ATL Standard

When Darnell Mooney joined the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason, he reached out to Drake London with a clear message: "We're going to do this thing together." Fast forward ten months, and the pair has emerged as one of the leading wide receiver duos in the NFL.

Drake London viewed their partnership as a joint effort from the start. "After that call, I saw it as — that's 1A, 1B," London stated. The collaboration has resulted in impressive performances on the field. Previously, London was the only Falcons wide receiver to exceed 750 yards over two seasons. Now, both Mooney and London are close to achieving 1,000-yard seasons for the first time since Julio Jones and Roddy White did so in 2012.

London has already surpassed 1,000 yards in Week 17 for his career milestone. Meanwhile, Mooney is just eight yards shy of reaching that mark but was listed as questionable for Sunday due to a shoulder injury after missing Friday's practice.

The Falcons' coaching staff had high expectations for this duo at the season's outset. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson commented on Mooney's acquisition: "In free agency, Darnell was our top target... His speed and one-on-one ability was something that we all liked." Robinson noted how well they have complemented each other since spring training.

Head coach Raheem Morris described Mooney and London as leaders on and off the field—Mooney being more cerebral while London brings emotional energy. Morris likened Mooney’s initiative to notable players like Cooper Kupp and Julio Jones during his tenure with them.

Mooney’s game intelligence extends beyond typical receiver duties; he assists offensive linemen by calling out pressure reads during games—a role usually reserved for quarterbacks or running backs. This awareness has also influenced London's growth in reading defenses and identifying blitzes.

While Mooney contributes strategic insights, London's fiery approach adds another dimension to their partnership. Teammates like Bijan Robinson have observed London's development into a vocal leader over his three years with the team.

Zac Robinson praised both players: "They are both very smart football players... It's no surprise that they're having such great seasons."

The synergy between Mooney and London continues to be an asset for the Falcons as they conclude their regular season campaign.