What happened: Penix expressed confidence in Atlanta's direction Wednesday, telling reporters that the Falcons remain in contention and need to focus one game at a time. The comments follow a stretch where Penix previously offered an upbeat read on Atlanta's early-October work. He added that the team is close in several phases despite recent stumbles.

Why it matters: Atlanta sits at 3-6 after dropping two straight games, narrowing its margin for error in the playoff race. The public backing arrives on the heels of a roster shakeup that included trading safety Jessie Bates to the Jaguars for future draft picks. Halting the midseason skid remains urgent if the Falcons hope to keep their late-season goals viable.

What to watch: Atlanta looks to snap its two-game losing streak in Week 11 as the team attempts to climb back into the divisional hunt.