For all the noise that surrounded the Falcons’ offense the past two seasons, the simplest explanation may be the right one: the problem might have been Zac Robinson.
That’s the conclusion the Falcons are drifting toward now that the pieces have started moving elsewhere. Robinson, once viewed as one of the league’s next bright offensive minds after working under Sean McVay, was Raheem Morris’ first major hire when he took over in Atlanta. It was a relationship-driven move, and one that now looks like it helped set the tone for a failed run.
The offense never found a rhythm. Whether Kirk Cousins or Michael Penix Jr. was taking snaps, Atlanta kept searching for answers and never really found them.
Robinson’s heavy obsession with the pistol formation became part of the conversation, especially because it was used far more than any other team in the league despite not delivering much. That fed the debate about Cousins’ health and whether Penix was uncomfortable under center, a line of questioning that would have been a bad sign for the young quarterback if it were true.
But the way things look now, the issue appears to have been the system, not the passers.
Cousins has already moved on to Las Vegas, where he’s the starter and rolling. The Raiders are 3-1, and Cousins is averaging more than 250 passing yards per game with a league-high 11 touchdown passes. That stands in sharp contrast to last season in Atlanta, when he threw 10 touchdowns in 10 games under Robinson.
Penix, meanwhile, has taken a major step forward in a different environment. Coming off an ACL injury and operating in a new system, he’s completing 73.3% of his passes through two games after finishing below 60% in each of his first two seasons. His 83.0 QBR ranks fourth in the league.
And the under-center concern? That doesn’t seem to be an issue at all. Penix has lined up under center on 40% of his dropbacks this season and has gone 6-for-8 for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Michael Penix Jr has been under center on 40% of dropbacks, and gone 6/8 for 102 yds and a TD.
Quite a difference from 2025!
- Mina Kimes (@minakimes) October 6, 2026
In Penix’s two starts this season, the Falcons are averaging 40 points per game. Even with that kind of production, there’s still a sense he hasn’t hit his ceiling yet.
Robinson’s new stop hasn’t gone nearly as well. Todd Bowles kept him in the division by hiring him as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator, but Tampa Bay is still looking for its first win. The Bucs are averaging just 19 points and 278 yards per game, both bottom-10 numbers, and the offense has become so easy to read that Brian Flores and Vikings defenders were calling out plays during their Week 3 matchup.
That kind of predictability is exactly what Falcons fans spent two years watching.
And in the end, that’s where the story lands: the difference between a quarterback who stalls out and one who takes off often comes down to the situation around him. By moving on from Raheem Morris and, with him, Zac Robinson, the Falcons may have done more than change direction. They may have given Michael Penix Jr. a real shot to become what Atlanta hoped he would be.
In Other News...
Falcons-Ravens Suddenly Feels Very Different After Lamar Jackson Update
What sounded like a short-term concern for Lamar Jackson has quickly turned into something much more uncertain for the Ravens. Baltimore head coach Jesse Minter initially downplayed the left ankle injury, indicating Jackson would not be expected to miss multiple games, but the latest word has changed the outlook around Sundays matchup with Atlanta and how the rest of the schedule might unfold.
Ian Rapoport reported that Jackson now has only an outside chance to play against the Falcons, with Tyler Huntley the likely starter if Baltimore chooses to hold him out. For Atlanta, that kind of shift matters because it changes the kind of offense the Falcons may be preparing for, and it also leaves open the possibility that Jackson could sit beyond this week, including in a possible game against the Browns. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Penix Jr. Is Changing What Falcons Fans Expect
Michael Penix Jr. has given the Falcons a different kind of energy since returning from a torn ACL, and the offense has started to reflect it. Atlantas 45-24 win over the Saints was the latest sign of that shift, with teammates openly praising the way Penix has settled in and lifted the group around him.
The numbers back up the feeling, too. Penix has completed 33 of 45 passes for 479 yards with two touchdowns and one interception this season, and Atlanta has piled up 80 points over its last two games. For a team that has spent years searching for a steadier offensive identity, winning by more than 20 points in consecutive games for the first time since 2016 is the kind of stretch that changes expectations fast. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Could Catch Ravens In A Spot They Did Not Expect
The Week 5 matchup with Baltimore suddenly looks more intriguing for Atlanta than anyone expected when the schedule came out. The Ravens are dealing with uncertainty around Lamar Jacksons ankle, and that has the potential to change the shape of the game plan on the fly. For the Falcons, it adds another layer to a trip that already comes with plenty of intrigue, especially with the way their offense has been humming around Bijan Robinson and Michael Penix Jr.
Atlanta has leaned into a balanced approach lately, and that identity could matter even more if Baltimore is forced to adjust. The Falcons do not need this game to become a shootout to feel good about their chances, but they do need to keep doing the things that have made them effective on offense. If the Ravens are missing their biggest difference-maker under center, it is the kind of opening Atlanta has to be ready to press. [Read more 🡒]