The Atlanta Falcons offense had a game for the ages on Sunday at home against the Carolina Panthers. Atlanta ended up losing 44-38 in OT, but it was not due to the performance of their offense. The Atlanta Falcons were the first team in NFL history to have a 300-yard passer, 175-yard receiver, and 150-yard rusher from players all under 25.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., 24, went 21-of-38 with 312 passing yards and 2 passing touchdowns. Running Back Bijan Robinson, 22, had 28 carries for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wide Receiver Drake London, 23, had 10 receptions for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns. Atlanta’s historic offensive output did not lead to a win on the gridiron. Will the Atlanta Falcons be able to build on their historic Week 18 performance heading into next season?
Atlanta Falcons Season Summary
The first team in @NFL history with a:
300-yard passer, 175-yard receiver and 150-yard rusher in the same game, each under the age of 25 pic.twitter.com/5F51ga8wNl
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 8, 2025
Atlanta had a very disappointing regular season. They finished 8-9 and performed below expectations following the signing of Quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year $180 million contract during the offseason. The Cousins experiment did not work as the veteran QB was benched with three games remaining in the regular season for Michael Penix Jr. The Atlanta Falcons are expected to cut Cousins before his $10 million roster bonus vets on March 17.
Even with the quarterback issues Atlanta had to contend with, their offense was stellar. They were 6th in yards per game and 13th in points scored. Atlanta’s offense was inconsistent which led to a disappointing regular season result. Atlanta’s defense was the weaker part of their team this season. They were 23rd in yards allowed and 23rd in points allowed. The unit surrendered an average of 37 points over their final two games as Atlanta’s NFL Playoff chances fell by the wayside.
Final Thoughts
The Atlanta Falcons had a disappointing regular season, but the young core that made history on Sunday is a promising sign of things to come. They have young pieces the team can build around for years to come as they look to get back on track sooner rather than later.
