The Atlanta Falcons won’t be resting easy during their bye week after suffering back-to-back losses to the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos.
While the Falcons still have a winning record and lead the NFC South, they missed an opportunity to put distance between themselves and the rest of the division. Sunday’s 38-6 loss to the Broncos got so ugly that Atlanta put in rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. during the fourth quarter.
Penix has appeared in two games this season, playing 20 total snaps and completing three out of five pass attempts for 38 yards. The No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL draft currently leads the team with a 92.1 Pro Football Focus grade at the bye week.
Falcons’ 10 highest-graded players at bye:
- QB Michael Penix: 92.1
- RB Bijan Robinson: 91.6
- OL Chris Lindstrom: 91.5
- DB Natrone Brooks: 89.9
- RB Tyler Allgeier: 84.8
- WR Drake London: 82.2
- OLB Khalid Kareem: 79.1
- OL Drew Dalman: 78.9
- QB Kirk Cousins: 77.3
- S Jessie Bates: 76.4
Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is second on the team with a 91.6 PFF grade after 11 games. Robinson, the team’s first-round pick in 2023, has a considerably bigger sample size to go off. The former Texas star has rushed for 783 yards and six touchdowns on 167 carries this season.
Defensive back Natrone Brooks (89.9) and outside linebacker Khalid Kareem (79.1) are the team’s two highest-graded defensive players at the bye. Quarterback Kirk Cousins (77.3) and safety Jessie Bates III (76.4) rounded out the top 10.
Atlanta is battling numerous injuries in the secondary, which showed during the team’s 32-point loss to Denver. The Falcons entered the game without three of their top seven cornerbacks and lost a fourth before it ended. Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix lit up Atlanta’s defense for 307 yards and four touchdowns.
Things won’t get much easier for the team in Week 13. The Falcons will return home to host the Los Angeles Chargers (7-3) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium next Sunday.