The Falcons lost in overtime again on Sunday despite the offense putting up over 500 yards of offense and 38 points in regulation. The defense, however, was putrid, which was somewhat surprising given the improvement the unit had shown since the team’s bye week.
Regardless, the 2024 campaign is the book, with the Falcons finishing under .500 for the seventh straight season. Not a lot the organization has done over that stretch has inspired much hope, but one quarterback can change all that, and the Falcons seem to have found their guy in Michael Penix Jr.
Penix’s final five questers to end the season were nothing short of sensational. In the fourth quarter against Washington, he led the Falcons down for the game-tying touchdown with under two minutes to go, hitting Kyle Pitts in a tight window over the middle of the field on 4th-and-13. Penix then nearly led the Falcons back down the field for the win in regulation, and probably would have if it weren’t for shoddy clock management by Raheem Morris.
On Sunday, the Falcons quarterback built on that performance, throwing for over 300 yards and accounting for three touchdowns — two through the air and one on the ground.
However, the numbers don’t quite do it justice. Penix was making jaw-dropping plays all afternoon, escaping pressure and fitting balls into tight windows down the field that most quarterbacks wouldn’t even dream of attempting. It was nothing short of spectacular, especially for a quarterback making just the third start of his career, and his grade from Pro Football Focus reflects that.
That’s not a grade that is handed out very often from Pro Football Focus, but it matches what my eyes saw on Sunday. Penix has it. Whatever it is, he has it.
The Falcons look to have a star in the making under center heading into the 2025 season, and while there are a lot of concerns in other areas, a great quarterback can mask a lot of deficiencies. There’s reason to be excited about the future with Michael Penix Jr. spinning the rock.
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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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