After briefly flirting with an NFC South division title, the Atlanta Falcons have officially missed the playoffs for the seventh year in a row. Nonetheless, the 2025 NFL season looks promising with Michael Penix Jr. starting at quarterback.

Atlanta's "17th opponent" was determined in the same fashion. The Colts will be Atlanta's fifth AFC opponent in 2025 because the AFC South is up next in the league's schedule rotation. The Falcons will face the Colts because they also finished second.

The Falcons' playoff scenario involves two things happening. Atlanta needs a win against the Carolina Panthers in the team's season finale. A loss to the Panthers would eliminate the Falcons from the NFL playoff picture.

Except for the Browns and the Cowboys, no NFL team surpassed the Falcons this season for getting less bang for its buck. Translated: The Falcons are clueless.

Penix found London in the back corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown strike to put the Atlanta Falcons ahead, 24-17, on the Carolina Panthers with 37 seconds left in the

Falcons quarterback Michael Penix may not be an elite runner, but he still has the ability to escape the pocket when the play breaks down. With Atlanta near the goal line, Penix was flushed from the pocket before scrambling for the game-tying touchdown in the