Editor’s notice: This is the sixteenth installment in a season-long collection about an rising star of the NFL’s closing week of motion. The winner of week 16: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Michael Penix Jr.’s routine hasn’t modified for his first profession begin. After all, he had suited up as Atlanta’s starter for the earlier 14 video games, despite the fact that he wasn’t.
On Sunday he had robust nerves, sure. But they left as soon as he bought on the sphere.
“It’s the sport I’ve been taking part in since I used to be 5 years previous, and clearly it is totally different, it is excessive stage (within the NFL), but it surely’s the identical recreation,” Penix defined. “I simply need to go on the market and execute.”
This he did.
The No. 8 total choose put collectively a powerful efficiency in his first profession begin, serving to lead the Falcons to a 34-7 rout of the struggling New York Giants. Penix accomplished 66.7% of his passes (18 of 27) for 202 yards and one interception, which actually wasn’t his fault (tight finish Kyle Pitts threw a go within the purple zone, which ended up within the fingers of the Giants cornerback Cor’ Dale Flott). Penix did not report a landing, however almost had one within the third quarter, when operating again Bijan Robinson was downed wanting the top zone on a 13-yard go play.
Overall, the previous Washington Huskies star did not make any main errors, with Atlanta’s operating recreation and protection main the best way. Robinson had each offensive touchdowns on the bottom, whereas security Jessie Bates III and edge rusher Matthew Judon every recorded a pick-six.
Penix did not have any “nice” throws Sunday, however he did not have any turnover-worthy performs both, in line with Pro Football Focus.
“He got here out and performed nearly flawless soccer and stored the sport actually lean and stored every part clear for us to get the win,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris stated.
Robinson added: “He was level-headed, sort, calm and picked up, and easily defined what he wanted to do.”
As the one dubbed the way forward for the franchise, Penix was thrust right into a beginning position prior to anticipated within the wake of the benching of Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta within the spring.
Now, the staff’s playoff aspirations are all of a sudden in Penix’s fingers.
The 8-7 Falcons management their very own future. They can clinch the NFC South this week with a win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday evening and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons may also earn a postseason berth just by profitable their closing two video games.
“I at all times stay with that 1-0 mentality,” Penix stated. “You go in the future at a time.”
Michael Penix Jr. shines within the Falcons’ win over the Giants
Why Penix was profitable in Week 16
The midfield was his finest buddy.
Penix accomplished 100% (!) of his throws concentrating on the middle space, going 10-for-10 for 123 yards, per PFF. The quick heart, 0 to 9 yards downfield, was his most focused a part of the sphere (5 passes). But the first-round choose has additionally been very profitable on increasing routes, significantly to his proper. Only six of his 27 passes went to the left facet of the sphere and he accomplished simply a type of throws for 5 yards.
Perhaps essentially the most spectacular factor Penix did on Sunday was elude stress. The Giants did not sack him as soon as, regardless of urgent him on 48.3 p.c of his dropbacks, in line with Next Gen Stats. And the Giants rank seventh within the NFL with 42 sacks. They’ve had their struggles this season, however they’re efficient at dashing the passer.
Here’s some perspective on how a lot stress New York has placed on Penix (and his success regardless of it): Among energetic quarterbacks, the Tennessee Titans’ Will Levis has confronted the very best dropback stress price this season at 40.1%, in line with NGS. The Giants’ recreation plan was clear: shake up the rookie. But it did not work.
“Those little, refined athletic actions are issues that we have seen since we bought him, actually, that we have not seen on faculty tape, at the very least final 12 months,” Morris stated of Penix navigating the pocket. “Some of the issues he was capable of do with us in coaching camp and with the ability to inform me he was going to run away from somebody and all that stuff, I bought an opportunity to see (Sunday). To see it occur you expertise good moments with a slide up one large win and one other simply operating away from a sack and throwing the ball away, these are performed by grown males, the skilled kind you like to see out of your younger quarterback.”
Penix removed the ball shortly in opposition to the Giants too. His common time to throw was 2.47 seconds, in line with Next Gen Stats, which might rank second amongst certified passers for the 12 months. The rookie made plenty of good choices total. His passes had been correct. His throws had a sure liveliness.
“I really feel like I belief my arm due to the reps I get. I see it day by day in observe,” Penix stated. “I’m making these throws, these guys are making these performs, the offensive line is maintaining me protected. So when recreation day comes, it is like one other day for us.”
It was solely Penix’s first day as a starter, however there’s rather a lot to be optimistic about for the Falcons.
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, the place he was Titans beat the author for a 12 months and a half. It coated the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) earlier than shifting to Tennessee. You can comply with Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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