Chicago rolled to a 38-0 win over Buffalo in a dominant preseason showing. Caleb Williams sparked the offense with a seven-play, 92-yard drive that ended in a 36-yard TD to Olamide Zaccheaus, signaling comfort in Ben Johnson’s system. Tyson Bagent followed with three straight scoring drives across two quarters, flashing accuracy (13-of-22, 196 yards, 1 TD) and leadership. Ian Wheeler carved out a prominent role with 80 rushing yards on 19 carries and two scores, while Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III and Zaccheaus supplied reliable targets. The defense stifled Buffalo, forcing sacks and takeaways behind Chicago’s aggressive front.

ESPN’s three-year projection for every NFL club puts the Atlanta Falcons at a challenging crossroads, assigning them the fourth-worst overall outlook (70.5) through 2025–2027. The panel split the analysis into roster (minus QB), quarterback, coaching, and front office, ranking the Falcons 25th, 21st, 27th, and 30th respectively in those buckets. A key concern centers on Michael Penix Jr.’s development trajectory given his tiny 2024 sample and a subpar 19.4% off-target rate among starters. Yet the piece highlights a dangerous young nucleus—Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Kyle Pitts Sr.—that could anchor Atlanta’s offense for years. The defensive side could close the gap if draft picks slide in alongside Jessie Bates III and AJ Terrell Jr., but the forecast is clearly a multi-year climb.

Across the three-year horizon, the bold takeaway is that rookie Jalon Walker could become a double-digit sack force, potentially the first since Vic Beasley to do so for Atlanta, but patience will be required. The Falcons’ path to sustained success hinges on Penix’s accuracy trajectory, the offensive core’s continued growth, and a couple of impact defensive pieces via the draft. Fantasy managers should view Robinson as a core producer now, with London and Pitts providing stable floor, while Penix remains a high-upside QB with significant risk if accuracy doesn’t rebound quickly.