Atlanta finishes another season on a sour note. Now what?
The Atlanta Falcons haven’t had a winning season since 2017 and haven’t swept the Carolina Panthers since 2019. They’ve tied their longest consecutive losing season streak with today’s loss.
Michael Penix looks like the quarterback of the future, but there’s a legitimate question about the coaching staff that’s supposed to help him get there. Here are the Week 18 (and final) Snap Reactions.
finale. panthers 44 – falcons 38 pic.twitter.com/ickQDL9sTn
— Tre’Shon (@tre3shon) January 5, 2025
The 2024-2025 Atlanta Falcons
All of the good and bad from this season showed up in the finale. We saw a defense that could apply pressure but couldn’t stop the bleeding. We saw spurts of competent coaching that clueless coaching would only undermine later. We saw Bijan Robinson overcome everything and put up another ridiculous performance. These are who the Falcons were all season, and that didn’t change with stakes at an all-time high.
The Falcons are losers for the umpteenth time in a row, and this season stings the most because if today was an indication of the future, the division is only getting tougher. It doesn’t feel like the Falcons have the right leaders in the building to set this team up for success, and that’s what most fans will be concerned about heading into the offseason.
Penix is the guy
The most important outcome from the 2024 season is that Penix is a legitimate NFL quarterback. This was the opposite of the Desmond Ridder four-game preview that split the fanbase down the middle. I’m sure Penix doubters exist, but after what the franchise has seen, I would say that most individuals feel the opposite. The young quarterback has gotten more comfortable with every rep and is making plays happen with his arm that had been missing from the offense all year.
The deep balls started hitting, and the league got a preview of what the quarterback can do. Zac Robinson will now have all offseason to further tailor the offense to his quarterback, something he’s done well since the switch was made. While it’s highly unlikely we will see a change in head coach, there will be a level of concern for Penix’s development if they do.
Something has to give
While I believe Raheem Morris is likely safe, it doesn’t mean the discussion of a one-and-done is unwarranted. The coach’s biggest weakness as a professional showed up during this losing stretch–his lack of awareness. This is not the conversation anyone wanted to have in Week 18, but here we are. It is important to remember that in April, the Falcons called their year one process the beginning of building a sustainable winner, and anything short of winning football would be a failure. I am holding the team to the standard they set.
Terry Fontenot has been employed for four years. He has not built a single winning roster. Should he be rewarded for picking a player Zac Robinson and Raheem Morris pounded the table for in a year where the GM signed a $100 million player that now has to be offloaded? Should a defensive coordinator with a sketchy resume with a stint on the 0-16 Lions get to keep his job after being micro-managed?
You can’t lie to the fan base (or yourself) that all of these people will suddenly become the best version of themselves and shed their weaknesses. Someone has to pay the toll for another losing season, and plenty of people are worthy of falling on the sword.
Bijan Robinson, the next great Falcon
What a season. He joined the 1,800-yard scrimmage club and 15-touchdown club (five two-touchdown games). He’s the best individual Falcon since prime Julio Jones, on and off the field. If you take a running back in the top 10 of the draft, he has to be in the top five of his position group by year two, and Bijan is in the top three. The running back’s play elicits nostalgia–you just don’t see three down backs like this anymore.
Robinson does it all, and he does it every game. He has a highlight reel as both a blocker and a receiver. He was easily the team’s most consistent and impactful player all season. Robinson will be a young quarterback’s best friend for years to come as he continues to build a campaign for the best running back in franchise history.
The road ahead
The season ended with another implosion, and while the future is bright at quarterback, it is shrouded in uncertainty beyond that. For the 10th year in a row, Atlanta looks like they’re a few moves away. However, the cap freedom they’ve experienced the past few years is gone, which means Atlanta will need the draft classes of years past to develop and hit while ensuring they don’t strike out on budget-friendly free agents and the 2025 Draft.
Business as usual, and this familiarity is what makes it so hard to believe that this is the time they finally get it right. The Falcons have earned no one’s trust, and they have themselves to blame for that. There’s no reason this team can’t assemble a competent on-field product. No problem they’re about to face is one other teams haven’t overcome before; it will just come down to the powers that be. Whether you’re a believer or not, I look forward to experiencing the rollercoaster ride with you.
It’s time to rest; you’ve earned it. The Falcons aren’t solving their problems today, tomorrow, or next week. The grind starts all over again. It has been a pleasure bringing you the weekly snap reactions this year.