Falcons make NFL history with Red Zone stat seen three times since 1978

1 month ago 22

The Atlanta Falcons are 0-2 to begin the 2026 NFL season, with losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers. Week 1 was rough, but Week 2 was a whole lot worse.

After a 20-13 loss in Week 1, the Falcons lost 34-3 in Week 2 in their home opener. They now head into Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers, hoping Michael Penix Jr. can play and save this offense.

That offense has been putting together a terrible start to the season. According to ESPN Insights, the Falcons are just the fourth team since 1978 to go their first two games of the year without getting into the Red Zone. Just a brutal statistic that shows how bad the defense has been.

Falcons join three teams in NFL history with brutal Red Zone stat

"The Falcons are the 4th team since NFL Play-by-Play was first tracked in 1978 without a Red Zone Drive through two games, joining: 2008 Rams, 1997 Lions, 1992 Patriots," ESPN Insights shared.

After two Weeks, one matchup against the Steelers and another against a Panthers team that just gave up 59 points in Week 1, the Falcons have scored just 16 total points, with no drives making it into the Red Zone.

It's only the fourth time in the last 48 years that such a brutal start to the season, without a single Red Zone drive, has been accomplished.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, history doesn't bode well with this company. The Los Angeles Rams back in 2008, then playing in St. Louis, went on to go 2-14 that year.

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The 1997 Detroit Lions did actually go 9-7 and made the playoffs. Although they lost in the Wild Card, this is at least a sign the Falcons' early Red Zone drought doesn't indicate a complete season-ending scenario.

But the 1992 New England Patriots, like the Rams 16 years later, went 2-14 in the season following their Red Zone drought through two Weeks.

The Falcons, fortunately, play in a wide-open NFC South, and with a returning Penix, could have a real chance to get out of the hole they dug themselves into through Week 2 this season.

History might not be on their side after not making it into the Red Zone through two weeks of the season. It's not totally over just yet, but if Penix comes back and extends this streak, it might be time to call it quits on the Falcons in 2026.