The Atlanta Falcons had a great victory over the New York Jets in the NFL's first game of 2021 in London. They won 27-20 and had a solid offensive showing despite missing star wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Matt Ryan proved that he can still play quarterback at a high level.

The Jets played well in the second half, but it was not enough to beat the Falcons.

With that said, here are three Falcons takeaways from their week five win over the Jets.

3. The defense is solid for the Falcons

A weakness for the Falcons over the past few seasons has been the defense. The defense has been up and down this season, but they looked like they figured out the scheme this week. They were firing on all aspects of the defense as they pressured the quarterback and played good coverage.

Against the Jets, the Falcons' defensive stats included forcing four punts, getting two sacks, and getting one interception.

While the Falcons haven't been able to stay consistent, their defensive talent should help them be at least a mid-tier defense going forward.

2. Matt Ryan can still play

Many speculated that the Falcons would select a quarterback as Ryan gets up there in age in the offseason.

However, the organization selected tight end Kyle Pitts, keeping Ryan as the starter. Ryan has had a revitalizing campaign, leading the Atlanta offense to success.

He proved himself Sunday. He led a great offensive attack without their top two receivers. Ridley and Russell Gage were sidelined for this contest, forcing Ryan to improvise.

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This week, Ryan threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns (ESPN Stats). He was also highly efficient with the football, with a 73.3 completion percentage. This game should shut the narrative up that the Falcons need a new quarterback as Ryan can still produce.

1. Kyle Pitts has arrived

The highly talented rookie Kyle Pitts had a breakout performance against the Jets. Many had expected Pitts to come in and shine right away, but he took until this week to figure it out. He was unguardable against the Jets, finding his way open against any coverage.

His incredible athleticism and speed at his size make him a matchup nightmare for defenses. He also brings versatility to the Falcons' offense as he can line up anywhere.

This week, Pitts had nine receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown (ESPN Stats). He had high volume and was able to find the end zone, which shows that he is ready to be an elite player. Look for Pitts to continue his success and show the league why the Falcons took him with the 4th pick.

Although the Falcons will likely miss the playoffs this season, it is great to pick up wins like this. This season is all about building up chemistry and establishing a winning culture. The Falcons could make a run at the playoffs next season if they add pieces to their defense in the offseason.

For now, the Falcons will head into their bye week. It will be much needed rest as the Falcons have lost a few key players to injury. The next game for Atlanta is against the Miami Dolphins on the road, which will be a great test. While the Dolphins aren't an elite team, they have lots of talent in the secondary, which will challenge their receivers.

Look for the Falcons to miss the playoffs this season, but pick up some wins along the way.