After two straight primetime beatdowns of 20 points or more and an average of 40 points per game over that stretch, the Falcons are drawing real attention. The conversation around them has shifted fast.
Michael Penix Jr. is no longer being labeled a bust, and people are now asking how far he can push this offense. Bruce Arians has even compared him to Barry Sanders, and Jeff Ulbrich and Tommy Rees are being floated as possible head coaching names in the next cycle.
For a team that hasn’t inspired this kind of buzz in nearly a decade, it’s a notable turn.
But Mike Florio may have offered the most interesting angle yet. He said teams around the league aren’t especially worried about Tom Brady’s influence on the Raiders, arguing that Brady has too many other commitments - calling games for Fox and walking runways across the Atlantic Ocean - to be fully locked in on turning the Raiders into a juggernaut.
The bigger concern, according to Florio, is Matt Ryan and the Falcons.
“Matt Ryan is the one I’m concerned about,” a coach told Florio. “Because he’s there.
He’s there all the time. He’s getting himself fully immersed, and the concepts that make you a master of the quarterback position - yes, you’ve got to have the physical skills, but it’s also cerebral.
The things that allow you to master the quarterback position, once you redirect that to another part of the sport… there are teams that are concerned about it.”
Ryan was named the team’s President of Football this past offseason, and the reporting around him paints a picture of someone who has thrown himself completely into the job. He’s been around training camp, at every game, and working out pregame. The first two weeks raised some doubts, but the last two have suggested he may have a real feel for the role.
There’s also obvious symbolism in Ryan being the one steering this push. When the Falcons drafted him two decades ago, the franchise was in disarray after losing Michael Vick and then Bobby Petrino. Yet by the following year, they were back in the playoffs and on the way to the best 15-year run in team history.
Now Ryan is trying to revive the same organization, one that hasn’t reached the postseason since 2017. If he can help change that in one year, the next step could be even more intriguing once he fully settles into the demands of the job.
In Other News...
Falcons Just Added Backfield Depth Fans May Want To Track
The Falcons added another name to the backfield mix this week, signing running back Jam Miller to the practice squad while moving on from Cash Jones to clear the roster spot. It is the kind of small transaction that can matter later, especially for a team that keeps an eye on depth at running back throughout the season.
Miller arrives with an unusual backstory for a midseason addition. He was originally drafted by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but an injury led to his release before the season began. After working his way back, he reportedly stood out in a workout for Atlanta and now gets a chance to show whether that look can turn into something more. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Domecoming Disaster Got Even More Disturbing In The Stands
The Falcons left the Caesars Superdome with a lopsided win, but the day carried a heavier emotional backdrop than a normal rivalry game. The matchup marked 20 years since the first Saints game back after Hurricane Katrina, and instead of a celebratory homecoming, the building turned tense as New Orleans absorbed a 45-24 loss and slid to 1-3 on the season.
The unease in the stands only added to the mood. During the game, a Saints fan fell on the steep steps in the 600 level, though he appeared conscious and was helped by nearby fans, a jarring scene inside a stadium that was already hearing plenty of frustration from the home crowd. The Saints are still winless at home, and after another rough afternoon, the pressure around the team is starting to feel as loud as the disappointment in the seats. [Read more 🡒]
Drake London Said Exactly What Falcons Fans Love About Beating The Saints
The Falcons had the Saints in a familiar spot by halftime, up 24-7 and well in control, but the lead only kept growing from there. By the end of the game, Atlanta had pushed the margin to 31 points, a reminder that this rivalry still carries plenty of edge when the Falcons get rolling.
Drake London was right in the middle of it, finishing with five catches for 96 yards and again looking like one of Michael Penix Jr.'s most reliable targets. He also spoke to the extra motivation behind Atlanta's continued push to score, tying it back to a previous Saints moment involving Jameis Winston, which only added another layer to a win Falcons fans will happily savor. [Read more 🡒]