What happened: On The Pivot with Ryan Clark, Jordan Schultz connected Michael Penix Jr.'s on-field results to the foundation laid when the Falcons drafted him in the first round in 2024. Atlanta defeated the San Francisco 49ers 29-20 on Oct. 25 to snap a two-game losing streak.

Why it matters: That victory moved the Falcons into the conference's No. 9 seed entering Week 8. Penix remained Atlanta's answer at quarterback despite an October rib scare after emerging from an open August starter competition.

What to watch: Atlanta enters Week 8 on a one-game winning streak aiming to climb into playoff position.