Over the past two weeks, the Atlanta Falcons have delivered Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde performances, which isn’t unusual for a young roster led by a first-year starting quarterback.
It’s hard to imagine looking worse than Atlanta did in its 30-0 loss to the lowly Panthers. Michael Penix Jr. looked rattled, missing reads and struggling with accuracy and anticipation. But he responded in emphatic fashion, putting together the best performance of his young career — completing 20 of 26 passes for a career-high 313 yards and two touchdowns. The Falcons’ offense exploded for 34 points in what was virtually a must-win game heading into the bye week.
There’s a lot to like about this Falcons team. The defense has gone from one of the league’s worst to a top-10 unit by nearly every metric. Even more encouraging, they should only get better as the season progresses. Almost half of Atlanta’s defense is made up of new faces who hadn’t played a snap together prior to this year, and the chemistry is only beginning to take shape.
Offensively, consistency has been lacking, but the potential is undeniable. The offensive line has exceeded expectations after losing starting right tackle Kaleb McGary to a season-ending injury before Week 1. Elijah Wilkinson has filled in admirably, and the drop-off has been minimal, if noticeable at all.
Meanwhile, the Falcons’ trio of top-10 picks just had their best game as a group, with each finding the end zone in the same game for the first time. Bijan Robinson looks like an early frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Drake London is emerging as one of the league’s premier wide receivers. And Kyle Pitts, in a contract year, looks rejuvenated — like a completely different player in his fifth season.
So, how far can the Falcons go this season? That answer rests on the shoulders of Michael Penix Jr. On the latest episode of SportsTalkATL, we dive into Atlanta’s offensive showcase against the Commanders, and why the team’s ultimate success — or failure — will depend almost entirely on the play of the former eighth overall pick.
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Photographer: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire
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