During the first two weeks of the 2026 season, the Falcons looked like one of the worst teams in the NFL.
The last two weeks have been much different. A 35-14 win in Green Bay in Week 3 was followed by Monday night’s 45-24 rout of the Saints in New Orleans and it’s not hard to notice the biggest difference in the team over the last two games. Quarterback Michael Penix was cleared to return from last season’s torn ACL and he’s been at the helm of their offensive explosion.
Penix is 33-of-45 for 479 yards and two touchdowns in the two wins and combining accuracy with an ability to pick up big chunks of yardage every time the ball is in the air has opened the door for the Falcons to run wild. Bijan Robinson has run for 339 yards and four touchdowns while Brian Robinson has 117 yards to go with four more scores in the back-to-back wins. The change in offense has made a strong impression on safety Jessie Bates.
“We just want to show the world who we can be,” Bates said, via Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com. “The first two weeks were not up to our standards. Obviously, when you got [Penix] back there dealing, it’s a whole different team. So, we’re just excited to continue to go with this.”
The Falcons had a strong collection of skill position players to open the season, but poor quarterback play didn’t allow them to take advantage of that talent. The shift with Penix has been clear and it’s opened the door to a much brighter future in Atlanta.