Michael Penix Jr. leads Atlanta to victory over Giants in first NFL start

ATLANTA — Michael Penix Jr. has arrived as Atlanta’s starting quarterback a little earlier than expected, but it’s tough to argue with the results: a 34-7 win on Sunday over the New York Giants that keeps Atlanta in the hunt for a playoff berth.

Penix looked composed and confident in the pocket most of the afternoon, and while he didn’t throw any touchdowns, he didn’t need to, given how well his defense and Bijan Robinson performed.

Penix, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, led the Falcons to victory just days after being named the starting quarterback for the rest of the season and, presumably, for the foreseeable future. Yes, he received substantial help from his defense, which claimed two pick 6s on Giants quarterback Drew Lock, but Penix showed control and poise in his first NFL start, giving the Falcons a level of hope in the quarterback position that had severely diminished in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris promoted Penix into the starting role after a series of ineffective games from incumbent Kirk Cousins. Penix had thrown all of five passes all season coming into Sunday. His only snaps this season had come late in blowout losses to the Broncos and Seahawks.

“The [succession] plan came a little bit sooner, but the kid was ready, and we had a lot of time to develop him,” Morris said after the game. “The kid did a great job himself with developing himself and getting ready for that moment where it wasn’t too big.”

No assignment is truly “easy” in the NFL, but facing the Giants — very much in the running for the league’s worst team — was a less daunting challenge than most. Penix enjoyed the advantage of a swarming Falcons defense that put 14 points on the board and held the Giants to just seven points in the first half, and none in the second.

Prior to the game, Penix and Cousins prayed together in the tunnel just off the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Penix conceded to a bit of nerves before the game, but felt a whole lot better once he got out onto the field.

“You do feel [nervous], but as soon as you hit the field it goes away,” Penix said. “This is the game I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old. Obviously it’s different at a higher level, but it’s the same game. I’ve just got to go out and execute.”

Although he had Robinson and Tyler Allgeier in the backfield as easy bailouts, Penix threw early and often, starting with his very first play from scrimmage. He showed more mobility in the pocket than Cousins ever had, and his arm strength was obvious right from the jump.

Robinson served as a cheat code for Penix, carrying the ball 22 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Giants defenders had to respect Robinson’s ground game, giving Penix room to move and distribute the ball to Atlanta’s arsenal of receivers.

The problem for Penix was, those Falcons receivers added a degree of difficulty to his debut, with three in-the-hands drops in the first half alone. The most egregious: Kyle Pitts juggling and then coughing up a pass at the goal line with just 16 seconds remaining in the first half, a play which went down in the box score as a Penix interception.

The Atlanta defense was much more generous to Penix, gifting him 14 points and swarming Lock all afternoon. After Lock marched the Giants on a 14-play, eight-minute scoring drive, Atlanta reeled off 34 straight points. Jessie Bates III and Matthew Judon both recorded pick 6s, and the Falcons simply crushed the Giants’ offense in the second half, holding New York to three punts, the second pick 6 and a turnover on downs to end the game.

Penix finished the day with respectable enough numbers: 18 of 27 for 202 yards and that one interception. More importantly, though, he didn’t do anything to cost the Falcons yardage, points or the game, remaining in control and executing a run-heavy game plan that allowed him to thrive without significant risk.

In college, Penix led the Washington Huskies all the way to the 2023 season national championship game before being drafted by Atlanta. His selection, coming shortly after the Falcons signed Cousins to a massive four-year deal, drew widespread criticism from around the league. Atlanta was clearly planning for a succession plan from Cousins to Penix, but likely wasn’t expecting it to happen just 14 games into Cousins’ first season with the team.

Cousins, meanwhile, helped warm up Penix before the game and remained on the sideline throughout. His future with the Falcons is uncertain (he reportedly will be cut on March 17), but the way he’s handled this sudden transition has earned him even more respect than he already had in the Falcons’ locker room.

“Sometimes when that situation happens the one guy will be in his feelings but kirk was right there for him,” Robinson said after the game. “He gets all my respect for that.”

The Falcons are on the outside looking in at the 2024 playoff picture, thanks to the four-game skid where they surrendered the division lead to Tampa Bay. Atlanta needs to sweep its final two games against Washington (10-5) and Carolina (4-11) and hope the Bucs (8-6) slip against Dallas (6-8), Carolina or New Orleans (5-9). Wherever the Falcons go from here on out in 2024, Penix will be leading them.

Penix famously was standing in a Costco this past week when he learned he would be starting on Sunday. Asked how he’d be celebrating this win, he smiled. “We won’t be celebrating at a Costco,” he said, “something fancier.”