Without picking up Cousins, Penix would have been thrown to the dogs in Week 1 hoping that he could catch on quickly enough to put them on a path to the division crown and a top four seed. Without having an experienced QB to start the season, it's hard to imagine that Penix would have the Falcons at the top of the division, and by this stage of the season he could have been out with an injury and/or possibly missing some time. And if that happened, then they would likely have some kid that was sitting on a practice squad somewhere trying to lead the Falcons into the postseason. But instead they have a healthy quarterback who has had time to develop under an experienced veteran and is now ready to show the league what he can do without the opponents having a lot of film on how best they can stop him.
Does this 'Penix Plan' get them to the Superbowl? I certainly hope not. But either way all that 'foundation building' is off to a much better start with Atlanta looking like the team to beat in the NFC South in 2025.