Last season, the Falcons were flying high at 6–3 before everything unraveled in a loss to the New Orleans Saints—a game that coincided with quarterback Kirk Cousins suffering an injury he initially kept to himself. Atlanta stumbled to a 2–6 finish and missed the playoffs. This year, with Michael Penix Jr. sidelined and the Falcons sitting at 3–7, could the opposite be in play? Could a win over the Saints with Cousins back under center spark a late-season turnaround?
Atlanta Falcons analyst Dave Archer is intrigued by the possibility. “They understand how big a game this is. They understand the rivalry and everything that can happen here. You went 6–3 last year and the whole thing fell apart. You started this year 3–7—why can’t you rebuild it in the second half and flip the script the way you did last year?”
Whether this becomes another turning point or just another chapter in a frustrating season will hinge on how the Falcons respond now. Rivalry games have a way of redefining seasons, and with Cousins back and the Saints looming once again, Atlanta faces a moment that, while unlikely to secure a playoff spot, could at least generate some much-needed momentum for the organization.