Rise Up Tonight - Week 7 2026 Season

It's Thursday night in the A. You know what that means. Kelly Price and Tori McElhaney is coming at you on Rise Up Tonight, presented by AT&T. Well, Kevin Stefanski said it best after the game on Sunday. They beat us, the Bears beat us, we also beat us, and that is really frustrating. Still kind of feeling that here on a Thursday, though. Yeah, it's hard enough, as it is in this league, to win week in and week out without actually getting in your own way. Yeah, Falcons did a little bit of that on Sunday, and there's no rest for the weary, because three of their next five opponents are undefeated as of right now. Let's huddle up about it, y'all. Let's huddle up with Kelly and Tori on the world of Falcons football. Well, we heard Kevin Stefanski and some of the other Falcons point to one thing that led to this loss. Another slow start on offense. First quarter stat line, three yards on six plays. 97 yards of offense total and one touchdown at halftime. Before the third quarter rally, the Falcons punted four times and didn't convert the two fourth downs that they went for. Heck, they were down 14-0 before they even registered a first down. So they know they started slow. They've talked about not starting slow, so the question is, how can they start more swiftly? And Tori, I wonder if you can discern any common threads in the slow starts we've kind of seen from Atlanta this season. Yeah, the Falcons have to be better on first and second down. That's where they're getting themselves into trouble. The run game hasn't been consistent enough over the last two outings, and that's putting them in some really tough third and down situations. Look, in the first half against the Ravens, the Falcons faced third and five or longer five times. Then in the first half against the Bears, they faced third and long four times. Now, give them credit, they converted a few of those opportunities, but that doesn't change the bigger issue at hand, and it helps explain these slow starts because it's a chain reaction. When you're not picking up enough yards on first and second down, you're putting yourself behind the chains, and when it's third and long defenses, no, they can turn up the pressure and pin their ears back. Yeah, and the Falcons were down so early, you can really get away from the ground game in that scenario, but the second-best rushing attack in the game put up just 63 yards on 12 carries on Sunday. Here's one of my bigger problems. Bijan Robinson touched the ball just six times in the first half, five in the second half. I had to go back and check the play-by-play like four times to make sure that was even right, because I felt really crazy reading that, Tori. I mean, that's insane. The special teams miscues lost some possessions in there, of course, as well. Are you surprised that Tommy Reason Company didn't try to get number seven a little more involved in the passing game, scheming up some more opportunities to just get him in space, especially against a secondary that we literally talked about last week was kind of suspect going into this game? Yeah, honestly, Kelly, I'm not sure I'd put this all in the play calling. I actually thought there was a pretty good mix of trying to spread the ball around to get different guys involved. It just really didn't work, whether that be because the Bears took the Bajon option away or Mike Penix Jr. made a different decision. For me, the bigger issue is that this offense never found a consistent rhythm. They only had 20 plays in the first half. They weren't effective enough on early downs like we talked about, and they couldn't sustain drives because of it. So I don't necessarily think the answer is just get Bajon more touches. It's about executing better as an offense. If you do that, you're going to create more opportunities for Bajon and everywhere else. That's fair. That's fair. Well, all this brings us to this week's matchup, right? The San Francisco 49ers, who look like they may be the team to beat. We've seen weaknesses rear their ugly heads for the Falcons in recent weeks, and it's hard for anyone to match up well on paper against a 6-0 squad. But there are still some things to maybe be positive about here. Maybe the interior pass rush brought to you by the firm of Dorlis and Dexter, who we've talked about a lot. Is that where you might see a matchup that might lean in Atlanta's favor here? Yeah, potentially, but they'll have one of their toughest tests yet against Christian McCaffrey on the ground and Brock Purdy through the air. And I would hone in on Brock Purdy here. Just last week, he was blitzed on a season-high 41% of his dropback. However, that offensive line held firm, allowing just the second-lowest pressure rate of the season for the 49ers. What's more, Brock Purdy has failed to throw a touchdown against the Blitz in just one game this year, one, for seven weeks in. He's been very good against the rush and when things break down. For this defense, it's not enough to pressure him. It's about containment, both Brock Purdy's containment and the big plays off the unscripted moments, too. Yeah, Kevin Stefanski talked a lot about that challenge that's presented to them this weekend. Well, if you're anything like me, the Scholastic Book Fairs back in grade