After the best start of his NFL career, Michael Penix Jr. checked in at No. 23 on NFL Spin Zone’s Week 5 quarterback rankings, a placement that feels about right for now, but also says plenty about how unpredictable his season has been.
Just a week earlier, he was sitting at No. 29, fresh off a humiliating loss to Carolina where he looked overwhelmed and the Falcons never found their footing. The noise around Atlanta was growing, with some wondering if Kirk Cousins might get the call sooner than expected.
Instead, Penix bounced back in Week 4, throwing for 313 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-27 win over Washington that kept the Falcons at .500 and in the thick of the NFC South race.
Michael Penix Jr. is giving Falcons fans a reason to believe
That Commanders game was the best example yet of why Atlanta believes in its young quarterback. Penix is an accurate left-handed passer with real arm talent, and when he’s in rhythm, this offense looks dynamic.
Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson give him one of the better supporting casts in football, which makes it easier for him to grow through the inevitable mistakes. And even through those mistakes, the Falcons' offense is still top 10 in football and averaging over 360 yards per game.
But “the Michael Penix Jr. experience” isn’t just about production. It’s about pressure. Every interception Penix throws doesn’t just hurt the scoreboard, it reopens the door for Cousins, with the $180 million veteran waiting on the sideline with it becoming clear he won't be traded.
That’s why each week feels bigger than it should. One ugly outing can flip the narrative, and that’s exactly what made Week 4 so critical. Had Penix stumbled again, the chatter around Cousins would’ve turned deafening.
Instead, he quieted it (at least for now), with the performance remaining in people's minds during Atlanta's Week 5 bye—and the belief has followed.
Head coach Raheem Morris has been firm in his backing of Penix, insisting there’s no quarterback controversy. And he’s right… for the moment. But confidence in September doesn’t guarantee patience in November. If turnovers pile up, if losses follow, the calls for Cousins won’t just come from the outside.
Still, Week 4 offered something Atlanta badly needed: proof that Penix can answer a challenge. He shifted the conversation, at least temporarily, from 'is he the problem?" to "can he be the solution"? However, a looming Monday Night clash with Josh Allen and the Bills is his next opportunity to prove Week 4 was no fluke.
That’s why the Michael Penix Jr. experience is so intriguing. It’s a weekly referendum not just on a young quarterback, but on the direction of an entire franchise. And whether his ranking climbs or falls, every Sunday is another data point in figuring out if Atlanta really did find its future.