The Atlanta Falcons cannot get rusty.
The Atlanta Falcons have new life this week after a massive victory on Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers showcased the potential of what this team can be in 2026
For as horrible as the first two weeks of the season were, the win over the Packers was sensational and put the rest of the division as well as the league on notice that Atlanta is not going to be a pushover. With Michael Penix Jr. back in the fold and the defense looking as elite as it has to this point, this team is absolutely capable of winning a whole lot of games this year.
The unfortunate part of this breakout performance being played on a Thursday evening though is the fact that now, after things finally clicked on both sides of the ball, it's a mini bye week for Atlanta with more than 10 days off ahead of a Monday Night matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
Falcons Must Avoid Rust on Long Break Before MNF
While some time off is always nice for the players, the mini bye comes at the worst time after things finally started to get a little bit figured out for this team. Sometimes, this narrative can be overstated, but things were so in synch against Green Bay it's hard to imagine the extra days are going to be a positive for Atlanta.
Like anything else, it really just depends on how the team handles the cards they are dealt, and Kevin Stefanski is as good as anyone at getting his team up to play. A trip to New Orleans should never result in the Falcons coming up flat and not being ready to go, and Stefanski has to make sure this does not happen.
This is an absolutely massive game for Atlanta, and despite how early it is in the season, it could go a long way towards determining who has the advantage in trying to win the NFC South.
With the Saints coming off a loss in a performance which they turned the ball over four times, they will be hungry to get right back to work and fix things as the Falcons arrive to town.
This is a massive game, and the time off for Atlanta just makes it one more challenge for this team and this coaching staff. Time will tell whether or not they are up for the task.
