The Falcoholic
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
The Atlanta Falcons social team blessed us with their top ten plays from the 2024 season and the reception underneath it is…about what you would expect.
Fans are upset about the way that the season ended, and they have every right to be. Allowing the Buccaneers to overtake the division, not once, but twice, after sweeping them earlier in the year. Getting below-average play from a quarterback that is being paid a lion’s share of the current, and potentially future, salary cap. Seeing no identity from the defense that led to an embarrassing effort in the last two weeks of the season that eventually sealed their playoff fate. Oh man, the timeout fiasco! There was plenty for fans to gripe about as they sat at home for a seventh consecutive season.
On the other hand, some aspects of this season were not lost to the anguish of their defeats. Rather, there were more than a few moments that deserve to be celebrated.
The coming-out party of Bijan Robinson, the emergence of a potential franchise quarterback, a true identity on the offensive side of the football that can be built upon. Even a few plays from the defense can be celebrated. So, before we put that tattered, discolored bow on this season that deservedly should be deemed a failure, let’s celebrate the few moments where this team did make us feel something again.
There’s no denying that if this game ends differently, there’s no way we’re keeping this at number ten. The number ten spot on a top ten is for those borderline special moments that could easily be overtaken by another moment in this season.
This was not one of those moments.
Throughout the day, Penix’s first touchdown eluded him. He missed KhaDarel Hodge on the back line of the end zone that same drive. Before Bijan Robinson outran the Commanders defense for his second score, Penix was stuffed on a QB sneak at the one-yard line.
It didn’t seem like it was going to be in the cards for the rookie gunslinger, especially when the Falcons only ran nine plays for 14 yards in the second half before they were tasked to tie the game up against a red-hot Commanders team with all of the momentum in a rocking Northwest Stadium with only 4:25 left to go in the game.
To everyone’s surprise, Atlanta was doing it. Staring down an early 3rd & 5, a 4th & 11 and a 2nd & goal from the 26 after a Bijan Robinson direct snap went awry, Penix stayed calm and composed. And on 4th & goal, with the Falcons’ season hanging in the balance, he finally got his moment.
In my opinion, this should be ranked much higher than tenth. It is the emergence of your potential franchise quarterback on one of the sport's biggest stages: Sunday Night Football.
Putting...
