"ATL ReKap New Year's Eve Special: Falcons' Tough Loss and Hawks' Thrilling Victory to Close Out 2023"

Good evening, everyone, and welcome back to the last blog of the 2023 year on ATL ReKap. I hope you all are having a wonderful New Year's Eve and spending time with your loved ones. I wish you all a year ahead filled with love, laughter, and success.

Atlanta Falcons

This afternoon, the Atlanta Falcons faced the Chicago Bears, unfortunately losing 37-17. QB Taylor Heinicke started, going 10/29 for 163 yards, throwing a 75-yard touchdown to RB Tyler Allgeier off a screen pass and rushing one in himself for 24 yards. Heinicke also threw three interceptions this afternoon. Desmond Ridder came in the fourth to take some reps for Heinicke as the Falcons were already down 13. Ridder went 3/4, throwing for 17 yards as well as an interception.

Rookie RB from Texas A&M, Bijan Robinson, led the Falcons in rushing today with 15 carries for 75 yards. Taylor Heinicke also had 4 rushes for 46 yards, including the 24-yard touchdown he scored. Second-year RB from BYU, Tyler Allgeier, played an impressive game today with an explosive 75-yard run after a screen pass from Taylor Heinicke, juking out defenders and running like he was the Flash. Allgeier also had 5 carries for 13 yards.

Second-year WR from USC, Drake London, followed Allgeier in receiving, having 4 receptions for 56 yards. Drake London now has 134 receptions, the most receptions a Falcon has had in their first 2 seasons in franchise history.

Jessie Bates III led the Falcons defensively with 11 tackles along with a TFL. Kaden Ellis followed Bates, having 9 tackles as well as a sack and a TFL. The Falcons are set to play their final game of the season next Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are favored to win the game 55% to 45% according to ESPN. Catch me after the game for a recap!

Atlanta Hawks

Switching gears to the Hawks, they faced the Washington Wizards this afternoon, winning 130-126. Dejounte Murray and Trae Young both had an excellent game today, scoring a total of 72 points, 16 assists, and 7 three-pointers made. Trae Young is back on track, having an exceptional game today, scoring a total of 40 points, going 11-19 from the field and 4-8 from beyond the arch. Young put up 3 rebounds, 13 assists, and 3 steals. Trae put up 18 points, 9 assists, and 3 three-pointers in just the first half. Young continues to go crazy from beyond the arch, assuring opponents that he will have at least one logo three a game.

Dejounte Murray had an impressive game today as well, putting up 32 points, going 13-21 from the field and 3-6 from beyond the arch. Murray put up 6 rebounds and 3 assists. The 27-year-old had a tough mid-range jumper in the 2nd quarter, using his ball-handling skills to outsmart Landry Shamet.

Jalen Johnson was an outstanding player in today's game, putting up 24 points, his career-high, going 9-12 from the field and 2-4 from beyond the arch. The third-year forward put up a total of 13 rebounds and 4 assists. JJ put up 18 points and 8 rebounds in just the first half. Jalen Johnson had everyone on their feet after rocking the rim multiple times today with an insane double clutch in the first quarter, moving the ball around the defender to get the ball through the basket. What I think was the greatest lob of the year was from the one and only Trae Young, passing it behind him in the air to Jalen Johnson, who finished it off with a disgusting hammer.

Clint Capela scored 11 points tonight, hitting 7,000 career points. Capela went 5-11 from the field, putting up 17 rebounds, 3 assists, a block, and a steal. Bogdan Bogdanovich was the only player who scored off the bench, putting up 12 points for the Hawks, going 5-19 from the field and 1-8 from the three-point range.

The Hawks are set to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday at 7:30 PM. Both teams' odds are at 50-50, and it will be a good game for sure, seeing Trae up against Shai. Onyeka Okongwu and Seth Lundy are game-time decisions for the game due to their respective injuries. Stay tuned after the game for a recap!