By Garin Turner
The Atlanta Falcons open the 2025 season with an NFC South showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Atlanta enters the year looking to improve on last season’s 8–9 finish while aiming to end a seven-year playoff drought. Notably, the Falcons swept Tampa Bay in both matchups last year.
This season marks the first full year with Michael Penix Jr. as the starting quarterback. Penix Jr. started the final three games of 2024 after the Falcons dropped four straight with Kirk Cousins under center. In those appearances, Penix Jr. threw for 775 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions, showing flashes of promise.
He’ll again have Drake London as his primary target. London led the team in receiving last year, hauling in 100 passes for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns. The Falcons also added Darnell Mooney, who caught 64 passes for 992 yards and five touchdowns last season. However, Mooney’s status for Week One remains questionable.
The offense will continue to rely heavily on Bijan Robinson, who was one of the NFL’s top running backs in 2024. Robinson rushed for 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns on 304 carries, ranking third in rushing yards and tied for third in rushing scores. His ability to ease the pressure on Penix Jr. will be a key factor in Atlanta’s success.
Defensively, the Falcons addressed critical needs in the offseason. They signed pass rusher Leonard Floyd, defensive lineman Morgan Fox, and cornerbacks Keith Taylor and Mike Ford. Atlanta struggled to generate pressure last year, finishing second-to-last in the league with just 31 sacks. The new additions aim to strengthen a unit that must improve to help the Falcons contend in the division.
The season opener provides Atlanta with a chance to make a statement. A divisional win on the road against Tampa Bay could set the tone for a team determined to return to playoff relevance in 2025.
