Atlanta, GA
Tee Up ATL charity concert kicks off Tour Championship in downtown Atlanta
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Golf and hip-hop fans gathered at the Tabernacle in downtown Atlanta Monday night for the Tee Up ATL charity concert. The concert celebrates the beginning of the 2023 Tour Championship at the East Lake Golf Club.
Atlanta rapper Jezzy, DJ Drama, and legendary radio host Ryan Cameron all took the stage to perform for hip-hop and golf fans.
“Look we’re excited about seeing Jeezy. He’s on fire right now, got the new book out, couple new albums on the way. You know it’s like a homecoming with DJ Drama. It’s taking it back to the roots,” Jeezy fan Adell Henderson said.
Jezzy fans who spoke to Atlanta News First also knew a lot about the sport of golf and were happy to be able to support the worlds of music and golf in one room.
“Oh yea, East Lake is a great event! It’s the top 30 golfers in the PGA that are number one through thirty on the money list. So it’s probably one of the most premiere tournaments on the tour,” former Division I college golfer and Jeezy fan Leon Rhodes said.
Tour Championship golfers such as Collin Morikawa and Max Homa stopped by the concert to talk about the course in Atlanta.
“It’s a week you enjoy, you know? It’s a week you want to play really well, you want to win the Tour Championship,” Morikawa said.
Homa told Atlanta News First that East Lake Golf Club is not an easy course but he’s grateful to be back amongst the top competition in the world.
“I love Atlanta, this downtown is awesome, the course is awesome, so I’m excited to be back,” Homa said.
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Atlanta, GA
Falcons Regain NFC South Lead, Control Playoff Destiny as Bucs Lose to Cowboys
ATLANTA — As if the Atlanta Falcons’ Sunday couldn’t get any better, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Daron Bland gave Atlanta an early Christmas present.
But only after stealing one from Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White.
Leading 26-24 inside of two minutes to play, the Cowboys’ defense needed a stand Sunday night — and Bland stripped the ball from White’s grasp, forcing a game-sealing turnover.
Tampa Bay entered Sunday leading the NFC South by one game over Atlanta, but the Falcons (8-7) dominated the Giants (2-13), taking a 34-7 victory Sunday afternoon inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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Coupled with the Buccaneers’ loss, Atlanta and Tampa Bay now share the same 8-7 record — but since the Falcons swept the season series, they own the tiebreaker. Thus, Atlanta leads the NFC South through 16 weeks.
The Falcons controlled the division for much of the early part of the season before losing control in Week 14, when they reached the end of their four-game losing streak while Tampa Bay had won three consecutive games.
Atlanta, which led the NFC South by two games in mid-November and held the division lead entering December, now merely has to win out to secure its first NFC South title since 2016 and its first playoff trip since 2017.
The Falcons close the season with a Sunday Night Football road game against the Washington Commanders (10-5) on Dec. 29 before hosting the Carolina Panthers (4-11) in the finale Jan. 5.
Tampa Bay, meanwhile, hosts the Panthers and New Orleans Saints (5-9, pending Monday night game) to finish the campaign.
The Buccaneers have a 52% chance to win the NFC South compared to the Falcons’ 48% chance, according to The Athletic‘s playoff projections model.
But ultimately, the only number that matters to Atlanta is two — the Falcons’ magic number, as any combination of their own wins or Buccaneers losses that equates to two sends Atlanta to the postseason.
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Atlanta, GA
Michael Penix Jr. shines in Atlanta Falcons’ debut victory over New York Giants | NFL on FOX Pod
Video Details
Dave Helman sits down to recap the Atlanta Falcons’ victory over the New York Giants! Within the conversation, Helman reacts to Michael Penix Jr.’s debut and explains why he had an impressive performance for the Falcons!
1 HOUR AGO・the nfl on fox podcast・6:13
Atlanta, GA
Falcons Risers, Fallers: Buy Stock in Michael Penix Jr. After Win vs. Giants
ATLANTA — After falling behind by a touchdown early in the second quarter, the Atlanta Falcons (8-7) scored 34 unanswered points to close out Sunday’s 34-7 victory over the New York Giants (2-13) inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta has eclipsed seven wins for the first time since 2017, and it now enters the final two games of the regular season with a shot at the postseason — and with a jolt of energy from rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Here’s who’s rising and falling after the Falcons’ victory …
QB Michael Penix Jr.
The consensus from Atlanta’s side postgame on Penix: He played well.
Rookie quarterbacks can go either way in their debut. Penix was solid, completing 18-of-27 passes for 202 yards, no touchdowns and an interception that bounced out of tight end Kyle Pitts’ hands and into the arms of Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott.
Consider Sunday a success for Penix, who provided no reason to stop dreaming.
OLB Matt Judon
Judon’s season overall hasn’t been what many expected when Atlanta sent a third-round pick to the New England Patriots for his services in August, but he’s turned a corner lately — and played his best game of the season Sunday.
The 32-year-old Judon collected one sack, two quarterback hits, a pass deflection and returned an interception 27 yards to the endzone for his first career touchdown.
Judon wore plenty of blame when he was struggling. He deserves similarly strong credit when he plays at the level he did Sunday.
ILB Kaden Elliss
Elliss is the only player in the NFL with a sack in each of the last four consecutive weeks, according to the Falcons’ communication staff. He was excellent Sunday, logging a team-high seven tackles and two quarterback hits.
The 6’2″, 238-pound Elliss notched one sack — a forced fumble that was recovered by outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie and gave Atlanta’s offense the ball in plus-territory.
Since inserting Elliss into the pass rushing plan more frequently, the Falcons’ pass rush — and defense as a whole — has made considerable strides.
TE Kyle Pitts
Pitts was targeted only twice — one went for seven yards, and the other led to Penix’s interception on a pass that hit his hands.
After a four-catch game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15, Pitts failed to carry that production back home. He now has one or fewer receptions in four of the Falcons’ last five games and five of their last seven.
Evidently, Pitts’ minimal production since the calendar flipped to November wasn’t solely due to quarterback Kirk Cousins.
There really isn’t much to complain about regarding Atlanta’s performance. Perhaps a slow start? A missed field goal from kicker Riley Patterson, who responded by making his other two field goals and all four extra points?
For the first time this season, there’s only one faller.
The Falcons return to action at 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, against the Washington Commanders inside Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
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