ATL Standard

The Atlanta Falcons have announced a change in their quarterback lineup, naming Michael Penix Jr. as the starting quarterback for Week 16. This decision comes as the team seeks to improve its offensive performance, replacing Kirk Cousins with Penix.

Head coach Raheem Morris stated, "After review we have made the decision Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward." He emphasized that this was a football decision aimed at preparing for Sunday's game against the New York Giants.

The move follows questions about the team's quarterback situation after their recent victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite winning 15-9 and ending a four-game losing streak, concerns about offensive productivity persisted. The Falcons struggled to score points in recent games, which has led to increased scrutiny of Cousins' role.

Cousins has faced challenges recently, leading the league with 16 interceptions, nine of which occurred in the last five games. During this period, he threw only one touchdown pass while the team managed just one win.

Morris acknowledged these issues, stating, "We didn't play particularly well at the quarterback position... It's always going to be those question marks when it comes to head coach, when it comes to the quarterback."

Penix was selected as No. 8 overall draft pick and is expected to bring stability to an offense that features standout players like running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London. Despite individual successes on offense and improvements on defense, Atlanta's record stands at 1-4 in their last five games.

With three regular-season games remaining against the Giants, Commanders, and Panthers, Atlanta is focused on closing their gap with NFC South leaders Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Holding a tiebreaker advantage over Tampa Bay offers them a realistic path to postseason qualification if they match records by season's end.