Atlanta, GA
Interview with the Enemy: Atlanta Falcons
This week, the New Orleans Saints head into enemy territory as they face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4 of the 2024 regular season. Tre’Shon Diaz of The Falcoholic joins us to preview Sunday’s showdown between one of the league’s most heated division rivalries.
NJ: In your opinion, how has QB Kirk Cousins looked in his return from season-ending Achilles surgery? Does he seem capable of leading Atlanta to the promised land? If not, how soon should first-round NFL Draft pick Michael Penix Jr. take over as the team’s starting QB?
TD: I expected Cousins to have a slower start after coming off the significant injury, and that’s what we’ve seen. Each week, he’s knocked a layer of rust off, and most of it has appeared to be mental, not physical. People attributed his Week 1 shakiness to health, but the real issue was TJ Watt being in his lap the entire game.
At this point, he has taken care of it. Cousins has enough left in the tank to get this roster to the playoffs, so I won’t anticipate seeing Penix until 2025 or 2026.
NJ: With Atlanta set to be missing two starters on the offensive line—RT Kaleb McGary (sprained MCL, day-to-day) and C Drew Dalman (high ankle sprain, IR)—are you concerned about the Falcons’ ability to contain the Saints’ revitalized pass rush? New Orleans is currently tied for fourth in the league with 11 team sacks.
TD: There’s still a chance McGary plays this Sunday, but regardless of health, I would still be concerned. The defense has had an abundance of opportunities to rush the passer due to the position their opponents have been in, and they’ve been capitalizing on them. Ryan Neuzil filled in for Dalmn last year and did well until running into the Saints. Storm Norton also filled in for Kaleb McGary in 2023 and clamped rookie sensation Will Anderson, but he was up and down in his other outings.
Last week, the line adjusted well by the fourth quarter, and I think with a week of preparation, they’ll be able to devise a game-plan to protect Cousins.
NJ: Atlanta is 6 of 27 on third down conversions to open the season. What do you believe is the cause of this—coaching or execution? Do you think things will change against New Orleans?
TD: It’s a combination of both. There have been drops and other execution errors for plays that had potential. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has also put the team in bad positions. With only a three-game sample size, I’m not panicking yet, but there is a healthy level of concern.
Things have to change against the Saints, and Robinson has shown the ability to adjust and has improved week to week as a play-caller. However, there will still be growing pains with the rookie coordinator.
NJ: It’s clear that many fans are still upset about New Orleans failing to land All-Pro safety Justin Simmons, especially after Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert recorded 170 receiving yards on 10 receptions against the Saints on Sunday. With that being said, has the superstar tandem of Simmons and Jessie Bates III been as lethal as advertised for the Falcons secondary?
TD: Per PFF, in 101 coverage snaps this season, Simmons has 16 yards allowed, one interception, and one forced incompletion while allowing a 6.3 passer rating when targeted. Jessie Bates was the NFC Player of the Week after his performance against the Philadelphia Eagles, which included a game-winning interception.
The duo has been everything the team has hoped for. They’ve allowed defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and head coach Raheem Morris to bring over their zone-heavy scheme from Los Angeles. The duo has also helped cover up a subpar pass rush through coverage sacks.
NJ: According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Falcons (-120) are currently 1.5-point favorites over the Saints (+102) in Sunday’s matchup; who do you think will come out on top, and what is your final score prediction?
TD: Derek Carr will have a long day trying to push the ball down the field with Justin Simmons and Jessie Bates looming in the secondary; we may even see another pick-six. I think Bijan Robinson will continue his dominance in this series, and Atlanta will win 21-17.
Thank you again to Tre’Shon Diaz for joining us this week! You can check out the rest of his work here.
Make sure you follow Canal Street Chronicles on Twitter at @SaintsCSC, “Like” us on Facebook at Canal Street Chronicles, and make sure you’re subscribed to our YouTube channel
Atlanta, GA
Teen shot and killed outside Atlanta shopping center
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Police Department is investigating after a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed Saturday at a shopping center on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
What they’re saying:
Lt. Christapher Butler said officers responded to the shopping center in the 3000 block of MLK Jr. Drive just after noon. When they arrived, they found the teen shot to death in the parking lot.
