Dude, you serious? Michael Penix Jr. is finally getting the nod for the Atlanta Falcons against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football. After all the chatter about whether he would or wouldn’t, the Falcons are officially rolling with him, and honestly, it’s about time. Penix and their number two guy, Tua Tagovailoa, have both missed the first two weeks of the season, leaving Cooper Rush and Jack Strand to lead the offense, and man, it’s been a rough ride.
Penix’s Return: A Risk, But Necessary
Now, let’s be real about Penix. This isn’t just some regular return from a minor injury. He tore his ACL in Week 11 last year, and that was his third ACL tear overall, with the first being in his left knee after he’d already torn his right ACL twice back in college. That’s a serious history, you know? He started doing limited work with Atlanta back in May and finally got into full practices after the preseason. When he’s been healthy, his NFL career hasn’t exactly been MVP-level either, rocking a 4-8 record, completing less than 60 percent of his passes, throwing 12 touchdowns to 6 interceptions, and sporting a career 85.8 passer rating. For some perspective, Packers QB Jordan Love has a 96.5 career rating, an 89.6 this season, and has been above Penix’s career average in both of Green Bay’s games this year, even with their offense struggling. Still, even with those numbers, Penix is gonna be a noticeable upgrade over what they’ve been running out there.
The Falcons’ Offense Hit Rock Bottom, Seriously
“Absolute worst in the NFL” doesn’t even begin to cover it, folks. We’re talking historic levels of bad. The Falcons literally haven’t even sniffed the red zone this year. Think about that for a second. They’re the first team since the 2008 St. Louis Rams , who finished 2-14, by the way , to not make a trip to the red zone heading into Week 3. Rush and Strand combined for just 30 completions on 54 attempts for a pathetic 247 yards, which is just 5.3 yards per pass, plus one touchdown and five interceptions. Their combined passer rating? A dismal 38.2 on the year. Oh, and don’t forget the seven sacks they’ve taken for 41 yards. They’ve got legitimate weapons in Drake London and Kyle Pitts, but those two have barely made an impact, combining for just seven receptions and 95 yards in two games. That’s a shocking 1.8 receptions and 23.8 yards per game individually. The Falcons’ passing game has been a train wreck, so this QB change, no matter who it is, can genuinely only be a positive thing for them.
What’s Next for Atlanta?
So, on Thursday Night Football, we’re gonna see how much Penix can move around and if he can actually inject some life into this flatlining offense. The numbers are wonky across the league right now, but Atlanta has been a glaring sore spot. This isn’t just a game; it’s a chance for the Falcons to finally stop being a punchline. Tune in to see if Penix can spark something and give Atlanta fans anything to cheer about against the Packers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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