NEW ORLEANS -- The Atlanta Falcons' offense has completed an improbable turnaround in the span of just two weeks.
Over the first two games of the season, the Falcons had a combined 16 points, the fewest in the NFL. After a 45-24 win over the rival New Orleans Saints on "Monday Night Football," Atlanta had a league-high 80 combined points in Weeks 3 and 4.
The Falcons defeated the Green Bay Packers 35-14 at Lambeau Field last week on "Thursday Night Football." Atlanta is the first team in NFL history to win back-to-back primetime games on the road by 20 or more points, according to ESPN Research.
The biggest reason? Michael Penix Jr.'s return from ACL surgery.
The Falcons started third-string quarterback Cooper Rush the first two weeks of the season. Penix came back in Week 3 and led the Falcons to a dominant performance against the Packers. On Monday, Penix completed 15 of 20 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.
"He's been phenomenal, man," Falcons running back Brian Robinson Jr. said of Penix. "It ain't really much other words I can say about the way he's been playing. I appreciate his attitude, how he come in and just take the field and he's focused and he's ready. He's not letting nothing that he's been through in his past get in the way of his goals and what he wants in the future."