Michael Penix Jr. proves he belongs as NFL quarterback, despite team falling short

The NFL season is finally upon us, which means our beloved former Huskies are at the forefront of Sunday action. Former Washington hero Michael Penix Jr. held the most spotlight, going into his second professional season (first as an undisputed starting quarterback) after leading the Huskies to two of their most successful seasons in program history, including a trip to the National Championship in the 2023 season.

Penix led his Atlanta Falcons into battle against the divisional foe Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the four-time defending NFC South champs, in Week 1 – a chance to make a statement in his young NFL career. The lefty gunslinger delivered a performance that showed why he belongs at the game’s highest level, even if the result wasn’t in his favor.

In the game's first drive, Penix set the tone with a dominant offensive drive that ended with a 50-yard touchdown pass on a screen play for star running back Bijan Robinson. From that point, it was a defensive battle for most of the game, as Atlanta was held to just two field goals until late in the fourth quarter when Penix made his magic happen again.

Trailing 17-13 and on his team's own 9-yard line, Penix led an 18-play drive down the field that ended with some insane goal-line drama. On fourth-and-2 from Tampa Bay's 3-yard line, Penix scrambled to the left with defenders closing in to tackle him for a loss, but he miraculously dove forward and stretched the ball towards the first-down marker. Initially ruled short, replay review overturned the call to give the Falcons a first down at the 1-yard line, keeping the Falcons alive.

However, Atlanta failed to convert a touchdown on four straight plays, but offsetting penalties on fourth-and-goal gave Penix one last chance to give the Falcons the lead with roughly two minutes left in the game. He once again made a miracle happen with his legs, scrambling up the middle and barely reaching the ball into the end zone just before his knee came down. Falcons up 20-17.

What could've been a game-winning touchdown was immediately spoiled – the Falcons defense, which had been great all day, allowed Baker Mayfield to lead the Bucs to a go-ahead touchdown of their own in just six plays. Luckily, a missed extra point kept the door open for the Falcons to tie the game, down 23-20 with a minute on the clock.

Penix once again led his team into scoring range, this time without his top target Drake London. However, Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo missed a 44-yard field goal as time expired that would've sent the game into overtime.

The result of this game created a wild stat for Penix in his early career: in his last three games as a starter, he has led a game-winning or tying drive with three minutes or less remaining in the game, yet the Falcons still managed to lose all three games. This has caused Penix to fall to 1-3 as a starter, when he could easily be 4-0 with multiple defining, clutch moments.

Despite the losses, Penix has earned recognition in the football world as a legit quarterback. Once laughed at for being drafted No. 8 overall by the Falcons when they had just signed Kirk Cousins to a long-term deal, the Washington alum is now respected by analysts, fans, and fellow players alike.

Mayfield added in his post-game interview, “I told him after the game, he’s going to be a problem in this league for a long time. I think he’s a great player. He’s decisive, goes through his reads, trusts his guys. He’s young but he’s got it.”

The Falcons' next game is on Sunday Night Football in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, where Penix will have opportunity for revenge against J.J. McCarthy after his Michigan Wolverines beat the Washington Huskies in the 2024 CFP National Championship Game.