Michael Penix Jr. hooked up with Drake London for a massive 68-yard completion, a play that instantly silenced any doubts after Penix threw a pick on his first drive. We’re about a fifth of the way into the season, and it’s clear: Week 3 is where the real story starts to emerge. Atlanta’s adjusting to what we’re seeing, and Penix is making a statement.
Penix Is the Real Deal, Even With Bijan Dominating
Honestly, after that opening drive pick, I thought Atlanta fans were in for a long one. But Penix absolutely sold me before the game even ended. Yeah, Bijan Robinson’s 213-scrimmage-yard evening, where over a third of his carries turned into a first down or score, made life easier. You could argue Robinson did all the heavy lifting. But in obvious passing situations, Penix straight-up excelled while his teammates struggled.
Check these third-down numbers:
* **Yards-to-the-Sticks Required:** Penix 8.1, Rush 8.6, Strand 7.6
* **Avg. Time to Throw:** Penix 2.08, Rush 2.40, Strand 2.36
* **Success Rate:** Penix 50.0%, Rush 20.0%, Strand 15.4%
Penix knew where to throw the ball a beat after the snap. That’s all the Falcons needed. The Packers were blitzing him on 37.6% of his third-down dropbacks, but Atlanta still converted four times. That’s more than the previous two weeks *combined*. Talk about stepping up!
London Is Penix’s Guy, and the Connection Is Electric
The main storyline here is absolutely who Penix was targeting. Drake London saw a 43.5% Target Rate, snagged a 48.2% Air Yard Share, and a 0.42 Targets per Route Run. You should’ve seen this coming. Every single one of London’s 150-yard-plus outings has come with Penix under center. That timing on outbreakers, Penix’s ability to rifle a ball to the middle of the field , it’s enabling success on the ground and through the air, making this offense *work*.
Robinson’s 23.3 touches per game and explosive style will keep him in the RB1 discussion forever. But a healthy, functional QB like Penix? That’s what drafters at 1.01 or 1.02 needed. Same goes for those who picked up London in the second round. Penix is the efficiency tide lifting all these boats, giving us way more confidence in starting Atlanta’s primary skill players, assuming he stays healthy. And hey, Tee Higgins also nabbed his third touchdown, showing some firepower elsewhere in the league.
We’re only a fifth of the way in, but Penix’s early performance is signaling big things for Atlanta’s offense. This connection with London, his efficiency under pressure, it’s the foundation for what could be a very exciting season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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