ATL Standard

The Atlanta Falcons have reached the midpoint of the NFL season with a 6-3 record, demonstrating resilience and teamwork. Success in the league requires contributions from all players and staff members, though recognition is often unevenly distributed. To address this, Tori McElhaney, Will McFadden, Terrin Waack, and Amna Subhan discuss the team's unsung heroes.

Tori McElhaney highlights Mike Hughes as her choice for an unsung hero. She previously addressed this topic in her Tuesday Mailbox column.

Will McFadden emphasizes Ryan Neuzil's performance at center. Neuzil has started six games in place of injured Drew Dalman and allowed only 18 pressures and one sack over 243 snaps. His pressure rate of 7.4% is the lowest among Falcons' starting offensive linemen. "Atlanta's offensive surge... coincides with Neuzil's arrival," notes McFadden.

Terrin Waack praises KhaDarel Hodge for his impact on both offense and special teams. Hodge recovered a fumble for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints and scored a game-winning touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime. He also thwarted a fake punt attempt by Tampa Bay in another game.

Amna Subhan recognizes Ray-Ray McCloud for stepping up after Rondale Moore's injury. McCloud has recorded a career-high 305 receiving yards and contributed significantly to special teams with 273 returning yards on kickoffs. "He's an unsung hero because he's done all of this in the absence of Rondale Moore," says Subhan.

These players have made notable contributions to the Falcons' success despite limited recognition.