The Atlanta Falcons are climbing after one of the NFL’s loudest results of Week 8, and the national power rankings finally moved in their direction.
Atlanta’s upset of the previously unbeaten San Francisco 49ers has changed the tone around the team, even if the overall feeling remains cautious. The Falcons have been through the full range already this season: an 0-2 start that made them look like a draft-position team, followed by a rebound once Michael Penix Jr. returned and suddenly made them look capable of much more.
That swing has made it hard for the league to know what to make of Atlanta. The Falcons dropped a game to the Lamar Jackson-less Baltimore Ravens, then got rolled by the Chicago Bears.
But if you set aside those first two games, which came while the team was playing Cooper Rush after signing him as an emergency quarterback the day training camp opened, the picture looks different. Strip those away, and Atlanta is sitting at 3-2 with a roster that has flashed real potential with a competent quarterback in place.
Still, skepticism hangs around this group, especially after a few seasons of inconsistency in the spotlight. Even after the 49ers win, the respect came in measured doses.
NFL Network’s Nick Shook made the biggest leap for Atlanta, moving the Falcons from No. 19 to No. 13. He also admitted he wasn’t fully sold.
"Look, I’m with you: I don’t know who the Falcons are, either," Shook wrote. "They were an inspired bunch on Sunday, outplaying a strong 49ers.
Michael Penix Jr. looks very comfortable in Kevin Stefanski’s offense, and Jeff Ulbrich’s defense played with a higher level of aggression. A win like this makes me believe in this team.
Hopefully, it doesn't deliver the opposite this Sunday in Tampa."
SI was even more bullish, giving Atlanta the week’s largest jump overall. The Falcons moved from No. 23 to No. 16 there, which also placed them first in the NFC South.
"Tommy Rees called one heck of a game against the 49ers, taking Michael Penix’s struggles against secondary blitzes and turning the offense into something that offered plenty of comfort blanket throws while also rolling him out of trouble," Connor Orr wrote on SI.
CBS Sports kept things more reserved. Pete Prisco had the Falcons at No. 23 entering the week, then slid them up to No. 19 after the San Francisco win.
"Rallying to beat the 49ers is big for this team after losing two straight. The defense made the plays when they needed to be made," Prisco wrote on CBS Sports.
ESPN was the most conservative of the bunch, bumping Atlanta only from No. 22 to No. 19 while leaving San Francisco at No. 1.
There’s still plenty for the Falcons to prove, and the next test comes quickly. Atlanta heads to Tampa to face a 2-5 Buccaneers team on Sunday, and that game will tell a lot more about how real this surge is.
The good news for the Falcons is that more help should be coming. The defense is overachieving, and some key pieces are expected back soon, including edge rusher James Pearce Jr. in two weeks. For now, though, the biggest thing Atlanta has done is give the league a reason to take a second look.
In Other News...
Maason Smith Is Making The Falcons Look Smart Fast
When Ian Cunningham made his first offseason move as Atlantas general manager, the swap sent Ruke Orhorhoro to Jacksonville and brought Maason Smith into the Falcons front. It was the kind of trade that needed time to sort itself out, but Smith has wasted little of it, giving Atlanta a noticeable boost inside as the season has unfolded.
His impact has been especially visible in pass rush, where he entered Week 7 leading all defensive tackles in win rate and then backed it up in the Falcons win over the 49ers. After the game, head coach Kevin Stefanski singled out Smiths work, another sign that the Falcons may have found more value in that deal than anyone could have expected this quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Penix Just Gave Falcons Fans A Reason To Believe
Michael Penix Jr. gave the Falcons a much-needed jolt on Sunday, guiding Atlanta to a 29-20 upset of the previously unbeaten San Francisco 49ers. The rookie quarterback looked composed throughout the win, helping a team sitting at 2-4 find at least a little footing against one of the leagues toughest early-season opponents.
Jessie Bates III was quick to point to Penixs performance as a reason for optimism, even with the record still leaving plenty of work ahead. The Falcons now turn to their next test against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 1, and for a team still searching for consistency, the bigger question is whether this kind of showing can become the norm rather than the exception. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Trade Rumor Fans Can't Ignore
Brian Thomas Jr. has not been placed on the trade block, and the Jaguars are not actively shopping the 2024 first-round wideout. Still, when a player of his caliber sits out the second half of a recent game, it is enough to get the rumor mill moving, especially with teams around the league always watching for a chance to upgrade at receiver.
From Atlantas perspective, the chatter lands because the Falcons are among the clubs that could use a player with Thomas upside if Jacksonville ever decides the timing and price are right. For now, it remains more speculation than a real market, but the fact that Atlanta is already being mentioned tells you how quickly a situation like this can gain traction. [Read more 🡒]