The Atlanta Falcons finally steadied themselves, and Michael Penix Jr. has become the face of that shift.
After a rough opening stretch that saw Atlanta score only 16 combined points in losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers, the offense looked like it needed a complete reset. Penix’s return helped deliver it. The Falcons responded with a 35-point road win in Green Bay and then backed it up with a 45-24 Monday night victory over New Orleans, enough to change the tone around the team in a hurry.
Now comes the real stress test.
Atlanta’s next four games will go a long way toward determining whether this hot streak is the start of something real or just a brief spike after a slow start. The run begins with the Baltimore Ravens, then continues against the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers before the Falcons head to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers.
Baltimore is first, and even with Tyler Huntley set to start in Lamar Jackson’s place later tonight, the challenge doesn’t get any softer. The Ravens still bring plenty of talent, and they remain a difficult opponent despite the injury issue. For Penix, the matchup gives him a primetime stage against a defense that will be trying to throw Atlanta out of its rhythm.
That’s the theme for the next month: one tough test after another.
Chicago comes next, and the Bears add another layer of difficulty. Atlanta will have little time to enjoy whatever happens against Baltimore before turning around for another NFC opponent, and the source material notes that a Ben Johnson-led offense is to be feared regardless of whether Caleb Williams returns.
Then comes San Francisco, making it three straight home games against playoff-caliber teams. Mercedes-Benz Stadium should help, but the Falcons have to cash in on that edge. The source material points to Brock Purdy being atop most MVP ballots so far, which only raises the level of the challenge.
The Tampa Bay game may end up carrying the most weight of all because of what it means in the NFC South. The Buccaneers are a direct competitor in the division, and head-to-head results can matter a lot when teams are chasing the same playoff spot. The source also notes that Kevin Stefanski can get his revenge on Baker Mayfield if he’s back in time.
There is still a long way to go, but this stretch is where Atlanta finds out what those last two wins really mean. Penix has already helped bring the Falcons back to life after the early stumbles. The next four games will show whether that momentum can hold up when the schedule gets a lot less forgiving.
In Other News...
Falcons Fans Should Track These Weekend Matchups For A Reason
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There are three games in particular that deserve close attention for Atlanta observers, since each one carries real draft implications for the road ahead. The names on those rosters are still early in the evaluation process, but the stakes are already clear for a front office that will keep watching how this group develops, and for fans who like to get a head start on who might matter to the Falcons before the rest of the league fully catches on. [Read more 🡒]
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Instead, Dotson stepped into a situation clouded by quarterback injuries that disrupted the offense early and made every target harder to come by. Even so, there have been enough encouraging signs to make Falcons fans wonder whether this move could pay off in a bigger way than expected, especially if the passing game ever settles into something closer to normal. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Winning Streak Just Raised A Big Trade Deadline Question
Two straight wins have pushed Atlanta back into the conversation after an 0-2 start, and now the early-season turnaround comes with a familiar roster-building question. As the trade deadline approaches, the Falcons improved footing has been tied to a possible pursuit of veteran pass rush help, with the defense still a spot that could use more proven edge production.
One name to watch is Jadeveon Clowney, who has opened the season with the Houston Texans and shown he can still get into the backfield, posting 1.5 sacks and five combined tackles in two games. Any talk of a move would put Atlanta in a larger market for a veteran defender, but the more immediate takeaway is that the Falcons recent run has made them a team worth monitoring for a deadline swing. [Read more 🡒]