Picture Credit: Atlanta Falcons, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
When the Atlanta Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th pick in April’s draft, the NFL world was in shock. Atlanta had signed Kirk Cousins to a massive deal just a month earlier. The Falcons had glaring holes on the defensive side of the ball that could have been mended by prospects like Jared Verse and Dallas Turner. Atlanta became the laughingstock of the league. Eight months later, Penix is set to start at quarterback for the remainder of the Falcons’ playoff push. Will the Falcons get the last laugh?
Lifeless Offense Led to Cousins’ Benching
Through nine weeks, Kirk Cousins had led Atlanta to a comfortable lead in the NFC South with a 6-3 record. Cousins had thrown seventeen touchdowns and just seven interceptions. While the Falcons’ offense wasn’t the electrifying unit many expected with Cousins under center, they were the clear strength of the team. Since week ten, the offense has crumbled. Atlanta’s $180 million man has thrown just one touchdown and nine interceptions over the last five games. The Falcons have lost four of those five games, dropping out of the division lead. With three weeks of football left in the regular season, Atlanta still has a slim chance to earn a spot in the playoffs. Every game from this point on is a must-win. With that in mind, head coach Raheem Morris made the decision to turn to Michael Penix Jr. to lead his team through this final stretch.
Penix Fits Atlanta’s System
Part of Kirk Cousins’ difficulties this season can be attributed to the differences between the Falcons’ offensive scheme and the scheme that Cousins had thrived in as a Viking. In 2023, the Vikings used play action on 30% of Cousins’ passing attempts, one of the highest rates in the league. This season, just 14% of Cousins’ pass attempts have included play action. The Falcons rely heavily on a pure dropback system, which Cousins has very little experience in…
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