Why it’s important: The Falcons made a major change in an already short week of preparation, switching from veteran Kirk Cousins to rookie Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback. The potentially risky move paid off. Atlanta remains in the playoff picture because of its win, regardless of how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do in their own Sunday game against the Dallas Cowboys (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).
If the Buccaneers also win, then the Falcons remain a game behind in the NFC South race, but Atlanta can still win the division if it matches Tampa Bay’s final record since the Falcons swept the Buccaneers and therefore hold the tiebreaker. If the Buccaneers lose, then the Falcons are back in the lead for the same reason.
