Not much went right for the Falcons in their blowout loss to the Broncos on Sunday afternoon. The defense was completely picked apart by rookie quarterback Bo Nix in just his tenth NFL start. The offense turned in its worst performance of the season, producing no answers against Denver’s aggressive defense, and special teams also laid an egg.
It was one of the worst all around games a team will play at the professional level. So abysmal, that backup quarterback Michael Penix Jr. finished the game as the Falcons top graded overall player by Pro Football Focus.
Top-5 #Falcons PFF Offensive Grades vs. Broncos (Week 11)
1. QB Michael Penix Jr. – 91.1
2. RG Chris Lindstrom – 85.9
3. WR KhaDarel Hodge – 78.2
4. WR Drake London – 77.7
5. QB Kirk Cousins – 74.6— Evan Birchfield (@EvanBirchfield) November 18, 2024
Of course, sample size has to be taken into account. Michael Penix Jr. entered the game with about nine minutes left in the game, and for the most part, he was only asked to hand the ball off.
However, there were a few moments where Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson let Penix spin it, and they were more than impressive. Penix completed his first pass for 20 yards to Ray-Ray McCloud. On the very next play, he just missed on a deep ball to Casey Washington that could have potentially gone for a touchdown. He would also convert on a fourth down later in the drive, but that’d be it, as far as the exciting action is concerned.
It wasn’t much, but the traits that made Michael Penix Jr. such an intriguing prospect coming out of Washington were on full display. He possesses a skill set that can’t be taught, but anybody clamoring for him to start over Kirk Cousins needs a reality check.
While Cousins may have had his worst game of the season on Sunday, he’s been a top 10 quarterback for most of the season. Expecting a rookie to relieve him and produce at the same level isn’t even wishful thinking; it’s dumb. Kirk Cousins is the Falcons quarterback the rest of the way, and that’s not even a discussion Raheem Morris and company will entertain until the offseason.
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Photo: Photographer: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire
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