Of all the strange seasons happening in the NFL right now, the most bizarre may belong to the Atlanta Falcons. Everyone wondered what they were doing when they selected Michael Penix with the No. 9 pick in the NFL draft hot on the heels of signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract. Watching Cousins play has helped provide some clarity, as 36-year-old quarterback does not look much like the player he was before suffering a torn Achilles.
Atlanta has done just enough—and the NFC South has been just bad enough—that they currently sit a game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with three games remaining in the year. If they match records it will be the Falcons who exercise the tiebreaker and will get to host a playoff game. Which is genuine cause for optimism but doesn't feel all that exciting considering just how impotent the Cousins-led offense has been over the past five games.
