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ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons have reclaimed the top position in the NFC South and are in a favorable position to secure a playoff spot.
Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. demonstrated the composure required for his first NFL start, a performance that could be pivotal in helping the Falcons end a lengthy six-year playoff drought.
With a defense that made significant plays, including two interception returns for touchdowns, coupled with a solid debut from Penix and two rushing touchdowns from Bijan Robinson, the Falcons defeated the struggling New York Giants convincingly, 34-7, on Sunday.
Later that evening, the Falcons (8-7) benefited from a loss by Tampa Bay to Dallas, further improving their playoff chances. As the Falcons have swept their games against the Buccaneers, they hold the tiebreaker should they remain equal with Tampa Bay at the top of the division.
With upcoming games against Washington on Sunday night and a home matchup versus Carolina to finish the regular season, the Falcons need to win both to clinch the division title and secure a home playoff game.
This season, the Falcons are guaranteed their best record since finishing at 10-6 in 2017 under coach Dan Quinn, which was also their last playoff appearance. Quinn is now in his first season as head coach of the Commanders, who are currently enjoying a three-game winning streak, including a thrilling 36-33 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Penix, selected as the No. 8 overall pick in the recent NFL draft, was given the start after coach Raheem Morris opted to bench Kirk Cousins.
Penix completed 18 out of 27 passes for a total of 202 yards, though he did throw one interception that resulted from a catchable pass mishandled by tight end Kyle Pitts. While he isn’t classified as a dual-threat quarterback, Penix displayed a notable ability to evade pressure in the pocket, a skill that Cousins has struggled with since his Achilles injury. His left-handed throws showcased impressive arm strength.
The offense saw a boost from Robinson’s consistent performance, which eased Penix’s transition into the starting role. Robinson scored on runs of 2 and 4 yards during the game.
This season, Robinson has achieved 10 rushing touchdowns, making him the first Atlanta player to accomplish that feat since Devonta Freeman did it during the 2016 Super Bowl season. He accumulated 94 yards on 22 carries, with a total of 103 yards from scrimmage, marking the 11th time this season he surpassed 100 yards in total yardage — the most for Atlanta since Warrick Dunn also hit that mark in 2005.
Morris has emphasized Robinson’s impressive contributions, suggesting he deserves mention alongside league stars like Saquon Barkley of Philadelphia. “Bijan has been extraordinary all year in his versatility,” said Morris. “He’s exceptional. If not for the standout performance of the guy in Philly, he’d be getting much more recognition.”
On the other hand, there are aspects of the team that need attention. With kicker Younghoe Koo sidelined and watching from the sidelines, Riley Patterson missed his first field-goal attempt from 43 yards. However, he successfully converted on attempts of 52 and 37 yards thereafter.
In terms of defense, Jessie Bates III and Matthew Judon each made remarkable contributions with a pick-6, highlighting a day filled with significant defensive plays.
Arnold Ebiketie logged his fifth sack of the season and added a fumble recovery to his performance, while Kaden Ellis also contributed with a strip-sack, marking his fifth sack of the year. This streak of sacks in four consecutive games ties the longest such stretch for the franchise since Patrick Kerney’s five-game streak back in 2001.
Conversely, there was optimism that a quarterback change would benefit Pitts, who had often been underutilized with Cousins at the helm. Unfortunately, Pitts started his time with Penix on a low note by fumbling a pass that led to an interception by cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. He did manage to catch a 7-yard pass on his only other target, and for the season, Pitts now has 41 receptions totaling 543 yards and three touchdowns.
Looking ahead, there will be notable interest in the injury report this week after WR Drake London sustained a hamstring injury in the second half. Morris provided a hopeful outlook regarding London’s condition following the game. Meanwhile, cornerback Antonio Hamilton did not return after leaving the field in the first half due to a quad injury.
A significant statistic highlighting Bates’ influence this season is that he has achieved four interceptions and four forced fumbles, totaling eight turnovers forced, leading the NFL in that category.
The upcoming game against Washington, featuring Jayden Daniels, serves as a reminder that Penix was just the fourth of six quarterbacks selected in the first round of the NFL draft, with Daniels being the No. 2 overall pick to Chicago behind Caleb Williams.
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