The Atlanta Falcons have started to steady themselves, and Michael Penix Jr. is back at the center of it.
Since Penix returned from injury, Atlanta has stacked up two straight wins after a rough opening stretch, and the latest one was the loudest yet: a 45-24 blowout of the New Orleans Saints. It was the kind of performance that left little doubt about who controlled the game from start to finish.
Penix didn’t overstate it afterward. In his postgame interview, he said the Falcons got the results they wanted and that their game went pretty well, all things considered.
That was about as clean a summary as the night deserved. Atlanta was sharp on every level, and the offense never let New Orleans breathe.
The Falcons scored on every drive they had, then kept piling on even after the outcome was well in hand. Penix was efficient throughout, finishing 15 of 20 for 223 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.
The ground game did most of the damage. Bijan Robinson ripped through the Saints for 145 yards and two touchdowns, while Brian Robinson was a force in the red zone with three touchdowns and 62 yards. Together, they gave Atlanta a relentless one-two punch that New Orleans never solved.
The defense backed it up by smothering the Saints’ offense and keeping pressure on Tyler Shough at the line of scrimmage. New Orleans managed just 24 yards on the ground, which made it easier for Atlanta to sit on the passing game and control the flow of the night.
The win moves the Falcons to 2-2, putting them just behind the Carolina Panthers at 3-1. Next comes a bigger test: a Monday Night Football matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, who also sit at 3-1.
In Other News...
Falcons-Ravens Suddenly Feels Very Different After Lamar Jackson Update
What sounded like a short-term concern for Lamar Jackson has quickly turned into something much more uncertain for the Ravens. Baltimore head coach Jesse Minter initially downplayed the left ankle injury, indicating Jackson would not be expected to miss multiple games, but the latest word has changed the outlook around Sundays matchup with Atlanta and how the rest of the schedule might unfold.
Ian Rapoport reported that Jackson now has only an outside chance to play against the Falcons, with Tyler Huntley the likely starter if Baltimore chooses to hold him out. For Atlanta, that kind of shift matters because it changes the kind of offense the Falcons may be preparing for, and it also leaves open the possibility that Jackson could sit beyond this week, including in a possible game against the Browns. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Penix Jr. Is Changing What Falcons Fans Expect
Michael Penix Jr. has given the Falcons a different kind of energy since returning from a torn ACL, and the offense has started to reflect it. Atlantas 45-24 win over the Saints was the latest sign of that shift, with teammates openly praising the way Penix has settled in and lifted the group around him.
The numbers back up the feeling, too. Penix has completed 33 of 45 passes for 479 yards with two touchdowns and one interception this season, and Atlanta has piled up 80 points over its last two games. For a team that has spent years searching for a steadier offensive identity, winning by more than 20 points in consecutive games for the first time since 2016 is the kind of stretch that changes expectations fast. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Could Catch Ravens In A Spot They Did Not Expect
The Week 5 matchup with Baltimore suddenly looks more intriguing for Atlanta than anyone expected when the schedule came out. The Ravens are dealing with uncertainty around Lamar Jacksons ankle, and that has the potential to change the shape of the game plan on the fly. For the Falcons, it adds another layer to a trip that already comes with plenty of intrigue, especially with the way their offense has been humming around Bijan Robinson and Michael Penix Jr.
Atlanta has leaned into a balanced approach lately, and that identity could matter even more if Baltimore is forced to adjust. The Falcons do not need this game to become a shootout to feel good about their chances, but they do need to keep doing the things that have made them effective on offense. If the Ravens are missing their biggest difference-maker under center, it is the kind of opening Atlanta has to be ready to press. [Read more 🡒]