The Atlanta Falcons have given their season a much needed reset, and Michael Penix Jr. is at the center of it.
But now comes the difficult part. The schedule is about to get a whole lot more difficult. The Falcons face the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers over the next three weeks before traveling to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers.
And while Kevin Stefanski's old friend Tyler Huntley will start in Lamar Jackson's place later tonight, it doesn't change the task at hand. The Ravens are still one of the most talented teams in football, one of the best-coached units thanks to Jesse Minter, and they should not be underestimated due to injury.
Atlanta's first two games were rough… The Falcons managed just 16 combined points against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers, losing both contests and raising questions about the offense's direction.
Penix's return helped change that narrative and prove this team is one to be taken seriously. But the next four games will determine how serious their playoff aspirations are
The Falcons' next four games will define how this season will play out
The Falcons scored 35 points in a road win over Green Bay before following it up with a 45-24 victory against New Orleans on Monday night. Two wins have changed the mood around the Falcons. A few more would make the early season struggles feel much less relevant.
The Ravens are first up, and the primetime matchup gives Michael Penix Jr. an opportunity to show what he can do against a defense that will be looking to disrupt Atlanta's offensive rhythm.
Baltimore's injury situation majorly helps. So the Falcons cannot afford to assume their recent success will automatically carry over.
Chicago presents another challenge the following week. The Bears have their own ambitions in the NFC, and the Falcons will have little time to celebrate or dwell on the result against Baltimore before preparing for another opponent. And a Ben Johnson-led offense is to be feared regardless of whether Caleb Williams returns
San Francisco follows, giving Atlanta three consecutive home games against teams with playoff aspirations. Playing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium should help, but the Falcons will need to take advantage of that opportunity. A strong home stretch could put them in a much better position heading into November, but Brock Purdy has been atop most MVP ballots to this point.
The Tampa Bay game could be particularly important because of its divisional implications… The Buccaneers are a direct competitor for the NFC South, and head to head results can become important when teams are fighting for the same playoff spot--and Stefanski can get his revenge on Baker Mayfield if he's back in time. And while they are a mess, Jalon Daniels still led them to a win over the Cowboys in Dallas in just his second career start.
For Penix, these games offer a chance to turn early season excitement into something more convincing. These last two games were encouraging, but there is still a lot of football left to be played. Now it's time to prove Weeks 3 and 4 (against weaker opponents) was no flash in the pan.
If he can do that over the next month, the conversation around the Atlanta Falcons could look very different by the time the team reaches its Week 11 bye. The recent wins have given the Falcons some breathing room after their slow start. Penix now has a chance to prove they were the beginning of a genuine turnaround.
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