Just a week ago, the Atlanta Falcons were riding high after an upset win over the unbeaten San Francisco 49ers after Michael Penix Jr. had the best start of his NFL career, and following Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers, any optimism we might've had about this team went right out the window.
We thought that a new coaching staff and a new regime would fix many of the issues that have plagued this team, but the fact of the matter is that they aren't any different. It's impossible to predict which Falcons will show up on a given Sunday, as they followed up their biggest win with an ugly loss.
In Week 8, Atlanta had a golden opportunity to build on their momentum, establish themselves as legit playoff contenders, and take control of the NFC South, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stood in their way. But they were shut-out 16-0 in one of the worst performances from this team in years.
The Bucs ran the ball 56 times for 324 yards (5.8 YPC) on the game and threw the ball just three times--where Baker Mayfield failed to record a single completion. They became the first team since 1974 to win a game without completing a pass, and frankly, this feels like rock bottom for the Dirty Birds.
This was a horrible performance regardless of how you slice it. Yes' I'm well aware the rain played a factor in this loss, but there is a lot of blame to go around for this one as it was truly a pathetic showing, so beyond let's dive into the people who deserve the most blame for the now 3-5 Falcons, as while this loss can be an anomaly, that doesn't mean we avoid holding people accountable.
Who deserves the blame for the Atlanta Falcons' Week 8 loss to Bucs?
QB Michael Penix Jr.
You all probably should have seen this one coming. Michael Penix Jr. was absolutely awful out there, and it's a bummer to see him follow up his best start as a pro with his worst. He completed just eight of 24 pass attempts for 176 yards and a mind-boggling four interceptions... Yeah. It was that bad.
At the end of the first half, Penix had more completions to the other team (3) to his own (2). He missed Kyle Pitts what likely would've been a long touchdown, and he could've had even more picks out there. He was throwing wobblers all game, as Todd Bowles' defense had this guy in absolute hell.
And even with the rain, since Atlanta went down early, they had to keep turning to the passing game to get them back into it, but every time it felt like they had momentum, the former top-10 pick squandered it with an ugly turnover--as his 6.2 passer rating marked a career low.
I want to give him some grace, since it wasn't all on him, but the fanbase is ready to turn on him even though he's looked like a franchise QB all year to date.
CB A.J. Terrell
For years. A.J. Terrell has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, but not many people are going to let you know about the way he's regressed across the last couple of years. He's had stints on IR in each of the last two seasons, and even when he's healthy, he's been a shell of his former self.
Terrell's best skill is the ability to take a receiver out of a game, but given the Bucs hardly threw the ball, his red flags were exposed. He is genuinely a putrid tackler, as according to Pro Football Focus, his four missed tackles were the second-most among all defenders in Week 8 behind Jordyn Brooks.
He's regressed in coverage, he can't cover, and is making a lot of money, so it's time for the Falcons to find their long-term CB1 in the 2027 NFL Draft.
OC Tommy Rees and HC Kevin Stefanski
Lastly, but most certainly not least, this isn't two players, but they are a package deal of people who I think are the most responsible for this loss. Kevin Stefanski and Tommy Rees turned in a coaching disasterclass against the Bucs to the point that it's clear that Rees isn't an NFL-caliber play-caller.
In what world should we be throwing the football 24 times in a torrential downpour? Penix already had four picks, they badly wanted him to have his Nate Peterman moment. And don't even get me started on the management in short-yardage as the choice to kick the field goal with Nick Folk on the opening drive from 50+ yards in the rain just to never kick another field goal was odd.
At some points the play-calling was too conservative, and others it was too aggressive. There was no balance or feel for the situation. No wonder Falcons went 0-for-12 on third down on Sunday, failed to capitalize on any of the Bucs' mistakes (three of their four fumbles were recovered), and failed to adjust at all. When things didn't work, they fell on the sword.
It's evident Rees has no clue how to scheme up this run game or use the best RB in the NFL in Bijan Robinson since he continues to call plays up the middle. Everything is so predictable, which is why it was easy for a top run defense to slow down a lifeless run game with below average blocking.
The Bucs out-physicaled Atlanta and out-played them in every area. This game was only 16 points, but given how often Tampa Bay's offense stalled out, they should've lost by a lot more than two scores.
I was a believer in both Rees and Stefanski because of their work with Penix, but after this drubbing, I'm starting to question my stance. Hopefully they prove me wrong in Madrid next week.
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