ATLANTA — After just two games into the tenure of Michael Penix Jr. as the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback, it has become apparent that the team has found a capable leader. However, the challenge ahead remains daunting, as time may be running out for the Falcons to secure a playoff berth.
A painful defeat against the Washington Commanders, who mounted a comeback from a 17-7 halftime deficit to win 30-24 in overtime, has significantly impacted Atlanta’s chances of making the postseason. With the current situation, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now hold the upper hand in the NFC South and only need to secure a victory against the struggling New Orleans Saints to clinch the division title.
If Tampa Bay accomplishes this, the Falcons, with a record of 8-8, will be left to reflect during an agonizing offseason on how they let their playoff aspirations slip away. Earlier in the season, the team had enjoyed a 6-3 start and seemed to be in control of their division, but a four-game losing streak ultimately cost them their starting quarterback, the highly-valued Kirk Cousins, who was signed for $180 million.
“This team has too much talent to be on the outside looking in for the playoffs for a seventh consecutive year,” running back Bijan Robinson remarked. “We need to step up our performance.”
In hindsight, the switch to Penix should have occurred sooner, perhaps before the last three games of the regular season. The eighth overall draft pick has showcased significant promise during his initial starts, despite his efforts not being enough to overcome the Commanders and their impressive rookie QB, Jayden Daniels.
Had it not been for questionable clock management by head coach Raheem Morris, there is a possibility that the Falcons could have claimed victory against the Commanders. Morris opted not to use any of his three timeouts in the critical minutes approaching halftime, instead allowing the clock to run down to settle for a field goal rather than attempting to extend their lead to 21-7 before the break.
Later, with 40 seconds remaining in regulation and the score tied, Morris failed to call a timeout following a 25-yard completion from Penix to Darnell Mooney. The play resulted in the clock ticking down to just 17 seconds before another incompletion occurred. Eventually, Morris called a timeout just as the clock stopped running.
A series of penalties gave the Falcons a chance for a 56-yard field goal, but Riley Patterson’s attempt fell short, leading to an overtime loss where the Commanders did not give Atlanta another offensive opportunity.
Morris later expressed regret over his decisions, acknowledging that the game’s outcome led to second-guessing. “I take full responsibility for the decisions that didn’t work,” he said. “I owe it to our fans and accept my role in the game’s result.”
During his second start, Penix displayed strong arm talent and solid decision-making skills, completing 19 of 35 passes for 223 yards and earning his first career touchdown. His performance included two fourth-down conversions that were pivotal in driving the team to tie the score.
Defensively, the Falcons were productive, recording five sacks shared among five different players, marking their fifth consecutive match with at least three quarterback take-downs. In this streak, they’ve achieved a total of 21 sacks, a sharp contrast to their NFL-low total of just 10 over the initial 11 games.
However, consistency with the running game remains an area of concern. Despite Robinson’s impressive first-half performance with 82 rushing yards on 13 attempts, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson inexplicably reduced his carries to just four for a mere 8 yards afterward.
On a brighter note, receiver Drake London reached a personal milestone with seven catches for 106 yards, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. Cornerback A.J. Terrell excelled defensively, limiting Commanders’ standout Terry McLaurin to just one reception for 5 yards while consistently covering him throughout the matchup.
Morris’s decisions have intensified scrutiny on his coaching tenure, given that he was expected to leads the Falcons back to playoff contention for the first time since 2017. As the team faces possible disappointment once again, speculation looms regarding the repercussions if the season ends without postseason action.
In terms of injuries, the Falcons were without cornerbacks Antonio Hamilton (quad) and Kevin King (concussion) during the game but reported no serious injuries sustained.
Looking at crucial statistics, the Washington Commanders outperformed Atlanta by holding a notable 10:59 advantage in time of possession during the second half, running 41 plays to the Falcons’ 24. One particularly telling moment occurred in the third quarter when the Commanders made 25 plays while the Falcons had a three-and-out in their only drive.
For the Falcons to claim the NFC South title and secure a home playoff game, they must first defeat the Carolina Panthers (4-12) in their upcoming match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, while simultaneously hoping the New Orleans Saints (5-11) can pull off an upset against the Buccaneers.
The first leg of that plan appears feasible, as Atlanta previously defeated the Panthers 38-20 during their meeting in October. However, relying on a Saints victory seems much less certain given their recent struggles, having lost their last three games and being outscored significantly in their recent outings.
