The Michael Penix Jr. era started ahead of schedule for the Atlanta Falcons. The 24-year-old rookie debuts against the hapless 2-12 New York Giants.

The Falcons surprisingly selected Penix with the eighth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. The pick wasn't a surprise because of Penix's résumé so much as the team's $180 million signing of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins earlier in the offseason. After a rough 14 games to begin his Falcons career, Atlanta benched Cousins for Penix.

Michael Penix Jr. and the Atlanta Falcons entered Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers on a mission. That mission was to make it into the postseason, but Atlanta was not in control of its own destiny.

Penix found London in the back corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown strike to put the Atlanta Falcons ahead, 24-17, on the Carolina Panthers with 37 seconds left in the

Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s pass-catchers continue to do him no favors. In Sunday's home game against the Carolina Panthers, Penix dropped back on a 1st-and-10 at Atlanta's 27-yard line and fired a pass to wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III early in the third quarter.

Atlanta Falcons legend Matt Ryan is one of the most prodigious quarterbacks in NFL history, doomed by bad defenses his entire career.