FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Michael Penix Jr. will make his third start for the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It probably will be the final start of his rookie season, but that’s enough for head coach Raheem Morris to feel validated for selecting Penix eighth in last year’s draft.
“I’m probably overconfident with the kid because he’s so good and he’s so talented. He can do anything,” Morris said. “I feel really good about where we’re at and who he is and what we can be because of his ability to go out there in the last two weeks.”
Penix’s statistics in his two starts aren’t the reason for that confidence. In the last two weeks, he is 29th in the league in passer rating (72.3), 26th in completion percentage (59.7), 20th in expected points added per dropback (.04), 18th in passing yards (425) and has thrown just one touchdown pass.
“The biggest thing for Penny is just the poise that he’s shown in these games,” Morris said.
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Morris said he was “waiting to celebrate” with Penix during the 12-play, 68-yard fourth-quarter drive that tied the game in Washington last week on a 13-yard pass to tight end Kyle Pitts on fourth-and-goal.
“He’s a true leader. You can see it,” Pitts said of Penix. “It’s coming out more and more each week. Not surprising. Just routine for him. It’s pretty cool to see.”
Pitts said he was upset with himself because he didn’t realize the pass was Penix’s first professional touchdown pass and celebrated by slinging the ball high in the air. Luckily, it didn’t make it into the stands and was retrieved by a ball boy on the sideline.
“In the moment, I wasn’t thinking about (the ball),” Penix said. “I was like, ‘We just scored. We tied the game. Let’s go.’ As I was about to run off the field, it clicked, and I turn around, like, ‘Where’s the ball? And I saw Drake (London) had it and Drake handed it to me. I was like, ‘Appreciate it.’”
Veteran safety Jessie Bates III said he was not surprised by Penix’s almost-heroic late-game drive and pointed out that Penix followed it up with a 43-yard drive in 40 seconds to get the Falcons into position for a field goal attempt that would have won the game.
“That’s just who Mike is,” Bates said. “From the day he stepped foot in this building he’s just been a poised, calm guy. It says a lot about the future with Mike Penix.”
The biggest lesson Penix learned during his first two starts is one he already knew.
“Chemistry,” he said. “I’ve known we’ve got to get it and we’re building it each and every day. Each and every day, we put in that work. Today, we got extra throws … just trying to build that chemistry so that we can be on the same page, and I’m not sailing the ball over their heads whenever they’re open.”
Most of Penix’s incompletions this year have not come because he’s missing throws but because the receiver is not where the quarterback expects them to be, Morris said.
“It’s tough, but it’s nothing you can complain about,” Morris said. “You’re talking about a guy that’s a great anticipatory thrower. When you throw the ball that way, just like on the interception he threw, if somebody runs the wrong route and you throw the ball with great anticipation that they’re going to be there and they’re not, that lets you down and you can get an interception. But most of the great quarterbacks that we know, that we’ve seen, throw the ball with great anticipation, and they throw it before the guy’s open. That’s the things that they’re talking about, getting that constant work together, which will go on this week, which will go on after this week, which will go on into the offseason, which will go on for these guys for a long time. That is time on task, and that’s what we’re talking about.”
The lack of familiarity between Penix and the starting wide receivers is one reason Morris was so hesitant to bench veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins late in the year, he said.
“I’ve just got to get more reps with the ones,” Penix said. “I never threw to Drake and (Darnell) Mooney, like ever until two weeks ago, so I’ve never had any reps with those guys. We’re building that as we speak.”
The Falcons’ KhaDarel Hodge, blocking a punt by the Raiders’ AJ Cole, earned his first Pro Bowl invitation on Thursday. (Ian Maule / Getty Images)
Pro Bowl players
Offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom and special teams stalwart KhaDarel Hodge were named to the Pro Bowl on Thursday. It will be the third appearance for Lindstrom and the first for Hodge.
The most notable omission from the Falcons’ perspective was cornerback A.J. Terrell. On Sunday, Terrell held Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin to one catch for 5 yards on seven targets.
“He’s that guy,” Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake said. “He’s that top corner that all 32 teams are looking for in the draft or through free agency, and we thankfully have him right here in Flowery Branch. We’re able to put him wherever we want, and we know that quarterbacks better be aware if they’re going to throw his way. He’s been playing lockdown corner. That’s the reason why you haven’t heard his name very much.”
Terrell hasn’t been selected to the Pro Bowl in any of his five seasons.
“He needs that (Pro Bowl) experience. He deserves that experience,” Bates said. “He doesn’t get a lot of love, but you turn on the tape each and every single week and 24 is one of the best in the league for sure.”
Terrell, Bates, linebacker Kaden Elliss, center Drew Dalman, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, outside linebacker Matthew Judon and kicker Younghoe Koo were named Pro Bowl alternates.
Elliss leads the NFL in pressure rate, according to TruMedia, affecting the quarterback on 30.7 percent of his pass-rush snaps. He leads the Falcons with 140 tackles, 43 more than any teammates, and 16 quarterback hits. He registered his first career interception last week against Washington. He is one of two players in the league and the first Atlanta player ever to have 100 or more tackles, five or more sacks and at least one interception in a season.
“I think I’ve had a good year, but I don’t really want to put that type of stuff out there,” Elliss said. “When those things are earned, they’ll come. I just want to keep improving. What I care about (is) I haven’t reached my max potential.”
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Playoff possibilities
The Falcons (8-8) are talking like a team that knows its playoff chances are slim. Atlanta, which has been eliminated from wild-card contention, can still win the NFC South, but it will take beating Carolina (4-12) on Sunday and New Orleans (5-11) beating Tampa Bay (9-7). The problem is the Saints are a 13.5-point underdog against the Buccaneers.
“We’re not in the position we want to be in, but we have an opportunity to still get in,” Bates said. “We’ll be Saints fans this week for sure. I’m sure our fans won’t be happy about me saying that, but that’s the reality of it. Just got to embrace it.”
Atlanta’s main goal, Bates said, should be to cap the regular season with a performance it can be proud of.
“It’ll be great to send off everybody with a win whether we are going to the playoffs or not,” he said. “There’s just so much sacrifice that us players and coaches and everybody in the organization put in and so much effort, it’ll be nice to end with a win in the Benz in front of our fans and hopefully have some momentum for the following year if it doesn’t go as planned.”
Elliss echoed that message.
“Just don’t let an opportunity slip whether it’s our last time or not, put something for the city of Atlanta to be proud of, for our families to be proud of, for us to be proud of as a group,” he said. “And also don’t let an opportunity pass if the Saints can go out and get it done. Just capitalize on every moment you are given.”
Bryce Young gets his shot at Falcons
Sunday will be Atlanta’s first game against Panthers quarterback Bryce Young since 2023. Andy Dalton had replaced Young at the position when these teams met in Week 6 (a 38-20 Falcons win).
“It seems like they’ve simplified the game plan for (Young),” Morris said. “He’s done a nice job of distributing the football to some of those guys.”
Young was benched after Week 2 but returned to the starting lineup in Week 8 after Dalton suffered a thumb injury. Since returning, Young is 23rd in passing yards per game (205.89) and expected points added per dropback (.01) and 28th in passer rating (84.7). The Panthers are 3-6 in that span.
Penix predicting WR milestone
If Darnell Mooney gets 9 receiving yards against the Panthers, he and London will become the first Falcons wide receiving duo to top 1,000 yards in the same season since Julio Jones and Roddy White in 2012.
“Yeah, he’ll get that,” Penix said. “Those are two good guys and I feel like they’re some of the best in the league, so they deserve it.”
(Top photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
