The Atlanta Falcons have an important Week 1 matchup with Tampa Bay traveling to Atlanta in what will be a tone setter for the NFC South. Reasonable pundits all agree that this is a two-team race with Tampa and Atlanta both having interesting arguments for why they should be favored. For the Falcons, it is important to get off to a hot start.
Last season's collapse was all laid at the feet of Kirk Cousins and the veteran's ugly implosion. The first weeks of the season need to continue this narrative and not leave reason to question the current leadership in place. With this in mind, let's look at the four Falcons under the most pressure heading into the first week of the season.
1. Michael Penix Jr.
Much has been made about Penix's turnover tendencies and injury concerns in college. You're playing a division rival that was beaten twice by Kirk Cousins last season. Now, you're hosting the Bucs and get a shot to give yourself an early division lead. Penix must be locked in, making the same throws Cousins hit a season ago and continuing to make it clear he is the quarterback of the future.
Even if the Falcons lose this game, the quarterback is under pressure to play well and prove the franchise made the right choice. All of the needed weapons and tools are in place. If Kaleb McGary's replacement at right tackle can give the quarterback a chance, this has the chance to be a coming-out game for the starter.
Penix answering all concerns with a win in Week 1 would earn a high level of faith from the fan base and begin to establish himself in a class that appears to be historically deep. Beating Tampa is a must as Penix works to find his place within this group. No question, a huge chance to set the tone for Penix and Atlanta.
2. Jalon Walker
The rookie is going to be under instant pressure to make a difference in Atlanta's pass rush. The Falcons spent not only this year's first-round selection attempting to fix the unit, but next year's as well. Even with James Pearce Jr. and Leonard Floyd brought in as new additions, all eyes are going to be on Walker and what the rookie can bring to help breathe life into this pass rush.
Making this all the more important is the fact that you're starting two rookies in the secondary. Xavier Watts will start alongside Jessie Bates at the safety position, and Billy Bowman will be the starting corner in the slot. There is a lot of young and new pieces who are going to need Atlanta's pass rush to be capable of working.
Walker is the biggest piece of this, having the expectations unlike any Atlanta defender in recent memory. It is important to point out that patience is often needed with the position, but if there was ever an instant hit, Walker would qualify.
3. Raheem Morris
Kirk Cousins deserves a lot of heat for being the worst quarterback in the league last season. However, let's not forget it was Raheem Morris who continued to put the quarterback into the starting lineup. Just as the head coach forgot to call a timeout in the season's biggest moment against the Washington Commanders. Morris is yet to prove himself as a head coach.
Cousins served as the excuse for last season's failure. Start out the year by losing to a team that the veteran quarterback beat twice last year, and the coach is going to get a healthy level of scrutiny. Morris appears to be loved by players and has a long history of being a great coordinator.
Falcons fans badly want the fit to work, but last season's concerns are obvious. If they continue into the new season, it is going to be far too many red flags to simply shrug off. Morris needs an early win and a hot start to the 2025 season.
4. Elijah Wilkinson
Kaleb McGary has been replaced by veteran Elijah Wilkinson, who has spent a lot of time in Atlanta's system. Ideally, Storm Norton would be the answer here, but Norton is dealing with an injury as well. Wilkinson is going to be put in the spotlight guarding the blindside of a quarterback with a concerning injury history.
So much of what Wilkinson has done throughout his career is play just good enough to land another chance. There isn't any reason to believe the veteran is instantly going to become a great answer. Atlanta is going to continue to search for upgrades and do everything in its power to protect Penix in year two.
With this in mind, Wilkinson is very much playing for his job, looking to give the Falcons a level of faith that the right answer is already in place. One bad week could be enough to lose his job with Atlanta, which requires making very quick changes in the interests of their young quarterback.