Many good things have contributed to the amazing start to the season for the Braves. One of the biggest factors is how well many of the depth position player signings and acquisitions have worked out for Atlanta, such as Dominic Smith and Jorge Mateo. But the best of all was the trade for Mauricio Dubon, whose versatility has been extremely valuable for the Braves. Alex Anthopoulos has always made good moves on the margins, and this year is no different.
Atlanta, GA
Alabama Snaps 17-Game Atlanta Win Streak: Notebook
ATLANTA — No. 9 Alabama football fell to No. 3 Georgia 28-7 in the SEC Championship on Saturday evening.
The large margin of defeat puts the Crimson Tide’s College Football Playoff hopes in jeopardy, and if the committee isn’t convinced of Alabama’s full-season resumé, Selection Sunday would eliminate UA from a spot in the 12-team field for the second consecutive season.
There were numerous reasons for Alabama’s downfall in the 2025 SEC Championship. Here are three factors that impacted the result.
The Third Down Paradox
This was Alabama’s second meeting with Georgia this year, as the Crimson Tide took the Bulldogs down 24-21 in Athens, Ga., in late September. One of the biggest takeaways from that game was that UA started the game converting all seven of its third-down attempts.
Fast forward to Saturday in Atlanta, Alabama really struggled to find the first-down marker. The Crimson Tide finish 3 of 13 on third-down attempts—a massive difference from the first game. Additionally, Simpson and company also went nearly 23 minutes without a first down at one point in this game.
Converting third downs was one of Simpson’s top keys to success from this past Monday, but the Crimson Tide’s failure in this stat category played a big part in determining the outcome.
“We’re just one or two things away from having a big play,” Simpson said. “I think credit to Georgia’s defense, they did a good job. We just got to make the easy things easy. I felt like to be good on third down, we got to be better on first and second down.”
Key Pregame Loss Impacts Blocked Punt
Alabama football released its initial availability report on Wednesday evening ahead of the SEC Championship game in Atlanta, and there was a surprising name listed.
Crimson Tide BANDIT LT Overton was listed as “out” for Saturday’s game against Georgia due to an illness. Overton plays a role on punt coverage, and his absence led to a blocked punt in the first quarter. Four plays and 21 yards later, Georgia would open the scoring and the Bulldogs had the momentum from then on.
“I can tell you exactly what happened [on the blocked punt],” DeBoer said during the postgame press conference. “We got a new face in the spot. Obviously that’s LT Overton’s position. Just tell you what it is. There’s a check we got to make. You got a new face in that spot. That’s what happened.
“Again, getting guys more reps, getting guys back out there makes a big deal. I don’t fault our guys that were in that spot, doing everything they can. But there’s a check we got to make, one we make all season long. We missed it. They got an extra hat that we couldn’t block.”
Alabama Would Look ‘Considerably Different’ Without Injuries
Alabama came into Saturday a bit banged up, as eight players didn’t suit up. Crimson Tide running back Jam Miller and tight end Josh Cuevas missed this game, and left guard Kam Dewberry was dressed but didn’t see action on the field.
In addition to these three and the aforementioned LT Overton, Alabama had few more players not fully healthy, and DeBoer listed them off.
“You talk about Parker Brailsford, who if you give these guys two weeks to get ready, what the health will look like for these guys, Parker Brailsford, Germ [Bernard], Daniel Hill, I’m not saying what he’s playing through, but two weeks, it will be a different Daniel Hill, okay?
You execute or you have a lack of execution in games because you probably didn’t have everyone out there working together in practice. So Dewberry will be back, 100 percent, I mean, he was at the end of the week. Geno [VanDeMark] would be back. He got taken out of the game there. He’ll be back. I can keep going on down the line.
More reps for our other running backs. Fully expect to have Jam back. Two of our three losses are when Jam doesn’t play. Really not a chance that he felt like he could play today. He’s not that far away. It’s not the one, to me, injury that keeps you out, holds you back. Even a chance to — could be tight, but a chance even Kevin Riley. That might be a little bit tight, just to be real with you.
“There’s a lot of guys. I think that’s what it really comes down to, is playing with their guys. We got into this game today. The execution just wasn’t quite as crisp. There’s usually a reason for that. Again, defensively the same thing. Kelby Collins, LT, Z.B. (Zabien Brown) in the game today dinged up. Dijon a little bit before the game with an evaluation we had where we had to hold off.
“All those guys in two weeks, considerably different football team, the one you would have seen earlier in the season.”
TideBits
- Alabama only lost one game by more than two scores in the entire Nick Saban era over 17 seasons (44-16 loss to Clemson in CFP title). Alabama has lost a game by 21 points in both of Kalen DeBoer’s first two seasons: 2024 Oklahoma (24-3), tonight to Georgia (28-7).
