarter, and Kyler Gordon was responsible for Heinicke’s last interception on a fourth-and-17 pass in the fourth.

Cairo Santos kicked a 42-yard field goal after the Stevenson interception, and Khalil Herbert had a 1-yard TD run after the play by Gordon. Heinicke got 75 of his passing yards on a screen play to Tyler Allgeier that went for a touchdown early in the second quarter.

“It’s never one thing,” Smith said of Atlanta’s passing game against Chicago. “For me to sit here and try to put blame on one person, that’s not how football works. A lot of things obviously that didn’t go right.”

Atlanta is averaging just 200.8 net yards passing this season and it has thrown 15 interceptions, including 12 in its nine losses.

“We turned the ball over, and we can’t do that, especially this team and how they play and this weather,” Heinicke said. “Can’t give them short fields. Can’t turn the ball over. Got to play clean football.”

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The Atlanta Falcons have two more games remaining in the regular season and just like on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, a 29-10 victory, they are must-win affairs.

In order for the Falcons to make the playoffs there will have to be a combination of wins, losses by the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a dash of luck.

The New Orleans Saints (7-8 overall) lost 30-22 at the Los Angeles Rams Thursday night setting up another golden opportunity for the Atlanta Falcons to remain in the mix for that NFC South division title. The Tampa Bay Bucs (7-7) were hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars later that afternoon. Following the Falcons victory, Atlanta head football coach was asked about a potential three-way tie at the top of the NFC South. “Nothing matters if you don’t take care of your own games,” Smith said.

Here’s exactly how things are shaping up going into the Sunday, New Year’s Eve matchups for the Falcons, Bucs and Saints.

NFC South standings:

Tampa 8-7

Atlanta 7-8

New Orleans 7-8

Carolina 2-13

Falcons need: Two wins and a lot of help.

The Falcons are playing their final two games at Chicago on Sunday (1 p.m. kickoff) and at New Orleans on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. The Falcons (7-8 overall) are a game behind Tampa, and tied with New Orleans. One loss and the Falcons are virtually eliminated from the playoffs and contention for the NFC South title.

The Saints (7-8) are playing at the Buccaneers (8-7) on Sunday and a Saints victory paired with a Falcons victory in Chicago will have all three teams tied at 8-8 atop the NFC South.

The final week of the season will have the Falcons playing in New Orleans on Sunday, Jan. 7 while the Buccaneers will play in Carolina.

The Falcons will need to beat the Saints (Atlanta defeated New Orleans 24-15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 26) and hope for a Tampa loss at Carolina (2-13, the worst record in the National Football League).

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On Christmas Eve, the Atlanta Falcons, staff, team owner Arthur Blank, and supporters got an early gift of sorts following a 29-10 victory over the visiting Indianapolis Colts.  

The New Orleans Saints (7-8 overall) lost 30-22 at the Los Angeles Rams Thursday night setting up another golden opportunity for the Atlanta Falcons to remain in the mix for that NFC South division title. The Tampa Bay Bucs (7-7) hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars later that afternoon. Asked about a potential three-way tie at the top of the NFC South, Smith said, “Nothing matters if you don’t take care of your own games.”

Atlanta came into the game against Indianapolis with its back up against the wall, but so did the Colts. At 8-6, Indianapolis was tied with Jacksonville and Houston atop the AFC South. Both the Falcons and Colts needed a victory to keep their postseason dreams alive. 

Time after time during the game Falcons players such as Calais Campbell (1.5 sacks), Kaden Elliss, Zach Harrison (2 sacks), Jesse Bates (game-sealing interception in fourth quarter) Bijan Robinson, and tight ends Kyle Pitts (touchdown reception) and Jonnu Smith made play after play with the season on the line. Falcons on again, off again starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke continued to find receivers on third down. 

On playing in a must-win game on Christmas Eve, Heinicke, who started two games on the 24th of December during his career, both were losses, said, “Third times the charm. We can enjoy our holidays with a win.”

