At 3-2, the Falcons have been unpredictable. They just knocked off the Buffalo Bills, but are 0-2 in division play this season.
Incredible offensive flashes one week have been followed by head scratching mistakes the next. But as the schedule creeps closer to Week 9, one matchup already looms larger than the rest: Falcons vs. Patriots.
Because by the time the Falcons reach their Week 9 matchup against the New England Patriots, the margin for error will be razor thin. Both teams are hovering around .500. Both have shown flashes of playoff potential. And both have young quarterbacks trying to prove they can carry a franchise.
Yes, I know it’s still weeks away. However, it's not crazy to say that this game could decide Atlanta’s season. And fans will be excited for the Super Bowl LI rematch
The Falcons' Week 9 matchup in New England is more important than people realize
For Atlanta, Week 9 is going to be where everything comes together (or completely unravels).
If Penix keeps improving, this could be the game that cements him as the guy. This game against Drake Maye, another rising star, could give us a preview of the NFL’s next generation of quarterback battles.
A win would give the Falcons momentum heading into a tough second half schedule and validate the front office’s controversial choice to draft Penix after signing Cousins. But a loss could undo weeks of progress and throw the team right back into quarterback chaos.
To his credit, Penix has handled the early season chaos like a pro. His arm talent has never been in question. Raheem Morris has made it clear: there’s no QB controversy.
And right now, he’s right. The team believes in Penix. The locker room has rallied behind him. But that belief has an expiration date if the results don’t keep coming.
That’s what makes Week 9 so important. It could either turn a promising second year campaign into a playoff push, or leave a young quarterback fighting to keep his job.
The Falcons have been somewhere between rebuilding and contending for years. But this year feels different. The pieces are there: Bijan Robinson has been electric, Drake London is emerging as one of the best receivers in the NFL, and the defense has quietly been the best in football.
If the Falcons can go into Foxborough in Week 9 and knock off a gritty Patriots team led by Maye, it sends a message that Atlanta isn’t just a team with potential, they’re a team ready to win now.
But if they lose, all that early promise could start to fade fast, and the season could slip right back into familiar territory.