FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Happy New Year, Falcons fans!

The 2024 season has featured a few more ups and downs that I expected when training camp kicked off, but Tori and I both really appreciate you joining us for the ride. We've still got one game left — and potentially more if things break the right way on Sunday — so keep the questions coming.

The Mailbox will also continue into the offseason, and I can't wait to dig into some draft topics with you all. It's honestly my favorite time of the year. But there's plenty of time to get to that. For now, we've got more pressing matters at hand.

If you'd like to submit a question for a future mailbox, you may do so here.

Bill W. from Killen, Ala.

Are you as disgusted as I am with Raheem Morris' pathetic answers about clock management? Why didn't he just say, "I screwed up" rather than giving such lame excuses? Very disappointing.

You are not alone in your feelings about this, Bill. I can assure you that. I would have also liked to see a timeout called after Darnell Mooney caught a 25-yard strike from Michael Penix Jr. and was whistled down with about 33 seconds remaining. We are in agreement.

But Morris did own up to that decision and even said "I'd like to have it back" when he spoke on Monday. However, I did think Morris had a fairly interesting explanation — which you'll probably write off as a "lame excuse" — for choosing not to call a timeout. I'll paraphrase parts and use some direct quotes break it down.

Essentially, the thinking was that by not using a timeout the Commanders don't have a chance to adjust their defensive personnel or get into a look that they would have rather been in at that moment. With a rookie quarterback in the game, it's preferable to give him a look that he's better prepared for than an exotic blitz, which Morris, who knows Quinn and Washington defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. as well as anyone, knew was coming.

"You want to jump the ball with the reason being behind it is to keep the regulated rush. If we call time out right there, if we clock it, we do any other situations like that, we stop the clock, that allows them in their fringe area to bring out some of their unregulated rushes. … What we're able to do is get a four-man rush, regulated rush with the guys that we know coming, get those guys blocked up, catch a two-man on the back end, and get us a really good look on the sideline to Mooney that we just missed."

That last part is key. The play they wanted was there, and if Penix connects with Mooney, we might not be having this conversation.

The tradeoff for that decision is obviously 16 crucial seconds, which could have potentially amounted to as many as three extra plays. But they would have been plays the Commanders were better prepared for. Keeping the timeouts would have also forced Washington to defend the entire field, which is another benefit for Penix.

I don't disagree with the logic behind keeping the full playbook open while trying to keep Washington on its heels, but the cost was steep.

To me, the problem really began when the offense wasn't as quick in getting up to the ball after Mooney's catch as they should have been. In that moment, I would have rather traded the timeout for a harder defensive look knowing you still have another timeout in your back pocket.

But, and this is key, it sounds like Morris would too. He understands how it all played out, and where things went wrong. We won't know if different decisions will be made until the Falcons find themselves in that kind of situation again. But the decisions made on Sunday night were not made without reason, and that's the part that people are missing in their rush to lay blame.

"And I know it was always going to be questioned, and fairly so, and fairly granted to you guys, but you got to make those decisions at the heat of the moment."

Carl H. from Houston

We know from 2011 to 2023, 12 coaches have experienced the one and done. I personally think the staff did a decent job. Yeah, the clock mismanagement was a killer; losing a 3-game lead was not the greatest, but I saw the run D go from 17th to 2^nd, which turned the pass rush around to me — putting teams behind the chains was big. A lot of criticism for our OC, but I don't think fans realize how limited his play calls were with Kirk. Do you believe this could be a one-year staff?

Hey Carl, I appreciate the measured way in which you're looking at the entire season. You're right, there were some key issues at the beginning of the season that improved significantly as the year rolled along. That is what coaching is all about.

The defensive turnaround after the bye week deserves a ton of credit, in particular. Heading into last weekend, the Falcons were indeed second in rush yards allowed per game (70.25) Now, Jayden Daniels' incredible performance dropped them sixth, but it's still a big improvement. The biggest improvement by far, though came in the pass rush, which fans were ripping this team for every week — and rightfully so. But there has not been that same amount of credit given for the turnaround, which I find interesting.

We all know the Falcons had just 10 sacks in their first 11 games, fewest in the league. From Week 13-17, a span of five games, the Falcons have 21 sacks, most in the league. They went from the worst group to the best group, and they did that with the same group of players.

As for the offense, this season just continued to hammer home the importance of the quarterback position. It's almost unfair in this sport how much comes down to a single player, but the career-worst stretch from Kirk Cousins does tell the story of how this season has gone for Atlanta. You can criticize the staff for sticking with him too long, but I think they hung with him for exactly as long as they should have. The Chargers game was the first real eye-opener. The Vikings game had bad moments, but that was always going to be a challenge — they are 14-2 for a reason. It was the Raiders game where a serious red flag went up in my mind, and that's when they made the move.

So, to answer your question, I would be shocked if this staff was not around next year. Not only because Arthur Blank is someone who practices patience and trusts in those he empowers but because this group has shown it can address key problems and turn things around. One final note: You know who else is on the list of one-and-done coaches? An individual who quit on this team during the 2007 season. Even the most pessimistic among you must agree that Morris is light years ahead of that dude.

Cam W. from Snellville

Penix, Jr. threw a laser dot to Pitts for the tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. Do you think that is a play he will grow on? Possibly just needing more reps in games and practices with his weapons on the perimeter to tighten up some of the loose screws he had with some of the overthrows. I think it's timing and repetition in terms of his ball placement. I love the potential and think the Falcons can build with this guy.

I picked this one to end on, because it is exactly what we should be focusing on. The kid can play. The term "laser dot" is the perfect way to describe Penix's pass to Pitts, Cam. Well done. And it came on fourth down with the game on the line to boot. That is as real as real gets.

But what really sells me on Penix has nothing to do with what I've seen on the field, so I want to clue you in on it. When we got the chance to speak with him yesterday, Penix had an answer that spoke to his self-awareness, humility and desire to get better. I freaking loved it.

"Today, we got extra throws and stuff like that," Penix said, "just trying to build that chemistry so that we can be on the same page, and I'm not sailing the ball over their heads whenever they're open."

For as many "wow" throws as Penix had on Sunday night, he left several open throws on the table. But he isn't running from that, he's embracing that. He isn't looking at his promotion to starter as the sign that he's arrived, he's putting the work in because he knows this is just the start.

Keep in mind that he has only been working with the starting offense for two-plus weeks. What he’s done so far is commendable in that light, but he knows there's more that he's got to do and he's putting in the extra work to get there. It may not happen this year, and the team understands the frustration that comes with that — they feel it too. But the future for Penix as the Falcons' quarterback seems bright indeed.

Thank you all for today's questions! If I didn't get to yours today, it may be selected in future editions of The Mailbox. The next one will be published Tuesday morning, when Tori will answer your questions.

If you'd like to submit a question for a future mailbox, you may do so here.