The victory was a total team effort that included stellar special teams play from punter and NFL Man of the Year candidate Bradley Pinion. A fourth quarter punt with Atlanta ahead 23-10 stranded the Colts on their own 16 yard line. The 29 points were also a season-high for Atlanta.

“Everybody was in tune in all three phases. It was a big team win,” Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said after the game. “We have to get ready for Chicago.”

The game started like both teams’ offenses were looking to set an early tone. The Colts scored on the opening drive of the game before Atlanta answered back with a long drive that ended with a Heinicke pass to tight end Kyle Pitts for a touchdown. 

With the game tied at 7 Falcons Pro Bowl kicker Younghoe Koo missed a field goal that would have put his team ahead. A holding penalty gave the Falcons new life. Heinicke found receiver Drake London a couple times before Koo attempted a 23-yard field goal that was good this time and gave Atlanta a 10-7 lead with 3:23 remaining in the first half. 

A sack by Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss of Colts quarterback Gardener Minshew II forced a Colts punt at the two-minute warning. The Falcons would use that opportunity to pick up three more points before the half on another Koo field goal to advance its lead to 13-7.

Atlanta won the coin toss before the game started and wasted no time extending its lead to 20-7 on the opening drive of the second half. On a drive that was heavily influenced by veteran running back Cordarrelle Patterson’s 25 yards on four carries, the Falcons found the end zone on a Tyler Allgeier’s touchdown run. Koo would add a pair of field goals from 41 yards, 35 yards and 25 yards to add to the Falcons’ lead. 

What’s Next:

The Atlanta Falcons will travel to Chicago to play the Bears on New Year’s Eve and will close the regular season in New Orleans a week later. 

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INDIANAPOLIS (8-6) at ATLANTA (6-8)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox.

BETTING LINE: Falcons by 1 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Indianapolis 9-5, Atlanta 4-10

SERIES RECORD: Colts lead 15-2.

LAST MEETING: Colts won 27-24 on Sept. 22, 2019, at Indianapolis.

LAST WEEK: Colts beat Steelers 30-13, Falcons lost to Panthers 9-7.

COLTS OFFENSE: OVERALL (13), RUSH (13), PASS (18), SCORING (8).

COLTS DEFENSE: OVERALL (21), RUSH (26), PASS (18), SCORING (27).

FALCONS OFFENSE: OVERALL (19), RUSH (9), PASS (23), SCORING (T-26).

FALCONS DEFENSE: OVERALL (10), RUSH (T-15), PASS (8), SCORING (8).

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Colts plus-4, Falcons minus-6.

COLTS PLAYERS TO WATCH: Running backs. While it’s unclear who will play this week, the Colts know Gardner Minshew plays far better when he has a strong ground game. It looks as if Jonathan Taylor is ready to go after missing three games with a right thumb injury. But Zack Moss has a right arm injury and could sit out. If neither plays, former practice squad players Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson will see if they can replicate what they did last week — a combined 28 carries for 157 yards.

FALCONS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Taylor Heinicke will make his third start of the season after Desmond Ridder was benched for the second time. Heinicke has completed 41 of 74 passes for 498 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The 30-year-old Heinicke will be asked to provide stability after Ridder threw 10 touchdown passes with 10 interceptions and 11 fumbles, including a game-turning late pick in last week’s loss to Carolina.

KEY MATCHUP: Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Colts run defense. Robinson, the rookie starter, had a crucial fumble last week and was held to only seven carries for 11 yards. The Falcons can be expected to lean heavily on Robinson, with support from Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson, and take pressure off Heinicke by emphasizing their running game. Despite last week’s poor game on a rainy field, Robinson has rushed for 801 yards, the most by any rookie in the league this season. He has rushed for four touchdowns and has 1,124 yards from scrimmage.

KEY INJURIES: WR Michael Pittman Jr. is questionable after he cleared the concussion protocol. Pittman, Indy’s leading receiver, got hurt on a big hit that resulted a season-ending suspension for Steelers S Damontae Kazee.

