Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has taken his game to another level since returning to the lineup in Week 3. Despite spending the entire offseason working back from his third career ACL surgery, Penix seems to have matured as a passer in his third season.
The former top-10 pick has passed for three touchdowns and one interception in three starts, while leading the team to a 2-1 record. Atlanta's offense has taken off since Penix's return, and it's hard to find many flaws in his play over his first three games.
Let's see if the numbers back up what the eyeball test is telling us. Here's where Penix ranks in several key QB stats after three starts.
- Completion rate: 67.5% (10th)
- Passing yards: 719 (28th)
- Yards per attempt: 9.3 (2nd)
- Passing touchdowns: 3 (tied for 26th)
- 20+ yard passes: 11 (tied for 21st)
- Passer rating: 104.8 (11th)
- EPA/play: 0.346 (4th)
- Success rate: 52.9% (3rd)
- CPOE: 1.1% (20th)
- Air yards: 6.7 (31st)
Numbers like passing touchdowns and raw yardage are not important given the small sample
size we're dealing with, here. What is compelling are Penix's advanced stats like EPA/play and success rate, where he ranks in the top five.
Hopefully Penix's rib injury won't keep him out of the lineup or limit what he can do too much, because this is a very promising start to the season for No. 9.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Where Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. ranks after three starts