- Alabama had won nine of its last 10 games against Georgia coming into Saturday. This includes the last four in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
- Former Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley was honored before the game as part of the 2025 SEC Legends Class. The 5-time Pro Bowler retired from the NFL on June 19 after 11 years. While at Alabama, Mosley was a two-time BCS National Champion, two-time Consensus All-American and two-time First Team All-SEC member (all in 2012 and 2013). Mosley also earned both the Butkus Award (best linebacker) and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013.
- Announced attendance was 77,247
- Alabama Captains: quarterback Ty Simpson, center Parker Brailsford, defensive tackle Tim Keenan III and linebacker Deontae Lawson.
Officials:
- Referee: Daniel Gautreaux
- Umpire: Walt Hill
- Referee: Daniel Gautreaux
- Head Linesman: Carl Giola
- Line Judge: Jeremiah Harris
- Back Judge: Peter Buchanan
- Field Judge: Phillip Davenport
- Side Judge: Victor Sanchez
- Center Judge: Marc Curles
- Replay Official: David Almand
Read More:
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Food & Dining
Nearly a dozen restaurants closed during the month, including the Alden.
The waakye served at Ike’s Cafe and Grill shown on Monday, March 24, 2025. The bean and rice mixture is served with spaghetti, plantains, a tomato stew, fish, beef, a boiled egg, dried cassava and a chili sauce. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
May was another strong month for restaurant openings in metro Atlanta, with at least 19 new food businesses setting up shop.
But nearly a dozen restaurants closed during the month, as well — including the Alden, which was unexpectedly shut down when the Chamblee apartment building where it occupied a ground-floor space was destroyed by a fire.
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Joupe Jeht’s fresh spring rolls. (Courtesy of Jude Downs)
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A rendering of the Ledger Bar and Lounge at the recently renovated JW Marriott Downtown Atlanta hotel. (Courtesy of Marriott)
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PopUp Bagels offers five kinds: plain, salt, sesame, poppy and everything. They are sold whole and meant to be ripped and dipped into schmears. (Courtesy of PopUp Bagels)
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Showdown Social opens this May in Alpharetta with host-led card games. (Courtesy of Showdown Social)
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Waffle with Chicken Tenders made and styled by Johnny’s Chicken & Waffles in Atlanta, Ga., Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (Aaliyah Man for the AJC)
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Metro Atlanta restaurant openings
Metro Atlanta restaurant closings
Henri Hollis is a restaurant critic and food reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he covers Atlanta’s restaurants, chefs and dining culture. As part of the AJC’s Food & Dining team, he reviews new restaurants, reports on industry trends and explores metro Atlanta’s culinary scene through the neighborhoods and people that shape it.
One of the most inevitable moves of the summer is complete. The Atlanta Falcons have given Drake London a lucrative four year deal worth up to $150 million, locking up their top receiver for the foreseeable future.
It’s a deserved extension for a physical, sure-handed talent who has been consistently excellent in Atlanta despite a constantly rotating cast of quarterbacks. London, who has averaged 1,086 yards over four NFL seasons and has 22 touchdowns over that span, has also emerged as one of the locker room’s most vocal and accountable players.
The 2022 first round pick came into the NFL catching passes from Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder and flourished immediately, with 806 yards and four touchdowns in year one and 905 yards and two touchdowns in year two. When the coaching staff turned over and Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. entered the picture, London exploded for 100 catches, 1,271 yards, and nine touchdowns in 2024, following that up with 919 yards and seven touchdowns in just 12 games a year ago. Through just four seasons, London is already 10th in team history in receiving yards, eighth in receptions, and 13th in touchdowns, and mixes that with solid blocking. He’s been the ideal receiver for the last two iterations of this Falcons offense, and I have no doubt that will continue here.
The contract’s guaranteed money would be tops in the NFL if the $100 million figure is accurate, but by overall money it’s just the third most lucrative contract in the league, and will likely be hovering near the bottom of the top ten in a couple of seasons. The Falcons were never going to risk losing their top receiving option, and if all goes well, London will continue to thrive in Atlanta and set his sights on surpassing some franchise legends in the years to come. I’m glad the deal is done, and we’ll see the exact terms soon enough.
How do you feel about this extension?
Andrelton Simmons plies his trade in Mexico
The Athletic caught up with former Braves shortstop – and one of the most gifted defenders at the position in the history of the game – Andrelton Simmons who, at 36, returned to organized baseball in Mexico last season.
Link below.
Rec 0ReplyRead 4 replies
In a fun “Where are they now” segment, here is an update on Andrelton Simmons.
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