The Falcons have moved away from Kirk Cousins and to the future, promoting rookie Michael Penix Jr. in anticipation of a three-game stretch that will decide Atlanta’s postseason fate.
The club draws the Giants this weekend, which should serve as a tune-up game for Penix in his first-ever NFL start, but he’s jumping right into the deep end next week against the Commanders, a true sink-or-swim moment.
Jayden Daniels, the league’s frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Washington will host Penix and Atlanta in a primetime date on Sunday night. It very well could decide the final Wild Card spot.
It’s a momentous opportunity. Kirk Cousins got the Falcons here, but it’ll be up to his successor to end the team’s playoff drought. What led to this moment was uncharacteristically bad play from the veteran. It was inevitable, but there’s reason to be excited.
The Penix era is here, and he learned about his promotion in hilarious fashion. Before the Falcons made the announcement Tuesday evening that Michael Penix Jr. would be the starter, the rookie quarterback got the call while at Costco in the midst of getting their world-famous $1.5o hot dog.
“I was shopping at Costco and was getting a hotdog,” Penix Jr. said.
The Costco Guys are the internet’s latest sensation, and the Falcons new starting quarterback is a Costco Guy. The Falcons are wearing their throwback uniforms on Sunday, Michael Penix is a Costco Guy, and the playoffs are within reach. The stars are aligning in Atlanta, people.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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