Former Washington Huskies star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. moved to 2-0 in starts inside the Caesars Superdome (and in his third NFL season) on Monday night, as he led the Atlanta Falcons to a 45-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
While the former No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft posted a modest stat line, completing 15 of his 20 pass attempts for 223 yards and a touchdown, a 31-yarder to wide receiver Jahan Dotson, he's been the catalyst for Atlanta's offensive success.
In his two starts, the Falcons are averaging a league-high 40 points per game and 459 yards per contest, as Penix's presence has opened up plenty of room for running back Bijan Robinson. The All-Pro took 19 carries for 145 yards and a pair of touchdowns, as Atlanta
found paydirt on the ground five times in the contest.
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“Mike played well; he took care of the football and made some really good throws,” Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game. “I really like his demeanor and how he is operating.”
After dealing with a torn ACL that kept him out for the majority of the offseason and the first two weeks of the regular season, Penix hasn't needed a lot of time to get comfortable in Stefanski's offense, and could help turn the Falcons into contenders in the NFC South as the season goes on.
"He's been phenomenal, man," running back Brian Robinson, who scored three touchdowns in the win, said of the quarterback after the game. "It ain't really much other words I can say about the way he's been playing. I appreciate his attitude, how he come in and just takes the field and he's focused, and he's ready. He's not letting nothing that he's been through in his past get in the way of his goals and what he wants in the future."
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Michael Penix Jr. leads Falcons to Monday Night Football win vs Saints
