When it comes to playoff appearances, only the New York Jets have a longer postseason drought than the Atlanta Falcons. The team’s last playoff berth came in 2017. Atlanta beat the Rams in the wild-card round before losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The Falcons were in a position to clinch their first NFC South title since 2016 but after a 6-3 start, the team went on a four-game and finished with an 8-9 record.
In their pursuit to return to that playoff standard, the Falcons brought in several players to bolster the offense, including Kirk Cousins and Darnell Mooney. Cousins never seemed to be himself and was benched for rookie Michael Penix Jr. in Week 16.
Penix was an immediate upgrade and his big arm opened up the entire offense. The rookie finished his rookie campaign with 775 passing yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions and one rushing touchdown.
Pro Football Focus named one player from each team to have a breakout season in 2025. Unsurprisingly, Penix was PFF’s choice for Atlanta.
It’s fair to say that Penix changed the trajectory of this offense and it’s exciting to see what he can do with a full offseason to prepare as the starting quarterback.
It’s not just Penix that fans should be excited about. The surrounding talent, particularly running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London, should make this a high-flying unit in 2025. Atlanta also returns one of the better offensive lines in the NFL.
Throughout the 2024 season, the Falcons total offense averaged 370 yards per game. In those last three games with Penix under center, the Falcons offense averaged 401 total yards. A rising tide lifts all boats, and Penix can have that effect next season.