Dying Wish

After losing to the Commanders last week, the Falcons fell out of the top spot in the NFC South. It is a tough place to be this late in the year, considering last week you were atop the division, and now you might not even make the playoffs. Their current odds to make the playoffs are 11%, and only 16% if they win the game. That is because they need the red-hot Tampa Bay Buccaneers to lose to the Saints on top of their own win. And before we get to the Bucs game, let’s not dismay this Panthers team as pushovers. They have had a tough year, but Bryce Young has found his stride, and this has led to Carolina competing in numerous games against good teams. They lost by only one score to the Eagles, Chiefs, and Bucs this year. Might I add, they knocked Arizona out of the race two weeks ago as well. They need some pieces here and there, some talent to fill in the gaps, and some overall time on task together, but this team is breathing some new life. They aren’t winning games, but they’re laying the foundation. Possibly. David Tepper is kind of nuts. This is a great game to get some reps against another team fighting for survival. The competition will be good.

Michael Pennix had a pretty good game for not playing the vast majority of this season outside the preseason. Coming into his second start last week, he put on an impressive performance against a playoff team in Washington. He threw for 223 yards, and had 1 TD and 1 INT. The Falcons ultimately lost in OT, but they looked like a different team. They looked different against the Giants, but that was the Giants. This was a good team, and they competed all game. If the Falcons want to make the playoffs, they have to win this game. No way around that. I’d like to see some of that success continue from Pennix, because he is now leading this offense, and it will all fall on him. He’s got guys around him to help. Bijan Robinson. Drake London. Darnell Mooney. These are guys who can play. A win doesn’t guarantee their safety, but Atlanta is going to play like it will. That being said, I think the Panthers get their second road victory all season in this game. I think Bryce Young shows out and the Panthers dominate this game to put down a wounded Falcons team. (Please Carolina, do not make me look stupid here.