Following the Atlanta Falcons' 30-0 shutout at the hands of the Carolina Panthers, fans began to question if Michael Penix Jr. was truly the Falcons' future under center. He threw two interceptions in Week 3 before being benched for Kirk Cousins, and it looked like Atlanta was in the midst of full-blown quarterback controversy.
However, even in the face of adversity, Raheem Morris never wavered in his faith in the second-year signal-caller. And in Week 4, Penix proved that faith was well-placed as he turned in the best performance of his young career, throwing for 313 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-27 victory over the Washington Commanders.
His 126.0 passer rating marked a career-high and managed to respond to all of the critics after reminding the NFL world why he was so highly regarded throughout the 2024 NFL Draft process. His message was clear: he is the QB of the future.
Penix: I feel like I showed myself that I deserve to be here. #Falcons
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) September 28, 2025
Michael Penix Jr.'s postgame comments have Falcons fans ready to run through a brick wall
Through just seven NFL starts, the Washington product has endured his fair share of bumps in the road, but the victory marked a crucial turning point. Fans were getting ready to write him off, but if Sunday was any indication, the 25-year-old isn't going anywhere.
With Zac Robinson now calling plays from the field, the Dirty Birds started to utilize Penix's arm talent as the chunk plays came in bunches throughout the afternoon. And it was the playmakers who helped ignite Atlanta's dormant offense.
Drake London recorded his first 100-yard game of the season, Kyle Pitts finally broke through with his first touchdown of the year, and Bijan Robinson added a career-high 181 scrimmage yards to continue his historic start to the year. The Falcons' offense operated like a machine on Sunday, and it was Penix operating as the spark plug.
Even in the wake of the worst start of his career last weekend, Penix remained unfazed by the surrounding noise. There's a reason Morris called him "unshakeable" while at the podium. It takes more than just talent to mold a franchise quarterback: it takes mindset—and that uber-positive mindset is infectious to the rest of the locker room.
Now Atlanta is sitting at 2-2 entering the Week 5 bye, and they'll need the additional rest before hosting Josh Allen and the undefeated Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football in Week 6. And that contest will be the next test for the franchise quarterback—and the Morris-Fontenot regime as a whole.
His words, just like his performance, is giving Falcons fans something to believe in for the first time since Matt Ryan retired.