school, they were one of the most fun events of the school year. Imagine if Bijan Robinson was the one giving you that book or reading it to you. Olivia Whitmire has that story as we rise up for Atlanta, brought to you by Truist. Kids all over Atlanta know the name Bijan Robinson. They know him as the Falcons star, one of the best players in the NFL. But for Bijan, it's much more important that they know him as a regular guy, and he cares about much more than just football. And this week, he reminded elementary schoolers across the city how important literacy is. You know, I want to really help Atlanta and Atlanta kids in the city be at their best and become their best self because I know that they have so much potential to do so many great things in this world. With the help of his foundation, Robinson hosted Bijan Reads Day, a program that aims to inspire a love of reading while providing young students with the tools they need to succeed. 5,000 3rd grade students across Atlanta Public Schools got some new books, a literacy playbook to work on and more, and some lucky students got a surprise visit from number 7 himself. Last year we were said, you know, when they're low in reading and low in literacy, then there's a high likelihood chance that they, you know, will either be in prison or that they'll be homeless. For them and the kids in the city, like to enjoy it and to love it now at this age is really important. I know they all have dreams. They all are telling me when they want to grow up, they want to do something big and be a part of something big, so it starts now. It might be easy for some of these students to look at Bijan and say, hey, I want to be a football player like you one day. Reading can't be that important, but he'll be the first to tell them that's far from the truth. No matter what they want to be one day, what they're working on right now in the classroom is the key to success. They got to understand, like, I didn't just get here by just playing football every single day and not go to school. Starting now at a young age and enjoying it and understanding it and even reading, like, children's books that obtain to what they want to be and what they want to do. It's just it's very important. Reporting in Atlanta for Rise Up Tonight, I'm Olivia Whitmire. Anything that they might not be able to cover in the broadcast, I can kind of just give you a little little help. Something else you might like to know, not what you possibly need to know. We're here to talk sports just like Simone Scott. No mansplaining here on Rise Up Tonight. The TikTok creator who explains sports for the girls joins me in the nest later in the show. Plus, who would Falcons players pick to officiate their weddings? You may already know some of their answers. Question of the Week is next on Rise Up Tonight. Rise Up Tonight is presented by AT&T and brought to you by Georgia Lottery. Today could be the day. By Mercedes-Benz, the best of nothing. And by Home Depot, how doers get more done. Ever wonder what's really on your favorite players mind time for the question of the week Who would you pick to officiate your wedding? I probably say Bijan. He's a big Big believer of faith. So I think you can't do it the right way officiate my wedding In the locker room, I'd say JD Bertrand No, you're already married. But if you had to get married again, who would officiate your wedding in this locker room in this locker room? Okay, this is a pretty easy one Okay, I think Charlie and Bijan are the two like they're the two frontrunners They would be the two guys that I would put I would bet they were on top five on just about everybody's list on the team a funny one will probably be hurt and that Is that pickings? Oh, I think you do a good job Yeah, thank you. You know me kind of lock in and do it I'm not gonna lie. Harold Perkins kind of took me out. I was not expecting that one not prepared for Harold Perkins I love Harold Perkins, was not prepared for him to be the officiant of him. The Rev Bijan would do a great job. 100%. All right, still looking for that first dub at the crib, but the boys came in fresh, and I expect nothing less this week as well. It's time for Walking In. So, first up, what in the Matrix am I looking at here? Because I guess it's appropriate Jesse Bates has been kind of unreal, you know, with all the punch-outs and all the interceptions and all the turnovers he's had. He's a little bit of an unreal simulation. But, Tori, All Black, it's very much becoming like a theme this season, I feel like. is black the new black you know everything comes back around i guess so yeah but seriously the temperature dropped below 75 degrees and Jesse Bates was like you know what i'm bringing out the coat i'm bringing the trench i'm here for it all right Kyle Pitts giving a nod to the horse girl within us all it's preppy it's comfy it's cozy it's fall it is the main event good one that's a good one okay so i could see KP owning a horse yes i think so heck he already has a cow named after him shout out Cow Pitts cow pit but seriously i like this elevated comfy look particularly the boots at the bottom brings kind of it all together gotta have the tims if you haven't seen Cow Pitts go look him up online all right this one is for the girls Simone Scott and i sit down