Have the Falcons met expectations through six games?

Most reasonable fans looked at the Falcons’ schedule through the first seven weeks and would have gladly taken a 3-3 record. It featured matchups against two teams that reached their respective conference championship games, a road trip to face a Super Bowl favorite in the 49ers, and a meeting with the four-time defending NFC South champions.

It was a brutal stretch to open the year, yet Atlanta survived it and remains firmly in the playoff race. Still, it’s hard to shake the feeling that this team has underachieved based on how things have played out.

The season opener against the Buccaneers was there for the taking. The Falcons outgained Tampa Bay by nearly 100 yards, didn’t turn the ball over, and got one of Michael Penix Jr.’s best performances to date. Yet, poor special teams and questionable play-calling doomed them to an 0-1 start.

Their most recent loss to the 49ers followed a familiar script. Atlanta didn’t dominate statistically, and Penix struggled at times, but the game still felt within reach if not for more boneheaded mistakes and lackluster play-calling

In between those two losses, the Falcons have experienced both highs — a 24-14 win over the Bills on Monday Night Football — and lows — a humiliating 30-0 defeat to the Panthers. It’s been a roller coaster, leaving fans unsure what version of the team will show up each week.

Much of this inconsistency, however, was predictable before the season even started. With a rookie quarterback in Penix, growing pains were inevitable. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is also still learning on the job, and while there was optimism for his development, it’s not shocking that he hasn’t taken a significant leap yet.

The larger issue remains at the top. Raheem Morris has shown little throughout his head coaching career — whether in Tampa Bay or Atlanta — to suggest he can help a team win on the margins. If anything, he’s consistently been on the wrong side of them. Through six games, he’s already had a direct hand in multiple losses, and there’s little evidence to suggest that trend will change.

That said, the roster itself offers plenty of reasons for optimism — a testament to the work of general manager Terry Fontenot. The defense has exceeded all expectations, transforming from one of the league’s worst to one of its best. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s trio of recent top-10 picks are all thriving, with Bijan Robinson emerging as a frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year and Kyle Pitts rediscovering his form after a couple of down seasons.

In terms of roster construction, the positives far outweigh the negatives. But whether this talent can overcome inconsistent coaching and a disastrous kicking game will ultimately determine if the Falcons can finally end a playoff drought that has stretched to seven seasons.

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