It appears to be like like no one needs to win the NFC South, however Jesse Bates helps elevate the Falcons to a division title. Bates has been a transcendent expertise for Atlanta, at the moment third within the league with 5 interceptions. He additionally has a 92-yard decide six, longest by any participant this season. Bates, enjoying behind A.J. Terrell and Dee Alford, has made Atlanta a formidable go protection.
Furthermore, the departure of the previous Bengals security decimated the Cincinnati secondary. Hours after Bates signed with Atlanta, fellow Bengals security Vonn Bell inked a take care of the Carolina Panthers. Consequently, the Bengals went from seventh in EPA/dropback allowed in 2022 to twenty third in 2023, per RBSDM.