The Atlanta Falcons Are Just An Inconsistent Football Team

When it comes to the Atlanta Falcons‘ 2026 season so far, Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irving put it best, the Falcons can beat or be beaten by any team on any given Sunday. What makes them so inconsistent this season?

They have shown the ability behind quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to beat formidable teams such as the Green Bay Packers and an undefeated San Francisco 49ers team handing them meaningful losses. 

They have also however, lost winnable games to the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears, while being beaten handedly by divisional opponents, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Which version of the falcons will ultimately emerge for the season?

The first two weeks of the season have been thrown out due to the quarterback play of backup quarterback Cooper Rush. The performance the team put up in the first two weeks are incompatible with the rest of the season as Penix Jr. had yet to take any snaps behind center.

Behind Penix Jr. the team seems to go as he does. When he has a good game, the entire offense, from the offense of line to starting running back Bijan Robinson look better for it. Robinson is typically able to run through opposing defenses while creating balance for Penix Jr.  and his air attack.

Against the Packers, New Orleans Saints and 49ers, the game plan worked as it should. The Falcons were able to show the league that they can score points while holding other teams offenses to small gains and few touchdowns. 

Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and Penix Jr. showed how successful the offense can be when the two of them are clicking in week seven against the 49ers. Penix Jr. had his best performance of his career passing for 213 yards and three touchdowns, earning him the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.

Week Eight was the complete opposite performance, with him only passing for 125 yards while throwing four interceptions, leading the Falcons to a shutout divisional loss in his return to his home town.

The Falcons need to find positive consistency quickly as they head to Madrid, Spain for an overseas showdown against top quarterback Joe Burrow and the 5-2 Cincinnati Bengals.