The Atlanta Falcons finished the season with an 8-9 record, failing to make the playoffs once again, extending their streak to seven straight seasons. The organization did, however, improve upon their 7-10 record from the previous three seasons, but collapsed down the stretch, ultimately giving the Division to rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

When Arthur Blank and general manager Terry Fontenot began their search for a new leader following the firing of Arthur Smith, the goal was to assemble a strong leader of men who can take the talent that was already in place and expand upon it. Veteran NFL coach Raheem Morris took over and the results at first were promising. Morris had a simple plan to bring back the Falcons and get the team heading back in the right direction. His initial team presentation outlined implementing the following plan:

• A World Class Player Experience
• Team-Family Environment
• World Class Football Education
• Elite Medical & Performance Teams
• Personal Development

These pillars were going to lay the foundation for the 2024 Atlanta Falcons along with bringing on a veteran and knowledgeable coaching staff. Morris ended up having questionable time management controversies and his defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake’s lack of improvement as the season progressed spelled an end to his tenure.

Despite not reaching the playoffs and winning only one more game than the previous three seasons, Morris will be back this year and the results must be different. The good news is that the future on the offensive side is very bright with the likes of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., running back Bijan Robinson, and wide receiver Drake London.

Penix Jr., Robinson, and London are the key pieces to the franchise. Here is the breakdown of the three weapons on offense and how they performed:

Quarterback – Michael Penix Jr. 

61 Completions/105 Attempts

775 Yards

3 Touchdowns

3 INTs

78.9 Passer Rating

Note: Penix Jr. did not start the season the team’s starting quarterback. In Week 18, Penix had a 95.6 PFF grade — the fourth best single game by an quarterback all season. He also had seven big time throws, tied for the most in a game all season. Zero turnover-worthy plays and five drops by his teammates.

Running Back – Bijan Robinson 

304 Carries

1,456 Rushing Yards

14 Touchdowns

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61 Receptions

431 Receiving Yards

One Receiving Touchdown

Wide Receiver – Drake London

100 Receptions

1,271 Receiving Yards

9 Touchdowns

If the trio can continue to make impactful plays like shown in 2024, the playoffs are certainly in play. The firing of Lake on defense will only help, but it will come down to Morris and how he manages future games and what changes he makes regarding his staff.