Why having Nate Landman back was 'a huge shot in the arm' for Falcons defense

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — A stateside copycat couldn't sneak by Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Nate Landman.

When the Carolina Panthers tried to run a screen play on first-and-10 from the Atlanta 34-yard line during the third quarter of last Sunday's game at Bank of America Stadium, Landman was on top of the intended target before an up-the-middle pass could potentially hurt the Falcons.

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet scored off a 31-yard reception on the same type of play, and the Panthers possibly took notice of how it caught the Jacksonville Jaguars unaware earlier that morning in London.

"That play is scored all over the league," Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake said. "Nate sniffed it out and blew up the play and hit the tight end in the strike zone. No play."

The Bears, who successfully executed the play, defeated the Jaguars, 35-16.

The Falcons, who successfully stopped the play, defeated the Panthers, 38-20.

Take a look at how the Bears' play unraveled. Notice there is no defender in the middle of the field where Kmet (No. 85) is en route to catch the pass around the 15-yard line. He then cleared the remaining distance to the end zone.

Now, take a look at how the Panthers' play unfolded. Landman is in the middle of the field, near the 30-yard line. The next-closest defender is Falcons safety Justin Simmons, back near the 10-yard line. That's a lot of open turf between the two.

Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton still attempted this pass to tight end Ian Thomas, who may have seen the same result as Kmet had Landman not been there, ready to attack.

"You're just talking about a high-level ball thinker, high-level above-the-neck player that does a lot of really good things for us," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said.

Both Morris and Lake unsolicitedly mentioned this moment. It wasn't the only highlight of Landman's Week 6 performance — he had two forced fumbles, along with a team-high eight tackles — but it's the one that caught the eye of his coaches.

This all came after four weeks away from the gridiron, too.

Landman spent Weeks 2-5 on injured reserve due to quad and calf injuries. He tore part of his quad muscle in training camp but played through it in Week 1. As his body compensated for that injury, he explained, his calf muscle was torn.

"That was tough, especially since I feel like I started off Week 1 pretty high," said Landman, who had six tackles in the Falcons' season opener. "Not even that. Not even individually. Just being part of the team. That's the worst part: not being able to travel to the (Philadelphia) Eagles and getting that crazy win or being a part of the prime-time games with the guys and experiencing that whole thing with them as an active player."

It's fitting that Landman references his teammates. They were quick to reciprocate the love when he returned. Especially his fellow inside linebackers.

"He's just such a passionate player, someone who loves the game so much and loves to compete so much and loves his teammates so much," veteran Kaden Elliss said. "That just makes him fun to play with, so having him back out there was awesome."

Landman joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He appeared in just seven games as a rookie, making only one tackle, before being moved to the practice squad.

In 2023, though, Landman was thrust into a starting role when Troy Andersen went on injured reserve four weeks into the season. That's when Landman truly showed his talents – making an interception, taking down two sacks, breaking up three passes, forcing three fumbles (also recovering three) and totaling 110 tackles – and why ultimately earned himself a new one-year contract in the offseason.

"We know what Nate Landman brings to our defense," Lake said. "He's a huge shot in the arm for our whole team."