Butler said the teen had been shopping with his family when he “had some words” with a group of males. The argument escalated and ended in gunfire.
Police say there is “good” security footage of the incident, and the victim’s family is cooperating with investigators.
Butler added that it was fortunate no one else was hurt during the busy holiday shopping season.
What you can do:
He encouraged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers:
“People don’t realize how much that helps,” Butler said. “Those tips are very valuable to us.”
What we don’t know:
The victim’s name has not been released while police notify next of kin.
The Source: Information in this article came from Lt. Christapher Butler who spoke with FOX 5 on the scene.
Atlanta, GA
Warming centers opening in metro Atlanta ahead of cold nights
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — There are several warming centers opening in DeKalb County and Atlanta ahead of cold nights.
“We are housing our unhoused neighbors, providing a warm space and place for them,” Will Butler with Frontline Response said.
Frontline Response International warming center has multiple beds and a lot of food for those who need it.
For Butler, it is important to give back to others.
“We hear it all the time, people are so thankful,” he said. “The hugs, the tears, the hand shakes, it makes it all worthwhile.”
In Atlanta, there are also two warming centers opening at the Central Park Recreation Center and the Old Adamsville Recreation Center.
The warming centers in DeKalb County opened at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night.
Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta sisters win big on Family Feud — and say the real prize was being together
The Norman sisters definitely have something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving: they just won big on Family Feud.
The five sisters — four living in metro Atlanta and one in California — brought their energy, humor, and unmistakable charisma to the popular Steve Harvey-hosted game show. Their episodes, filmed back in March, finally aired this month.
As soon as they hit the stage, their enthusiasm was impossible to miss.
“We’re the Normans! Wooooo!” they cheered in their opening moment on screen.
Even Steve Harvey couldn’t help hyping them up: “From Atlanta, Georgia… It’s the Norman Family!”
A dream come true for a lifelong Family Feud fan
For sister Liz Knipe, who lives in Atlanta, appearing on the show was a bucket-list moment more than a decade in the making.
“I’ve wanted to be on Family Feud forever. My first audition was in 2014,” she said.
The sisters say their chemistry — and very different personalities — helped them stand out during the audition process.
“Seeing us all together, I think it just resonated with people,” said Ericka Grant, who lives in Buford.
Their big win: $60,000 and a luxury Las Vegas trip
And their on-screen charm paid off.
The Norman sisters walked away with $60,000 and a trip for all of them — plus a guest each — to the Bellagio in Las Vegas for a six-day, five-night getaway.
“Bam,” Liz said with a laugh. “Not just a vacation for us but a plus-one for each of us.”
Each sister has her own plan for how to spend her share of the prize money:
- Liz Knipe (Atlanta): “Praise the Lord, I’m going to be able to pay all my bills.”
- Ericka Grant (Buford): “I’m going to use it to have some fun with my boys and my husband.”
- Michelle Norman (Atlanta): “A nice down payment.”
- Alex Norman (Marietta): “I’m going to spend a little on myself. And my kids. And then some bills. But I’m paying myself first.”
Winning together meant more than the money
Despite the big payout, the sisters say the real reward was the time spent with each other.
“It’s a great bonding moment,” said Alex Norman. “We don’t always get a chance to do stuff together — all five of us.”
They say family and friends were thrilled to see them on national TV, laughing and playing as a team.
“It was nice for our family to see us together on TV, winning and having fun,” said Ericka.
Could the Norman sisters return to CBS on another show?
The sisters aren’t ruling out more TV in their future. In fact, they already have their eyes on other CBS competition shows.
“I’m trying to get my sister on The Amazing Race with me,” said Michelle. “But the goal is Survivor! That’s the goal.”
Where to watch their episode
The Norman sisters’ Family Feud episodes are now streaming.
You can catch them on Paramount+.
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