ATL Standard

Michael Penix Jr. made a strong impression in his first NFL start, leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 34-7 victory over the New York Giants. His performance was commendable both during the game and upon reviewing the all-22 film.

One narrative surrounding Penix prior to the draft was his reluctance to throw over the middle of the field. However, in this game, he disproved that notion by successfully targeting receivers in that area multiple times. "The bigger concern with Penix entering the draft last season was his lack of production over the middle of the field — and his general unwillingness to even test the area when routes were open there," The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner noted. Yet, Penix found success with receiver Drake London, completing several passes over the middle.

Penix demonstrated good decision-making throughout the game, even on incomplete passes. Most of his incompletions occurred in the first quarter, which is not unusual for a first-time starter. He completed 16-of-21 passes after an initial slow start. "What you saw out there (Sunday) — a couple missed throws, stuff like that," Penix said postgame, "it's only going to get better as we continue to work and get more of a connection."

The Falcons' offensive operation was notably clean, with minimal penalties and effective communication from Penix as quarterback. He operated well under pressure, avoiding sacks and limiting hits from defenders.

Overall, while acknowledging areas for improvement, Raheem Morris described Penix's debut as nearly flawless: "He wasn't perfect. No quarterback ever is — heck, no person ever is." The review suggests that Penix exceeded expectations in his first outing.