Michael Penix Jr.’s first game of the season for the Atlanta Falcons first team came against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in a short midweek clash.
Penix showed why the Falcons have missed him under center.
The Falcons were on a two-game losing streak before setting foot in Wisconsin, while the Packers secured their first win with a come-from-behind victory over the New York Jets last week. So, the Packers began as favorites at kickoff.
Green Bay opened the scoring with a touchdown, but the Falcons restored parity just four minutes later. By the midway point of the fourth quarter, the visiting team had taken a 20-point lead. Even after the Packers added another touchdown, the combination of Penix and running back Bijan Robinson scored from two yards out within the final four minutes to secure a memorable victory.
Atlanta tasted victory for the first time this year. It ended 35-14. Speaking with Scott Van Pelton SportsCenter, Penix addressed the Falcons’ mentality and how they prepare for a midweek game.
We keep a 1-0 mindset, each and every week… It was obviously a short week, [wanted to make sure] we go out there and execute. I feel like we got all the players, we got the coaches, we got the support staff to be able to come out here and put up games like this.
Michael Penix Jr. said
Penix operated the Falcons offense much better than Cooper Rush in the first two games. He threw 18 completions on 25 attempts for 256 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. According to ESPN research, the Falcons’ 498 combined yards are the most by a visiting team since 2015. It’s also the largest margin of victory (21) by a visiting team at Lambeau Field since 2018.
Bijan Robinson had 200+ all-purpose yards and 2 touchdowns, while Brian Robinson Jr. had 10 carries for 50 yards and one score. Wide receiver Drake London caught 9 passes for 194 yards.
Penix missed the final six games after suffering a knee injury in Week 11. During the offseason, the Falcons appointed Kevin Stefanski as head coach, who signed free agents Tua Tagovailoa and Cooper Rush.
Even though Tua had a disappointing preseason, Stefanski . However, the Pro Bowler suffered an oblique injury days before kickoff, forcing Stefanski to elevate Rush to the starting role.
Stefanski did not pick Penix because .The Falcons lost to the Steelers in week one and scored just 3 points in a divisional rivalry game against the Carolina Panthers.
Ahead of Thursday’s trip to Green Bay, the Falcons received positive news about Penix. He was cleared to make his season’s debut. He threw for over 300 yards in a famous victory. The 26-year-old also wrote his name in the Falcons’ record books by reaching 3000 passing yards.
Michael Penix Jr. has reached 3000 passing yards in fewer games than any other quarterback in Falcons history and has the most passing yards through 13 starts by a Falcons QB all-time.
Senior Falcons reporter Will McFadden tweeted
Penix crossed 3000 passing yards in 15 games (13 starts) across three seasons.
The Falcons drafted Penix 8th overall in 2024. He was part of the same draft class as Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and JJ McCarthy.
He spent his rookie year backing up Kirk Cousins. By year two, he had taken over the starter’s job. With Cousins leaving in the offseason, the Falcons named Penix their franchise quarterback.
The Falcons don’t play until the first week of October. They travel to Louisiana to face off against the New Orleans Saints.