The Atlanta Falcons got drummed by the resurgent Carolina Panthers as they were buried under a 30-point deficit. This game amplified the obstacles that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had to wade through. The Falcons were 4.5-point favorites coming into the game. Even though they outgained the Panthers, 333 yards to 224, they couldn’t take advantage of their beneficial opportunities. The game took place in Charlotte, North Carolina, on a Sunday that marked an important divisional matchup.
Michael Penix Jr. didn’t have the easiest of days. He ended the game with a QBR of just 12.4, good for the second worst of the week. He finished with an 18/36 stat line for just 172 yards and not one touchdown thrown. He tossed his one and only touchdown pass of the season during Week 1. Bijan Robinson was able to catch the checkdown and turn it into a ridiculous 50-yard touchdown. This surprising statistic more than anything emphasizes just how much of a battle the Falcons’ offense has been. Penix hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass to any wide receiver or right end yet this season.
Early on, Penix looked skittish as the game went along, he seemed more and more off target missing open receivers while feeling pressure that wasn’t always there. In his sixth career start, he was frustrated with his performance and the team’s lack of effort on that day. “We’ve got to execute. I got to find those guys when they’re open and get those guys the opportunity to make those plays and it’ll come,” Penix stated after the game.
The Falcons were particularly sore losers over the loss. Just a week earlier, they had returned home from clinching a playoff berth with an emotional victory. Head coach Raheem Morris acknowledged this roller coaster of performance by remarking, “That emotional win we had last week, we ride that emotional roller coaster.” He didn’t pull any punches in speaking about the magnitude of the defeat. As of today, we set a new record low,” he concluded.
With big-play potential on every inch of the field, Atlanta was only further hurt by their lack of conversion from chances to points. The Panthers made the most of their chances and were able to control the scoreboard enough to have Atlanta players feeling dejected after the final whistle. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney reflected on the loss, saying, “It’s one of these games like this where it’s just like, damn.”
Penix knows that the field communication and overall effectiveness on the field was just not up to par on this disappointing day. He intends to have offensive coordinator Zac Robinson take the elevator down to the sideline for the rest of the season. This decision seeks to promote better real-time adjustments and more immediate feedback, especially during keystone phases.
After the tough loss, rookie Bijan Robinson remained upbeat about the team’s ability to grow and overcome the loss. “I believe this can either break a team or make a team and for us, this needs to make this team,” he remarked. The Falcons must regroup quickly as they prepare for their next challenge and work on rectifying the issues that plagued them against Carolina.
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