The Atlanta Falcons lost one of their ugliest games in years on Sunday afternoon, being shut out 16-0 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who became the first NFL team since 1974 to win a game without completing a single pass.

While the story of the game was the inability to stop the run for Atlanta after giving up more than 300 yards on the ground despite knowing a rush was coming on virtually every single play, the offense for the Falcons was extremely troubling. It's far from just the fault of Michael Penix Jr., but his play has fans asking some big questions.

Completing just eight of his 24 passing attempts for 124 yards -- the bulk of which came on one play late in the game -- and four interceptions, it was simply a non-competitive showing from that side of the ball. While many are to blame, questions have to be asked about Penix and how much the weather played a factor versus him just playing poorly.

At the end of the day, no major evaluations should be made from a game like this where the relentless rain made it so difficult for either team to see sustained success through the air. Still though, Penix turning the ball over four times himself is simply not acceptable and does not give this team a real chance at winning.

The lefty still has plenty of time to prove he can be the guy to lead this team to the promised land and despite the loss, the division is still very much there for the taking. However, if Penix does not bounce back, it's tough to see Atlanta beating anyone let alone getting back to the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

Moving forward, the run game, blocking, and the weapons will all have to be better, but things on offense start with Penix and he needs to raise his level of play. He has always bounced back well from rough games, and there's no reason to think that will not be the case once again this time around.

With a matchup in Spain next week against the Cincinnati Bengals, he and the coaching staff have to get on the same page and figure out how to have a better game against a vulnerable Cincinnati defense for Penix to expose.