What stands out about the Atlanta Falcons through Week 3?

Vibes couldn’t have been much lower following an embarrassing 34-3 loss to the Panthers in the Falcons’ home opener, dropping the team to 0-2 before a primetime matchup with the Packers.

Everything started to shift the following Monday when it was announced Michael Penix Jr. would make his season debut. Then the Falcons went out and walloped the Packers by 21 points in front of a packed house at Lambeau Field, with Penix turning in one of the best performances of his young career.

To add even more enthusiasm, the rest of the NFC South would go on to lose on Sunday, putting Atlanta tied at the top of the division. The Falcons have new life, and there have been several standout performances through three weeks that provide optimism for the remainder of the season.

Falcons Standout Rookie Class

Despite not having a first-round pick this year, there was a lot of excitement about the Falcons’ rookie class following training camp, and the group has more than lived up to the billing through the first three weeks.

Avieon Terrell has started each of the first three games at cornerback. Quarterbacks have targeted him nine times and recorded just three completions for 38 yards and no touchdowns. The Falcons were without his brother, A.J. Terrell, against the Packers, and you couldn’t even tell the difference — a testament to the kind of secondary depth Atlanta hasn’t had in a long time.

Kendal Daniels — Atlanta’s fourth-round selection — has also started the first three games at linebacker and looks like someone who’s going to be a staple of the second level for a long time, recording 10 tackles and two tackles for loss. Harold Perkins has gotten a lot of run at linebacker as well after being selected in the sixth round. The Falcons clearly value the versatility he brings to the table on passing downs, as quarterbacks have just a 52.8 passer rating over the 11 times they’ve targeted him this season.

On the other side of the ball, Zachariah Branch really hasn’t gotten going offensively. However, it’s hard to put too much weight into what went down over the first couple of weeks with Cooper Rush under center. He should have a much bigger impact in that area moving forward, but even still, he’s played a significant role in the return game, averaging nearly 12.0 yards per punt return.

Michael Penix’s Week 3 Performance

Penix’s season debut against the Packers started in nightmare fashion, with a pick on his first drive. The following couple of possessions were also shaky, but from the second quarter on, that might have been the best we’ve ever seen him look.

He was getting the ball out on time and running the offense beautifully, finishing the night 17-for-20 for 254 yards and a touchdown when he wasn’t under pressure. That was good enough for an 84.9 QBR, the fourth-highest mark of any signal caller in Week 3.

Penix looked the part of a franchise quarterback, and he did it on national television after missing 10 months with an ACL injury. That should have Falcons fans excited about what’s to come.

The Defensive Line… Improved?

After decades of having a dormant pass rush, the Falcons did the impossible a season ago, finishing second in the league with 57 sacks. Despite that, the new front office completely revamped the interior defensive line, bringing in Gervon Dexter Sr. and Maason Smith to replace David Onyemata and Ruke Orhorhoro.

Those have proven to be massive upgrades, not only when it comes to rushing the passer but defending the run as well — an area where the Falcons struggled a year ago. Atlanta is in first by a mile when it comes to rush defense, allowing just 47.7 yards per game. They’ve still yet to surrender a rushing touchdown, and they rank third in the league in pass rush win rate.

The sample size remains small, and they’ll play some much better offenses in the coming weeks, but the signs suggest this defensive line is better than it was a year ago — and they’re doing all of it without James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker.

Walker won’t return this season after suffering a torn ACL, but Pearce has just five games remaining of his eight-game suspension. The Falcons’ defense could get real fun to watch when he returns.

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(Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire)