The Numbers Don’t Lie
The Atlanta Falcons offense looked broken for the first two weeks of the season. They scored a pathetic 8.0 points per game without their starter. That version of the team sat at the very bottom of the entire NFL. But everything changed the moment Michael Penix Jr. stepped back onto the field. Since his return in Week 3, the Falcons have averaged a mind-blowing 40.0 points per game. NBC Sports reported this massive gap between the two versions of the team. The difference is more than a full touchdown every single week. This isn’t just a small improvement. It is a total transformation of the franchise. The team that lost to Carolina is not the same squad that crushed New Orleans on Monday night.
A Tale of Two Quarterbacks
The stats make the contrast between Penix and his replacements crystal clear. Before Penix returned, Cooper Rush threw for 229 yards and four interceptions in two starts. His passer rating sat at a terrible 42.5. Jack Strand fared even worse with a rating of 35.1. Penix has flipped the script completely. He has been sacked just once in 45 pass attempts while posting a 113.1 passer rating. That is the fifth-best mark among all quarterbacks with enough throws this season. The running game has also found its life. Bijan Robinson rushed for 339 yards and four touchdowns with Penix under center. In the two games before the starter returned, Robinson had zero touchdowns. Brian Robinson Jr. also found the end zone four times with Penix but failed to score once without him. The offense finally has a pulse.
Health and Hard Work Pay Off
Penix missed the first two games after tearing his ACL for the third time. Many people thought his career was over before it really started. He looked ready to prove them all wrong on Monday night. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown against the Saints. The Falcons won 45-24 in a dominant display of power. Penix stayed humble after the game despite the huge numbers. “I’m just so thankful to be able to be healthy,” Penix said. He also gave credit to the coaches for their smart plan. “Penix also credited the coaching staff for having a great game plan and the team’s attention to detail,” the report noted. The offensive line blocked better, and the receivers caught everything. The whole team trusted the plan and executed it perfectly in a hostile place.
Next Up: The Real Test
Currently tied for first place in the NFC South, the Falcons have a 2-2 record. Two straight wins in primetime feel great for the fans in Atlanta. But the schedule gets much harder starting this Sunday night. The team faces the Baltimore Ravens, who are a tough run-stopping squad. The Ravens will test if this offense is real or just a hot streak. The Falcons must turn the page quickly and prepare for a brutal fight. They cannot get comfortable after beating their division rivals. The next three weeks will decide if this team can actually make the playoffs. Penix has to stay healthy, and the defense must hold up. The 2017 Super Bowl run feels like a distant dream, but this team looks like it could finally get back there. The dark horse is officially in the race.