RT Braden Smith has missed the past two games with a knee injury. … Falcons RT Kaleb McGary (knee) and DT David Onyemata (ankle) did not practice Wednesday after missing last week’s game. Guard Chris Lindstrom (ankle) and LB Bud Dupree (knee) could return this week.

SERIES NOTES: The Colts are 8-1 all time in Atlanta. … The Colts won the first 10 games of the series and also the past two. … The Falcons’ most recent win in the series was a 31-7 decision on Nov. 6, 2011, at Indianapolis. The Colts beat the Falcons in their most-recent trip to Atlanta, 24-21 in 2015 at the Georgia Dome. This will be the Colts’ first regular-season game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened in 2017. … Longtime Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan played the final season of his career in Indianapolis before moving to the broadcast booth this season.

STATS AND STUFF: Indy has won five of its past six, climbing from the AFC South basement into a three-way tie atop the division with Jacksonville and Houston. … The Falcons have lost back-to-back games to fall out of the NFC South lead. … Indy’s only loss at Atlanta was a 28-21 defeat in 1998, during Peyton Manning’s rookie season. … The Colts are one of four teams to score 20 or more points 12 times this season. … Minshew has matched his career high with six wins this season. … WR Josh Downs needs seven receptions to tie Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison (64) for second most by a rookie in Colts history. … Pittman fell four catches short of breaking Harrison’s streak for consecutive games of eight or more receptions (six). … Indy needs one sack to break the single-season franchise record (46 in 1989). …

The Colts and Denver are tied for the most strip-sacks this season (10). … K Matt Gay is 10 of 15 on field goals over the past five games and has missed at least one kick in four of those contests. … Colts punt returner Isaiah McKenzie was suspended for the final three regular-season games on Tuesday. Downs replaced McKenzie, who was inactive, last week. …

Atlanta’s defense held Carolina without a touchdown last week. The Falcons’ three games without allowing a touchdown this season are a high mark since 2006. … WR Drake London has 130 catches in his first two seasons, three behind Julio Jones’ 133 in 2011-12, the most by a Falcons player in his first two seasons. … Heinicke has produced 36 touchdowns, including 34 passing, in 27 career starts. … LB Kaden Elliss has a career-high 100 tackles and has matched his high with seven tackles for losses. … S Jessie Bates has matched his career high with 111 tackles and has a career-high five interceptions.

FANTASY TIP: In Atlanta’s most recent home game two weeks ago, London had career highs with 10 catches for 172 yards against Tampa Bay. London should have enough familiarity with Heinicke to continue to flourish at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He also had nine catches for 125 yards against Washington on Oct. 15 in another big home game and has averaged six catches for 88.8 yards in games played in Atlanta this season.

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The Atlanta Falcons announced plans to start Taylor Heinicke for their game against the Indianapolis Colts; thereby sending embattled quarterback Desmond Ridder to the bench for the second time this season, according to various sources. 

Ridder has committed 16 turnovers, tied for fifth-most in the NFL. Yes, turnovers aren’t ideal, but the occurrences of the turnovers have been catastrophic, with six of them coming in the red zone. Ridder has been exceptionally poor on the road. He’s completed just 59.4 percent of his passes for 162.6 yards per game as a road starter in his two seasons.

During the fourth quarter of the Falcons’ last game against the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta had the ball on the Panthers’ 18 yard line. A field goal would have surely iced the game given the inept play by Carolina up to that point. 

Ridder rolled to his left and threw back toward the middle of the field toward Cordarrelle Patterson. It was a horrific decision. Panthers safety Xavier Woods would pick off Ridder’s pass with 7:35 left in the fourth quarter. The Panthers wouldn’t give the ball up as they drove for a game-winning field goal as time expired.

“I was trying to get back inside,” Ridder said, via the team’s website. “Any time you’re throwing late over the middle, it’s probably not a good idea. I was trying to make a play, and I tried to do too much.”

He didn’t try to do too much. He did entirely too much.

The Falcons managed only 204 yards of offense Sunday, albeit with the game being played in driving rain. What was also damning about Sunday’s performance was Atlanta could only muster 52 rushing yards on 31 carries (1.7 yards per carry). 