to talk Falcons NFL even Atlanta Dream and ATL as kind of a slept on sports city that conversation is next on Rise Up Tonight welcome back to Rise Up Tonight let's head in the nest with Kelly Tori and this week's special guest, brought to you by Mercedes-Benz. Really excited about this week's In The Nest guest. She is famous for her sports for the girlies kind of TikToks. I'm sure you guys have seen them out there. I know I love watching them when I'm looking for someone to pick up on the waiver wire real quick and I need just a quick take. Or, you know, if you are someone in Atlanta here trying to watch The Dream coming up and you're like, I haven't really been following all season. Well, it's a good way to recap it. Simone Scott is your girl and she joins us In The Nest here. I know that you have so many followers across Instagram, TikTok and everything, but where'd you get the idea to kind of start this community and how did it kind of come together? The whole idea started off was I played fantasy football with a bunch of my girlfriends. We had a league for years and we started it because we didn't understand what was happening and we heard everyone talking about fantasy football. So we figured we would get together and learn like hands on experience. And it's kind of grown from there. I saw a lot of people, a lot of women especially, picking up on fantasy football over the last few years. So I figured, hey, me and my girls, we went through some growing pains those first few seasons. Maybe I can help them out. And there was really an open lane right there. So I started my TikTok because I thought, hey, I personally, I like to learn from other women because we just kind of get each other more. So I wanted to make a page for the girls where we talk about all of the sports things that you would talk about on a guy's page. but it's just a little calmer and nicer background because it's not dumbing anything down. It's just simplifying it in a way that we really like. I feel like a lot of sports pages, they're not technically for men, but they are masculine or kind of male oriented. So I just kind of wanted to go the opposite direction there. So what makes a topic or a sports story for you kind of click in this TikTok realm versus like, I know you kind of have a sports journalism or broadcast background. What makes it click in that sense versus what you used to kind of do? Is it, is there a difference there? There is a difference. I like to think of myself as a supplement to the traditional broadcast or just journalism. I was, I did come up in the journalism realm. I went to UNC Chapel Hill, studied journalism, worked for Fox Sports and their football and basketball recruiting and covered some of the Big Ten. But I like with TikTok, it is a little more relaxed. um when i the biggest thing or in the way how i figure out what stories to cover is that honestly my mom asked me what's going on here i don't get that or my brother's fiance my brother's fiance i guess is now a wife she didn't grow up with sports i did my dad played professional basketball so we talked about the dream team at the dinner table but she was watching my brother who played basketball at his games and she's like why is he sitting down over there why why is he not shooting that so I get a lot of my inspiration from them just any kind of question you might have I hope that I can kind of give you an answer. This new role and new voice for you kind of helped you connect with maybe a different audience that you hadn't been connecting with previously. It's been really exciting my favorite thing is when people come up to me and they're like you know I was at work and everyone was talking about the Falcons Bears game and I usually just don't care but now I'm like oh did you see that interception you see how we almost came back and they just feel embraced by it. And I love that. I feel like, again, you have your traditional broadcast and we all kind of watch things on two screens. We have our TVs and then we have our phone in our hand. And so I like to be your phone screen and anything that they might not be able to cover on the broadcast, I can kind of just give you a little help, a little nudge, something else you might like to know, not what you possibly need to know. As a creator who breaks down so many NFL storylines, is there something that you've noticed that your fans or just commenters in general will like zero in on or like really, really hot and heavy on? Is there something that you're like, oh, I didn't realize that was going to kind of have that reaction that people are really interested in? It's funny. Last season, towards the end, I started really focusing on playoff pictures, not so much the teams, but how they're doing. What's a wild card? How did it determine who plays who? What do the Falcons need to do to be able to make the playoffs? And people really enjoyed that a lot more than I expected. I thought it's just a cool little little asterisk to put there but people like oh no tell me that the 49ers can we win this week and so I that's been a really fun thing but you never know what's gonna take off which is I think something that's really cool about TikTok specifically it's like playing the lottery like I'll spend hours doing research on a video and I'll put