Is it time to start taking the Falcons seriously? With their presumed starter now playing, the answer looks like yes.
Michael Penix Jr. looked about as good as anyone could hope in his first game back from a major knee injury, and Bijan Robinson was virtually unstoppable on the ground in Atlanta’s surprisingly one-sided 35-14 victory at Green Bay. Meanwhile, the Packers appear disjointed and are already 1-2.
Here are the main takeaways:
1) Matt LaFleur’s job is under pressure
It may seem harsh, but criticism of LaFleur is growing. He’s proven himself a capable coach—reviving Aaron Rodgers’ career and turning Jordan Love into a very good quarterback—while keeping Green Bay’s offense among the league’s statistical leaders. Still, you don’t win championships with strong EPA or DVOA alone, and this roster feels farther from Super Bowl contention than at any point in LaFleur’s eight-year tenure, which has yielded just three playoff wins.
A 1-2 start can be reversed, and the team should eventually get Micah Parsons back, but some problems look structural. The offensive line is a major liability: Green Bay’s rushing attack entered the game as the league’s worst and produced just 17 total rushing yards on Thursday. Pass protection has been even worse—Love was pressured on 42% of his dropbacks and faced pressure on average in 2.28 seconds, per Next Gen Stats—leaving him constantly hurried. The defense had been a pleasant surprise earlier, and rook Lukas Van Ness has been a highlight, but Thursday’s showing after an early interception didn’t inspire confidence. Right now, this is a bad football team, and if improvements don’t come, LaFleur’s job security will remain a headline issue. Whether the Packers can actually move on is complicated by his recent contract extension and Green Bay’s unique ownership situation—there isn’t a deep-pocketed billionaire owner ready to absorb a costly buyout.
2) Bijan Robinson is a highlight reel
Watching Robinson is special. He ripped off 194 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries in Green Bay, marking his 11th game with at least 150 yards from scrimmage since entering the league—only Derrick Henry has more since 2022. Despite an average offensive line and a passing attack that doesn’t always protect him, Robinson keeps generating explosive plays. Next Gen Stats credits him with forcing eight missed tackles and 175 rushing yards after contact on Thursday. Few backs can shoulder that kind of load, but Robinson is on that short list: if Atlanta’s passing game is competent around him, the Falcons should be able to score enough to remain competitive in the NFC South.
3) Michael Penix Jr. should be Atlanta’s starter
After waiting until Week 3, the Falcons’ QB competition finally looks settled. Barring a last-minute change from Kevin Stefanski, Penix should be the clear starter after his return. He overcame a shaky opening—including an interception—but was excellent afterward, averaging more than 10 yards per attempt and getting rid of the ball quickly while still pushing throws downfield. Penix helped unlock Drake London, who exploded for 194 yards with gains of 68 and 40. Given he missed the preseason and most of training camp recovering from an ACL, there’s reason to believe Penix will keep improving as he reacclimates to live-game reps. He doesn’t need to be elite to make this offense dangerous: Robinson will handle much of the heavy work, and playmakers like London and Kyle Pitts can turn routine throws into big gains. With Penix playing like he did, Atlanta’s offense looks considerably more threatening than it did with Cooper Rush under center.
What’s next
Atlanta heads to New Orleans next week—an important test for whether they can realistically chase the division—then faces a tough stretch of NFC contenders, so winning in New Orleans might be crucial for any sustained playoff push. Green Bay visits a desperate Tampa Bay team before hosting the Bears; if the Packers drop to 1-3 before Chicago, calls for change around LaFleur will only intensify.
Fan Take: This matters because the Falcons suddenly look like a legitimate, fun-to-watch contender when Penix and Bijan Robinson are both firing, which shakes up the NFC South and could alter wild-card dynamics. For the league, Green Bay’s early-season struggles are a reminder that organizational health and roster construction matter as much as coaching pedigree—how the Packers respond will be a storyline worth watching.
Source: www.foxsports.com
