Falcons Offense Struggles Despite High Expectations in 2025 Season

The Atlanta Falcons entered the 2025 NFL season with high hopes for their offense, investing heavily in key players and strategies to create a competitive team. Despite allocating $129.5 million of their salary cap to offensive players, the Falcons currently hold a 3-6 record and are facing significant challenges in their performance.

The team’s offensive struggles are evident in their ranking among the league’s worst. The Falcons sit at 27th in scoring, averaging just 18.67 points per game, and are 29th in third-down conversion rate at 33.6 percent. Furthermore, they rank 23rd in offensive expected points added (EPA) with a total of -19.70. These figures highlight a troubling picture for a team that was expected to excel.

Key Players and Performance Issues

Much of the team’s anticipated success hinged on second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and star running back Bijan Robinson. The coaching staff’s confidence in Penix, alongside a veteran offensive line, shaped their offseason decisions. Despite this, the Falcons have struggled to maintain leads in games, running only 243 plays with the lead, which is the 21st most in the league. This has forced their defense, which ranks second in sack percentage at 10.9 percent, to defend against 29.8 run plays per game, the fifth-highest in the NFL.

To gain insights into the Falcons’ difficulties, we consulted Derrik Klassen, co-host of “The Athletic Football Show.” Klassen expressed surprise at the offense’s underperformance, noting, “I thought they’d be more of a middle-of-the-pack unit with a run game they could rely on.” He identified several key issues, including a lack of variety in the run game and the quarterback’s struggle to throw effectively in the middle of the field.

Quarterback Concerns and Play Calling

Klassen raised questions about Penix’s ability to adapt to the offense’s needs. “I’ll start by saying I was skeptical of the pick and his rookie resume, but I haven’t been impressed,” he stated, highlighting concerns about Penix’s reluctance to throw to the middle of the field. He noted that these issues were evident during Penix’s college career and continue to be problematic in the professional arena.

The coaching staff, led by offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, has a background in building offenses that effectively utilize the middle of the field. Klassen indicated that Penix’s hesitation to throw in this area is more indicative of the quarterback’s difficulties than a failure of play calling. He emphasized that while Penix has shown flashes of aggression and evasion, it is not enough to establish him as a franchise quarterback.

The Falcons’ offensive highs, including plays from talented players like Robinson and receiver Drake London, appear to be isolated moments rather than a cohesive strategy. Klassen remarked, “The ‘highs’ feel more like a random collection of plays to me,” questioning whether the team could consistently string together effective drives.

Need for Offensive Variety

Another significant concern is the predictability of the Falcons’ run game. Almost 70 percent of their runs target outside the tackle, the highest percentage in the league. Klassen suggested that this predictability limits the offense’s effectiveness, especially without sufficient bootleg or play-action plays to create opportunities.

If the Falcons hope to turn their season around, Klassen believes that increasing the diversity of their run game should be a priority. “It’s a lot more achievable — and common — for an offense to sprinkle in some more run-game variety midseason,” he noted.

As the Falcons navigate the remainder of the season, addressing these offensive shortcomings will be crucial. With key players in place and significant financial investments already made, the coaching staff must find ways to unlock the potential of their offense and improve their standing in the competitive NFL landscape.