The Atlanta Falcons are affectionately known as the 'Dirty Birds', and it apparently extends to their mascot as well. Freddie Falcon, the official name of the team mascot, made the news. The mascot bizarrely tried to fight a kid during a staged pee wee game at halftime of the Week 7 game between the Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals.Bleacher Report@BleacherReportThis kid wanted all the smoke with the Falcons' mascot (via @NFLonFOX)257162214This kid wanted all the smoke with the Falcons' mascot 😂💨(via @NFLonFOX)https://t.co/WusAEJFEhRNFL Twitter, not to ever disappoint, quickly took to the social media waves to react to the weird moment between the bird and young fans:(5-1)@CantguardAE@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Stop talking like that. You not from the hood lil bro.233@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Stop talking like that. You not from the hood lil bro.…@x4ntoni@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Why are mascots always out of pocket5@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Why are mascots always out of pocketCome for the football game, stay for the wrestling brawl breakout:the goat maive #BLM 🇺🇦🇮🇹🇮🇪🇩🇪🇵🇱@nickjmaive@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Why is a grown man trying to fight a kid52@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Why is a grown man trying to fight a kidChad @ChadBlue83@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Here it is with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler commentary. 🤣🤣🤣 @JRsBBQ @JerryLawler @AtlantaFalcons #ATLvsCIN14629@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Here it is with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler commentary. 🤣🤣🤣 @JRsBBQ @JerryLawler @AtlantaFalcons #ATLvsCIN https://t.co/pMhaH8vBGVJJ@dosnetlive@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX The kids parents watching this video10364@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX The kids parents watching this video https://t.co/MkxJ1qbgNoSomeDude@SomeDudeInNC@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX They really said:258@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX They really said: https://t.co/uQxGfe11b9Other fans took the opportunity to take random shots at NFL defensive players:Smoke Dawg@BlairBetts8@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Make a tackle 20 yards down field and act hard. Falcons mascot is just like most DBs in the NFL. Probably Deion Sanders in there.9@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Make a tackle 20 yards down field and act hard. Falcons mascot is just like most DBs in the NFL. Probably Deion Sanders in there.Quatez Scott@Docta_Scott@BlairBetts8 @BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Makes sense. It’s likely a HoF player who can barely catch a kid being a mascot now.13@BlairBetts8 @BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Makes sense. It’s likely a HoF player who can barely catch a kid being a mascot now.Most noticed the young kid’s teammates coming to his back to defend him:__stolengoods__@Bonecrush14@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX teammates real 1’s481@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX teammates real 1’sJaden@Grace_SEAA@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Personally I would’ve scored if I was the kid. But that’s just me tho2263@BleacherReport @NFLonFOX Personally I would’ve scored if I was the kid. But that’s just me thoThe Atlanta Falcons remain in the playoff race despite offensive shortcomingsDespite losing their franchise quarterback Matt Ryan, the Atlanta Falcons remain in the playoff race. This is thanks to some upset wins and a weaker NFC South division in the early part of the 2022 regular season. The 3-4 Falcons continue to rely on their solid defense and commitment to the running game to control the ball and limit mistakes. They roster two of the more talented skill players in tight end Kyle Pitts and rookie wide receiver Drake London. However, the team under head coach Arthur Smith continues to rely on its ground attack.The Falcons upset teams like the Seattle Seahawks, the Cleveland Browns, and even the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6. This has them sitting tied for first place with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South. Their losses have come to the New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, and the Buccaneers, so despite the sub .500 record, Atlanta finished a difficult portion of their schedule.Up next on tap for the Falcons are the Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Panthers again, the Chicago Bears, and Washington Commanders. Then they face the Pittsburgh Steelers before their bye week in Week 14. Conceivably, the team could easily go 5-1 during this slate of games to further contend in the division and the conference.If the running game continues to excel and the defense holds up, the Atlanta Falcons would be an unexpected contender coming out of the South.