The Falcons' rookie safety has five interceptions this season.

Terrin Waack

ATLANTA Not once. Twice.

Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts picked off Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford two times duringhis team's 27-24 prime-time winat Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Stafford had only thrown five interceptions this season before Monday's three-pick performance. He'd only thrown a max of two interceptions in a single game.

And yet, the rookie who was selected in the third round of April's draft, managed a pair of picks all by himself to help the Falcons upset the Rams. He's the only first-year player ever to intercept Stafford multiple times in a single game. Only seven other rookies have scored an interception off Stafford since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2009.

"Matthew Stafford is a great player," Watts said after the game. "I was grateful and honored to be able to take advantage of him."

Watts is growing into a great player himself if this introductory season is any indication of what's to come for the 24-year-old.

Those were his fourth and fifth interceptions this season. He surpassed Kenny Johnson, who had four in 1980, for the most picks by a Falcons rookie safety, and he tied Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, who had five in 1989, for the second-most picks ever by a Falcons rookie. Al Richardson holds the team record with seven interceptions during his rookie season in 1980.

"It's a pretty cool accomplishment, something to be proud of," Watts said. "Credit to all the hard work I've done this year and throughout my whole football journey. Just credit to my teammates, as well. I wouldn't be in position without them."

One teammate in particular is fellow starting safety Jessie Bates III, who had the first interception of the night against Stafford. Bates has been in the NFL since 2018, when the Cincinnati Bengals drafted him in the second round. He joined the Falcons in 2023 and made the Pro Bowl after picking off six passes that year.

As soon as the Falcons brought Watts in, the defensive team captain took him under his wing.

"That's little bro right there," Bates said.

And that relationship has been beyond beneficial for Watts.

"It's huge," Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said last week. "I mean, it's powerful, obviously, for a coach to teach you a technique, to show you tape, to make you cut-ups, to drill it. That's all very important. Mike Rutenberg and Lance Schulters, they do an amazing job of developing that part of it. But to have a guy that can absolutely demonstrate it right in front of you on a daily basis, there's nothing more powerful than that.

"So, yeah, a huge part of his development. And it'll be a huge part of the reason that Xavier becomes one of the better safeties in this league, if not the best safety, because I think that's in him."

Interestingly enough, the Rams played a role in helping the Falcons acquire Watts.

Here's how that played out: The Falcons sent the Rams the No. 46 pick in the second round, the No. 242 pick in the seventh round and their first-round pick in 2026. In return, the Falcons received the No. 26 pick in the first round and the No. 101 pick in the third round of the 2025 draft. Obviously, the Falcons used the first-round pick toselect edge rusher James Pearce Jr.

Well, that No. 101 pick came in handy later. The Falcons traded that third-round pick and a fifth-round pick in 2026 to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the No. 96 pick in the third round this year. That's what Atlantathen used on Watts.

"I mean, I like James a lot. I like X a whole lot," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said last week. "I like two guys that are in talks for (Defensive) Rookie of the Year. Pretty good picks."

Pearce leads all rookie with 8.5 sacks this season. Watts does the same with his five interceptions.

Even without the rookie caveat, Watts is tied for second-most interceptions. Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard leads with six, but he has nine more seasons of experience than Watts. The other four players who match Watts' total each have at least three more seasons under their belts.

With one game remaining on the Falcons' schedule, it's safe to say Watts has had a season worth celebrating even if the man himself won't.

"I don't think he's going to get too high on himself," Bates said. "He's just a solid dude. I'm happy to call him my teammate."

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