‘Light Years Better With Michael Penix Jr.,’ ‘NFC South Is Unpredictable (and Gross)’ — NFL Analysts React to Falcons’ Dominant Win vs. Saints

The Atlanta Falcons ran wild on the road, dominating the New Orleans Saints 45-24 on Monday Night Football, improving to 2-2 and tying the Carolina Panthers for first place in the NFC South.

PFN's analysts had more than a few things to say as the Falcons ran riot in primetime.

NFL Analysts Take Notice After Falcons' Blowout Win

The Falcons' offense has undergone a remarkable turnaround with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. under center after looking like one of the worst teams in the NFL before his return from injury in Week 3.

Against the Saints in Week 4, Bijan Robinson once again impressed, rushing for 145 yards and two touchdowns, while Brian Robinson Jr. added three rushing scores.

PFN's Alex Kennedy noted how the Falcons' offense has opened up with Penix Jr. after a difficult outing with Cooper Rush at quarterback, while Tua Tagovailoa also remained sidelined in the first two weeks.

"The NFC South is always pretty unpredictable (and gross), but I think the Falcons have as good a shot as any team to win this division. At the moment, it feels like a two-team race between Atlanta and Carolina. The Falcons look like a different team with Michael Penix Jr. under center instead of Cooper Rush, though," he wrote.

Brandon Austin, like Kennedy, believes the Falcons have improved their chances as contenders for the division title with Penix Jr. under center, saying, "The NFC South is a roller-coaster ride, but the Falcons should be squarely in the mix for a division title. This team has been light-years better with a healthy Michael Penix Jr."

Meanwhile, Jacob Infante wasn't fully convinced about crowning Atlanta yet, wanting a better look at the team over the next few weeks before coming to a conclusion.

"Michael Penix Jr. deserves a ton of credit for rejuvenating a Falcons team that looked like the worst in the NFL before he came back from injury," Infante said. "I'm hesitant to crown the Falcons as a legitimate contender in the NFC until I see what they can do against top competition, but they've at least shown that they're definitely a contender in the NFC South."

Penix Jr. was ranked fifth in PFN's QB Impact score with a grade of 83.9 in his return game in Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers. In Week 4, he threw for 223 yards, completing 15-for-20 passes, including one touchdown. He finished Week 4 with an 82.7 Impact Score.

Bijan Robinson also praised the Falcons QB's impact, saying : "Huge. A lot. You can't really put 8 in the box… you just don't know if we're gonna run or pass."

"Winning the South might mean not losing it, and this Falcons team can do that with a QB who is willing to feed his two stars and a defense that creates pressure without needing to bring help," Kyle Soppe wrote. "This division isn't likely to get a playoff win, but the rules state that they get a minimum of one playoff team and Atlanta seems poised to be that squad."

The PFN Playoff Meter currently gives them a 23.4% chance of making the playoffs, projecting a seven-win season for the Falcons. Atlanta was ranked 26th in PFN's Offense Impact score with a 70.0 grade through three weeks. After blowing out the Saints in primetime, that grade is now at 78.7 (#8 in the league).

Another PFN analyst, Jason Katz, also wants to look at how the Falcons fare against quality opposition in the coming weeks before reaching a verdict about their division chances.

"Not quite ready to crown the Falcons, but at worst, they're the second-best team in the NFC South. Really impressive two weeks from Michael Penix Jr. Let's see how they do against a top-tier team first," Katz wrote.

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Caleb Yaccarino highlighted the volatility among teams in the division, questioning whether an NFC South team like the Falcons can remain consistent throughout the season.

"This is the NFC South we are talking about. One week a team could look incredible, and the next fans are looking at the top prospects in the draft after a horrible loss. It's too early to call the Falcons legit, especially when they went against a heavily injured and struggling Saints defense."

Falcons still have plenty to prove before they can be considered legitimate contenders beyond the NFC South. They will have an opportunity to see where they really stand over the next three weeks with matchups against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5, the Chicago Bears in Week 6, and an unbeaten San Francisco 49ers in Week 7.