The Atlanta Falcons are one of the NFL’s most puzzling teams this season. On paper, they’ve got the talent-playmakers on offense, a veteran quarterback under center, and a coaching staff with plenty of experience.
But when it comes to putting wins on the board, they just haven’t been able to get it done. Despite a recent uptick in red zone efficiency, the Falcons continue to stumble in the most critical moments, and that disconnect is raising some serious questions about leadership on the sidelines.
Let’s start with the good news: over the last five weeks, Atlanta has been lights out in the red zone. We're talking about a league-best 92.9% success rate-an elite number by any standard.
That kind of efficiency is rare and usually a strong indicator of a team trending in the right direction. But here’s the kicker: the Falcons have gone just 1-4 during that same stretch.
That’s not just frustrating-it’s baffling.
So what gives? The offense, led by second-year coordinator Zac Robinson, has taken a fair share of heat this season.
And to be fair, for much of the year, the unit struggled to find rhythm. But lately, Robinson’s group has started to click when it matters most-inside the 20.
Even without top wideout Drake London in the lineup the past two weeks, the offense has looked competent, if not explosive. That’s a sign of some growth, especially considering the challenges they’ve faced.
Kirk Cousins, who took over for Michael Penix Jr., has brought a steady veteran presence to the huddle. He’s made the offense more functional, particularly with more play-action looks and under-center snaps that play to his strengths.
But at 37, Cousins is also showing signs of wear. The arm talent is still there, but the mobility and timing aren’t quite what they used to be.
And with a depleted receiver corps, the vertical passing game has been mostly MIA.
That brings us to the heart of the issue: while the offense is finally starting to execute in the red zone, they’re not getting there often enough. And when they do, it’s not always translating to wins.
The Falcons have dropped five of their last six games, most of them by a single score. In fact, four of those losses were games they had every chance to win.
That’s where head coach Raheem Morris comes under the microscope.
Clock management has been a recurring problem. Missed opportunities, questionable decisions late in games, and a general lack of urgency have cost Atlanta dearly. When you’re losing one-score games week after week, it’s not just about the players-it’s about the guy calling the shots.
And that’s where the frustration really sets in for Falcons fans. This isn’t a roster in rebuild mode.
It’s a team built to compete now. The defense has had its moments, special teams have been hit or miss, but the overall talent level suggests this squad should be in the playoff hunt.
Instead, they’ve found just about every way to lose-whether it’s an offensive stall, a defensive lapse, or a special teams blunder.
Week 13’s loss to the Jets was a microcosm of the season. The Falcons had a chance to steal a win late but came up empty with back-to-back three-and-outs on their final two drives.
That’s not just a missed opportunity-it’s a gut punch. And with that loss, any realistic shot at the postseason likely went out the window.
There are still questions to be answered about how this coaching staff has handled its young talent. The lack of offensive adaptation when Penix Jr. was under center is hard to ignore, especially now that Cousins is benefiting from a more tailored approach. If Robinson and Morris know how to scheme to a quarterback’s strengths, why didn’t we see that earlier?
The Falcons’ red zone turnaround is a step in the right direction. But in the NFL, efficiency only matters if it leads to wins.
Right now, Atlanta is sitting on a playoff-caliber roster that’s underperforming in the standings. And while the offense has taken its lumps, the bigger issue might be on the headset-not under center.