Matt Ryan has high praise for Michael Penix Jr. after his first start

For the first time since Matt Ryan was under center for the Falcons, Atlanta might have finally found their next franchise quarterback in Michael Penix Jr.

Marcus Mariota was always a stopgap option, and the same can be said for Kirk Cousins, even if there was a lot more hope when the Falcons signed the 13-year veteran this past offseason. In between, Atlanta made a laughable attempt in the draft with Desmond Ridder, whose days already appeared numbered in this league. Penix, on the other hand, was a big swing, a swing that most people mocked when it happened eight months ago.

Arguments could be had all day about the process that led to Michael Penix Jr. a mere weeks after handing Kirk Cousins $180 million in free agency with $90 million in guarantees. There’s no positive way to spin the Cousins fiasco. $90 million for 14 games of uninspiring play is nothing short of a disaster, but Penix can completely wipe the slate clean for everybody in Atlanta by excelling in Cousins’ place, and he got off to a wonderful start on Sunday.

The Falcons didn’t need Penix to do much against the lowly Giants, who were actually outscored 14-7 by Atlanta’s defense. Still, Penix impressed with his arm strength, accuracy, and decision-making. It was a night and day difference with him under center compared to Kirk Cousins, and Matt Ryan believes the Falcons found their guy for the foreseeable future.

“I thought he played well. I really did, and I don’t put that interception on him. I think that’s a play Kyle Pitts has got to make.” Ryan said. 

Nobody that watched Michael Penix Jr. play on Sunday would put that interception on the rookie quarterback. The ball hit Kyle Pitts square in the chest, and he proceeded to essentially hand it to the other team instead of catching it and turning upfield for a potential touchdown. It was a tough result for Penix, but he learned quickly why Kyle Pitts is being phased out of the offense with each passing week.

“I thought one of his best throws of the day was a post route to Darnell Mooney that got called for pass interference. If Darnell Mooney doesn’t get tugged, that ball is falling right in the bread basket. I thought he pushed the ball down the field very well, I thought he threw the crossing routes very well,” Ryan continued. 

Penix’s abilities allowed Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to open up the playbook. There was a lot more play-action, and the shots down the field were noticeably more effective. That will be something to watch come Sunday against the Commanders. The game will be on the road and in the cold, but the Falcons will need Penix to create some explosive plays, because Jayden Daniel will have no shortage of his own on the other side.

“I do think Michael Penix is going to be solid for the Atlanta Falcons for a long time,” Ryan concluded. 

One-game sample sizes can often be misleading, especially when facing the miserable New York Giants, who’ve been mentally checked out for well over a month now. But the details provided some hope that Penix very well might be the Falcons’ first franchise quarterback since Matt Ryan was under center, and that confidence will only rise with another quality performance on national television against the Commanders Sunday night.

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Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire

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