Every team's season goes through peaks and valleys. The Atlanta Falcons started off their 2026 campaign about as low as it gets at this level, losing in humiliating fashion after a string of turnovers from veteran quarterback Cooper Rush, who was released on Monday to make room for Andy Dalton.

Then came the big surge forward coinciding with Michael Penix Jr.'s return to the lineup. Atlanta blew out both Green Bay and New Orleans on the road, producing the most-explosive offense in the league during that stretch.

Now they've fallen back down to earth, having lost their last two games - first to the Baltimore Ravens in overtime and then against the Chicago Bears, both at home.

Heading into Week 7 the Falcons are one again back near the bottom of most power rankings lists. Over at The Athletic they are No. 25, down one spot from last week.

"The Falcons’ offensive engine hit his first bump in the road Sunday as he was held to a season-low nine carries and 61 rushing yards. Robinson is 11th in fantasy scoring (21.4 ppg) and still leads the league in yards from scrimmage (785). Atlanta coach Kevin Stefanski emphasized Sunday his team’s need to stop starting slow and dial up more carries for Robinson."

The Falcons offense - and specifically Penix - has to start games faster. However, the biggest problem right now is that Penix is having a really hard time reacting to extra rushers. The Falcons haven't done a great job protecting him, but the quarterback can also be better at diagnosing the blitz.

Penix is ultimately responsible for leveling up his game in this department, but offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has to give Penix more fast-release options so he can get rid of the ball quicker.

On that note they might want to take a page out of the rival Carolina Pnthers' playbook. Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik has done a brilliant job of giving Bryce Young options to mitigate quick pressures - of which they are allowing more than any other team in the NFL this year.

The Falcons have a tough test against another good defense when they host the San Francisco 49ers in NFL Week 7.