Falcons’ bye week is leaving fans with more questions than answers
The Atlanta Falcons didn’t lose in Week 5, but it still kinda feels like they did. While the Falcons were resting, the rest of the NFC South (the Saints, Panthers, and the Buccaneers) all picked up wins, tightening what is already a brutal divisional race.
While the Falcons were resting, the rest of the NFC South (the Saints, Panthers, and the Buccaneers) all picked up wins, tightening what is already a brutal divisional race.
Despite that, in NFL Spin Zone’s Lou Scataglia's latest Power Rankings, the Falcons actually jumped five spots to No. 18 despite not actively taking the field.
Small, yes, but it's a notable sign that there’s still optimism around this team, even if the results haven’t matched their potential.
Week 5 bye serves the Falcons with the perfect reality check
Atlanta’s first month was just about as uneven as it gets.
After getting embarrassed 30-0 by Carolina in Week 3, the Falcons bounced back with a much sharper effort against Washington.
Second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. finally looked comfortable pushing the ball downfield, averaging over 11 yards per completion while getting Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London all involved.
The question is, coming out the bye, can the Falcons sustain that?
The Falcons are all in on the Penix era, and that means growing pains. The former No. 8 overall pick has shown flashes of elite arm talent, but he’s still learning the speed and timing of the NFL game.
Sure Atlanta’s offensive identity is forming around him, but that process takes time.
The good news for Atlanta is that Penix doesn’t have to be perfect right now. The Falcons have a deep, well-balanced roster and a defense under Raheem Morris that’s good enough to keep them in games while the offense continues to settle in.
At 2-2, the Falcons sit second in the NFC South. The Buccaneers have the early advantage with their explosive offense and Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner Emeka Egbuka, but no one in this division looks unbeatable.
In fact, for all their ups and downs, the Falcons are really just one solid stretch away from climbing right back to the top.
Their rise to No. 18 in NFL Spin Zone’s Week 6 rankings reflects that potential. This isn’t a broken team, just one searching for consistency.
And now with the rest of the NFC South heating up, Penix and company have no time to waste turning potential into production.
The bye is over. The questions are louder. And for the Falcons, the answers will have to come on the field, and that starts against the reigning MVP.
Packers Remain Mum on Zach Tom & Aaron Banks' Injury Status: Fans Left in Suspense
One of the difficulties of figuring out just where the Packers are after playing four weeks and getting through their very early bye week is that we have only seen the offensive line play together in spurts. Stalwart tackle Zach Tom has been struggling with an oblique injury in Week 1 that caused him to miss Week 2. Then when he came back in Week 3 vs. the Browns, he lasted one snap before he had to duck out again.
And Aaron Banks is the other major concern for the Packers. He suffered a groin injury after Week 1, also missed Week 2, came back for Week 3 but was re-injured and missed Week 4.
Throw in a quad injury to left tackle Rasheed Walker and an ankle injury for his backup, Anthony Belton, and the Packers line has been battered. Coming out of the bye week there is at least some marginally good news for the team.
Zach Tom ‘Doing Well’ Coming Out of Bye
Speaking about Tom, arguably the Packers’ best offensive lineman, coach Matt LaFleur said, “He’s doing well right now. He’ll be limited.” And that’s the best the team can offer with the injury situation–limited, but hopeful.
Tom was, indeed, limited in practice on Wednesday, but he did participate according to the team’s report. Banks, too, did participate, though he was also limited.
Walker and his quad were limited, but backup Belton was not. He did not participate in Wednesday’s practice and, worse, when asked whether he was close to coming back, LaFleur simply said, “No.”
GettyPackers head coach Matt LaFleur.
Packers Will Face Bengals in Week 6
The 2-1-1 Packers will try to pull themselves together after a wild first quarter of the season in which they beat two conference heavyweights–the Lions and Commanders–but then stumbled against the Browns, giving Cleveland its only win of the year, and emerged with an unsatisfying tie against Dallas in Week 4.
The struggling Bengals, who traded for former Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (the guy who beat Green Bay in Week 3), are on the docket at Lambeau this week.
The offensive line will be key to that. The injuries have taken their toll. The Packers line was rated No. 8 by Pro Football Focus after Week 1, and fell to No. 9 after Week 2. It was a unit that appeared to be a strength of the team.
Packers Line Rated No. 18 After Week 5
But Weeks 3 and 4, marred by injuries, saw them plummet in the rankings. The Packers are down to No. 18 in the league, a below-average group. Veteran Elgton Jenkins, who declared that he “played like (expletive)” to open the year as he has moved from guard to center, was tabbed the team’s best lineman.
PFF wrote of the bunch: “Green Bay’s offensive line has surrendered 49 pressures — including seven sacks — on 135 pass plays this season. The unit’s 79.3 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating ranks only 31st in the league.”
