The Atlanta Falcons head into Week 3 with an 0-2 record, desperately needing a win on the road against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football.
Atlanta's disastrous start to the season is almost entirely due to their performance at quarterback, which has proved worse than any other team in the league - incuding Cleveland. Cooper Rush bombed in the team's first two games, allowing solid performances by Bijan Robinson and Jeff Ulbrich's defense to go to waste.
Seven other teams around the league also enter this week at 0-2, but only one (Miami) is ranked lower than the Falcons according to Kevin Patra at NFL.com.
"The ridiculously bad offense has overshadowed a not-too-shabby defense run by Jeff Ulbrich. Despite missing its top two pass
rushers -- James Pearce Jr. to suspension and Jalon Walker to injury -- the Falcons rank tied for 10th in EPA per play with the L.A. Rams and have allowed the fourth-lowest success rate per play. ATL has also generated 34 QB pressures in two weeks, tied for fifth-most..."
All of Atlanta's hopes are now pinned on the shoulders of third-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who has yet to start more than nine games in a row since he was taken in the top 10 overall picks of the 2024 NFL Draft.
With Tua Tagovailoa ailing, Penix has a better arm and a higher ceiling than any other quarterback on the roster right now. However, Tagovailoa is expected to serve as the team's No. 2 quarterback on Thursday night against the Packers.
Either way, the Falcons will need their defense to step up against Jordan Love and company, especially while playing at the historic Lambeau Field.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons ranked NFL's second-worst 0-2 team to start season
