The Atlanta Falcons are off to a difficult start this season.

With both Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa sidelined to start the season — with Tagovailoa suffering an injury in practice in the days leading up to the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers — Atlanta was forced to turn to veteran Cooper Rush under center to begin the year.

The results have not been pretty.

Rush completed just 12-of-22 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown, along with a pair of interceptions, in Atlanta’s Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Atlanta losing by just a touchdown, in a 20-13 loss, the fact that the second interception was this Pick-Six was rather decisive:

It is also a tough look when the Pick-Six comes on a simple swing route to the running back out of the flat.

Things have not improved for Atlanta here in Week 2. While Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers is not yet over, the visiting Panthers opened up a 20-3 lead at the halftime break.

And the Atlanta offense again struggled with Rush in the game, managing just 162 yards in the first half of play, and converting only 2-of-7 third-down chances.

As for Rush himself, he finished the first half having completed just 9-of-15 passes for 80 yards and this interception:

That came on the Falcons’ second offensive possession of the game.

Here is how their first ended:

And yes, that came on the first play from scrimmage in this game.

Now for the really bad news.

You might be seeing a lot of this Falcons team over the next few weeks.

All three of Atlanta’s upcoming games are in primetime. The Falcons kick off Week 3 with a visit to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football. Then in Week 4 Atlanta heads to New Orleans to play the Saints on Monday Night Football.

Then in Week 5, the Sunday slate concludes with the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Saints on Sunday Night Football.

Three games, all in primetime, for a national audience.

If there is any solace, Penix is reportedly “nearing his return” and “could” be back for Week 3, per this report.

The key word there being … could.