it out there and my mom's the only one that watches it and then I do this one about hey the three-way tie between the falcons and the panthers and the bucks last year this is how that all works and then it takes off so i think that's just one of the really cool things about social media and TikTok, talk about the the I guess your take on kind of the state of the Falcons and the trajectory of where they're at right now the Falcons, it's it's hard, we're inconsistent that's the thing like you get your hopes up really easy and we had that stretch a couple weeks ago where it was good and it was really good and I feel like that loss to the Ravens that that one we could have won and I think that might have that that one hurt, it was right there and then last week versus the Bears we were down too early and we had a valiant effort to come back but it was just too much so I feel like we could just like stay ahead, get like over that hump it will be good, it's gonna be tough because we have one heck of a schedule coming up especially in November We have, I mean, there are three undefeated teams left and we're going to play all of them. So that, we need to kind of find our footing. But it also does kind of seem like we do elevate our play against better opponents. So that's promising. I think the shining star here is that the NFC South is such, it's such a question mark. You never know who's going to win. Like no one's out of it. That's the story at the end of the day. There's always hope. And so we always have our path to the playoffs. We just have to get there. Thanks for talking about it with us here on Rise Up Tonight. Simone, catch her on TikTok, Instagram, all the social media to break it down for the girls. Thanks for joining me. Thanks so much for having me. This is Head Crack Talking, and you're watching Rise Up Tonight, presented by AT&T. A little practice yesterday that I kind of forgot. It was throwback week. I know. It snuck up on me, and oh, I just love them so much. So nice. Since 2009, 16-3 in these bad boys. And the Falcons just seem to play better than them. I guess it's a look-good, play-good situation. And honestly, Bijan Robinson always rolls off like an 85-yard run. At least he has the last, what, three times that they've worn the red helmet. It's a good look. It's a good look. Good look overall. So big talk of this week as well has been Michael Penix Jr.'s struggles as he was under a lot of pressure. Chicago pressured on a career-high 46% of his dropbacks last week. He was blitzed at the second-highest rate of his career at 51%. So protection could be misconstrued sometimes, I think. It's about a lot of things. Techniques, situations, play calls. And it's also about the offense doing their one of 11, as we hear guys say, you know, getting open, getting whatever the block is that they need to do, whatever their job may be at that moment. That's all kind of encompassed into protection. But I wonder, Tori, is there a way that the Falcons can kind of scheme up a more comfortable situation for Penix to move around the pocket a little bit, evade some of the pressure? We know he's not Caleb Williams, but right. Yeah. OK, so it goes back to what I said at the beginning of the show. Run the ball better on first, first and second down. Look, we all know what Mike can do when he has time in the pocket. Against the Packers and the Saints, he and Drake London tore them up downfield. But you know what opened those opportunities up? It was running the ball consistently in the first half. That's priority numero uno. The second, though, and I think Mike recognizes this, too, is that he can be better when pressure is applied. Now, pressure is getting to Mike at a faster clip than any other qualified quarterback in the league through week six. But if we see Mike handle that pressure maybe a little bit better, start to make a defense pay for it, That would go a long way in showing Mike's own maturation as a QB in this league. Yeah, that's a good point, especially as they're kind of evaluating that this year, right? All right, meanwhile, the Kyle Pitts agenda. It lives, y'all. Three touchdowns in two weeks. Second time with a score in back-to-back games in his career. I feel like we talk about this every week, Tori. Why don't we see more of this man they once called the unicorn? Because I think defenses are putting more resources on Drake London and Bijan Robinson after they went for 190 in rushing and receiving in week two. Legitimately, I think there is something to be said about the matchups Kyle Pitts is getting in the aftermath of those performances by both Drake and Bijan. That, and sometimes it really is about who has the hot hand, and Kyle Pitts has the hot hand right now. He certainly did. Well, we'll see what it looks like on Sunday against the 49ers. Like we said, a 6-0 matchup, one of the NFC's best, one of the NFL's best right now. It's going to be a really physical matchup. I actually talked about this with Cam Thomas yesterday. He said it's very much an eat your Wheaties week because it's going to be physical on Sunday. We'll see how it shakes out. We'll be back here same time next week to wrap it all up for you. Staying up late with us tonight. Thank you for doing that. I'm Kelly Price. She's Tori McElhaney. Have a great night.