The Falcons’ place in The Athletic’s Week 2 power rankings tells the story pretty clearly: this team is sliding fast, and the quarterback situation is a huge reason why.
Atlanta landed at No. 29, three spots below where it sat last week. That drop came after a Sunday road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in which the defense held up well enough, but the offense got almost nothing from quarterback and kicker. Bijan Robinson was the lone offensive bright spot.
At the top of the rankings, the San Francisco 49ers jumped to No. 1 after upsetting the “Superteam” Rams in Australia, with the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks right behind them.
The Athletic’s writeup on Atlanta didn’t leave much room for optimism: “There wasn’t much optimism in Atlanta, even when Tua Tagovailoa was signed to be the presumptive starter. But things were especially bleak with Michael Penix Jr. still not 100 percent and Cooper Rush in at quarterback. Yet somehow, the Falcons still managed more yards per play (4.2) than the Steelers (4.1) in a boring game that could come to symbolize Atlanta’s plight this season.”
The current buzz is that the Falcons want Michael Penix to start this week against the Carolina Panthers in a must-win matchup, but he still doesn’t look ready for live action after only recently getting back to 11-on-11 work a couple of weeks ago.
So the decision may again come down to Cooper Rush, who appears to be headed for another start in Week 2. Until the quarterback spot gets settled, the rest of the roster can only do so much to change how this team is viewed.
In Other News...
Kevin Stefanski Just Made Atlanta's QB Mess Even More Intriguing
Kevin Stefanskis decision to take the Falcons job gives Atlanta a new voice at a time when the quarterback situation is already unsettled. The roster has been dealing with injuries to Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa, leaving the position in a murky spot, but Stefanski still viewed the opportunity as one worth taking over other options, including the Tennessee Titans.
For Atlanta, that makes the hire about more than just the present tense. Stefanski is clearly looking at the bigger picture, seeing enough potential in the roster to believe the QB issue can be addressed over time, including through the draft. The immediate questions around who will actually run the offense are still there, but the long-term plan just became a lot more interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Backup QB Decision They Cant Ignore
Quarterback depth has become a real issue for Atlanta, and it is the kind of problem that can force a front office to act before the season gets away from it. The Falcons are dealing with injuries and uncertainty at the position, which naturally has them surveying the market for a steadier backup plan behind the starter.
Mason Rudolph has emerged as a logical name to watch because Pittsburghs decision to carry four quarterbacks on its initial 53-man roster leaves room for questions about how long that group can stay intact. A trade would not be automatic, and Atlanta would still have to weigh the cost against the value of added insurance, but the possibility alone underscores how quickly the Falcons quarterback situation has moved from concern to something they cant ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Rookies Already Created One Big Debate After Week 1
The Falcons 2026 rookie class got its first real look in Week 1 against the Steelers, and it was enough to spark an early conversation about how quickly Atlanta should lean on first-year talent. Avieon Terrell and Zachariah Branch both flashed in ways that suggested they can help right away, while Kendal Daniels showed the kind of athleticism that usually keeps coaches interested even when the tape is not perfectly clean. The early evaluations, including the Pro Football Focus grades, only added more fuel to the discussion.
For a team trying to sort out its depth and find reliable contributors early in the season, the varying rookie performances already pose a familiar question: who has earned more snaps, and who still needs time to settle in? Terrell and Branch gave the Falcons some encouraging signs, but Daniels tackling issues also served as a reminder that Week 1 can sharpen expectations just as fast as it raises them. [Read more 🡒]