The Atlanta Falcons have wonderful skill position players that have been rendered ineffective due to Ridder’s play and the indecisive, ineffective and unconvincing play calling by head coach Arthur Smith. Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson had a combined six receptions and 64 yards Sunday afternoon. 

With that in mind, Smith admitted he’s heard the calls for his ouster.

“That’s what you sign up for, right,” Smith said Monday. “I don’t mean that to sound like bravado, but you want these jobs. You deal with the consequences.”

There are only 32 of those jobs in America. 

Without any regard for the conclusion of the NFC South division title race, the Falcons no longer have any trust in Desmond Ridder. In two weeks, Atlanta went from leading the NFC South to now possessing a scant chance of making the playoffs. The Falcons are +750 longshots to win the division, +600 to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and -900 to miss out again.

Ridder’s ten interceptions and eleven fumbles plus Smith’s insistence on being proven right regarding his trust in the quarterback has the Falcons in limbo once again.

“There’s a lot of things — nothing’s ever set in stone,” Smith said after Sunday’s game about whether he would stick with Ridder. “You’ve got to evaluate and adapt. … We got to find a way and we need to win.”

Hall of Fame head coach Marv Levy once said, “If you start listening to the fans, soon you’re going to be sitting with them.” In Arthur Smith’s case, he could be sitting with the fans on January 8, 2024. 

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The Atlanta Falcons, 9-7 losers at Carolina Sunday, may be two games under .500, and a game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints in the NFC South standings, but believe it or not there’s still hope.

Atlanta has a winning record at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this season (4-3) and on Sunday, Christmas Eve, the Falcons will play their final home game of the regular season against the Indianapolis Colts.

A victory on Sunday can either keep the Falcons in the running for the NFC South title or tie things up considering what the Bucs and Saints do during week 16.

During the loss at Carolina, a rainy and cold affair, but a winnable game, Atlanta rushed for just 52 total rushing yards. Second-year back Tyler Allgeier accounted for 45 yards on 14 carries. Falcons second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder, who threw for a career-high 347 yards against Tampa last week, passed for just 152 yards in Carolina Sunday.  

Here’s where all three teams are playing next week:

Atlanta will host Indianapolis, who are coming into the game following a 30-13 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Colts (8-6 overall) are one of three AFC wild card teams fighting for a postseason spot.

New Orleans will play at the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.

Tampa Bay will host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. 

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Eleven yards. That’s all that separated the Atlanta Falcons from prime position in the NFC South. Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield found tight end Cade Otton for a touchdown to give the Bucs a 29-25 lead with 31 seconds remaining in the game. Atlanta would lose the game by that score, promoting Falcons head coach Arthur Smith to say, “We had plenty of opportunities in all three phases of the game,” during his postgame press conference.

Along with a safety, there were two missed field goals. Opportunities indeed.

Moments earlier with the score 22-17 and the Atlanta Falcons playing catchup, Falcons second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder found second-year receiver Drake London down the field on the longest pass play of the game. Three consecutive runs by second-year running back Tyler Allgeier put Atlanta in scoring position before Ridder scrambled to give the home team its first lead of the game, 23-22. A successful two-point conversion on a pass from Ridder to London put Atlanta ahead 25-22 with 3:23 remaining in the game.

All is not lost as the division remains up for grabs with Tampa, New Orleans and Atlanta now all tied at 6-7 overall. Sunday was the Falcons’ first divisional loss.

The Falcons have just one home game remaining on the regular season schedule. On Christmas Eve Atlanta will host the Indianapolis Colts (7-6 after loss to Cincinnati), another team working on a long sought after playoff berth after a couple of seasons of mediocrity.

Before anyone starts talking about the playoffs there are a few games the Falcons will have to win to secure a playoff spot. Winning the NFC South will be the only way to do that though. On Sunday New Orleans defeated Carolina 28-6 to stay on pace with the Falcons and Buccaneers.

The game started with both Atlanta and Tampa exchanging scoring drives. The game would remain tied at 10 following a 36-yard touchdown connection from Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (26 for 40 for 347 yards, a TD and an INT) and tight end Kyle Pitts (three catches for 57 yards and a TD).

The tie would be broken on a safety when Atlanta, with the ball on their own eight-yard line and 2:44 remaining in the half, managed to fumble in the end zone and recover it resulting in a safety and a two-point Tampa advantage.

There were a couple of opportunities to take the lead, but both ended in missed field goals of 50 and 52 yards by Falcons kicker extraordinaire Younghoe Koo.

During the third quarter Tampa expanded its lead to 19-10 following a nine-play drive that ended in a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Rachaad White. Early in the fourth quarter the Falcons would score on a Bijan Robinson blitz (32 yard catch and run, and three-yard TD run) to pull to within two points, 19-17.

The Falcons hold a slight advantage over the Saints because of their 24-15 victory over their rival on November 26. Atlanta will be in Carolina next Sunday, while New Orleans will host the New York Giants and Tampa Bay will travel to Green Bay.

“It’s frustrating losing like that,” said Smith. “That’s the NFL. Unfortunately they made one more play than we did.”

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There have been quarterback changes (Ridder to Heinicke back to Ridder), late-game losses (31-28 to Vikings in Atlanta), comeback wins (16-13 at Tampa), really bad losses on the road (28-23 at Tennessee), difficult losses at home (24-16 to Washington) this season. But there are always two dates on the schedule that always seem to have a make-it-or-break-it feel to the Atlanta Falcons season: Saints weeks. 

This year’s game was made all that more special because of the relationship between hip-hop and Atlanta. A celebration of 50 years of hip-hop took place Sunday afternoon bringing more than 60 Atlanta-based artists, including Big Boi, T.I., Jeezy, Ceelo Green, Killer Mike, DJ Toomp, Young Dro, and Jermaine Durpi, to name just a few, to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to physically represent the city’s impact on the art form. 

The artist, all of whom wore black Falcons jerseys with the number 50 on the back, made their way to midfield before being announced over the stadium p.a. system. The sight of some of the city’s trailblazing artists like Kilo Ali, Dallas Austin, and TLC, who performed an abbreviated version of their classic “Waterfalls” in between the first and second quarters. A break in the action before halftime had Bonecrusher serenade the fans with “I Ain’t Never Scared”, which brought the crowd to its feet more than any other performance to that point. 

The halftime performance featured melodies from Big Boi, Dupri, Jeezy, and Quavo, each artist having a few minutes to perform from different areas of the stadium. Dupri opened his performance on a stage at the 50-yard line with the lead verse from “Welcome to Atlanta’. Quavo was next, rapping from the rafters of the stadium surrounded by Falcons cheerleaders. A tribute to late Migos bandmate and nephew Take Off, with the words “Still Wit Me” displayed on the big screens during his performance. 

Big Boi was joined by fellow Organized Noize affiliate Sleepy Brown as he replaced Dupri on stage to rap a verse from his hit “I Like the Way You Move”. Jeezy would close the halftime performances from the stadium’s skybridge overlooking the field. Dressed in all white, he rapped verses from “Way Too Gone” and his verse on the forever popular tune, “Dey Know” remix.

The sound of people chanting “We ready, we ready” helped usher in Pastor Troy, a regular at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Atlanta United matches during their season, for an end-of-quarter performance following the third quarter.

Then it happened. Rapper, actor and Atlanta native Ludacris came repelling from the roof on a harness to thunderous applause. The “Fast and Furious” film series star performed his verse off of DJ Khlaid’s “All I Do is Win” remix and his own 2001 classic “Move B**ch”. 

Hip-hop and Atlanta will forever be linked and Sunday’s performances and non-performances (TLC, Ceelo Green, T.I. did not get an opportunity to perform due to microphone issues) will remain proof of that fact. 

The Falcons (5-6 overall, 4-3 at home) moving into first place in the NFC South following a 24-15 victory was just gravy on top of the Thanksgiving leftovers. Atlanta travels east to New Jersey to play the New York Jets on Sunday. 

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