Heading into Sunday night's game we wrote that Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had to be aware of where Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton was at all times and be careful not to stare down any of his receivers, or else he might wind up throwing an interception.
Turns out, it wasn't Penix who needed to hear that part. After Penix was knocked out of the game late by a rib injury, Tua Tagovailoa came in to lead Atlanta's one last chance in overtime. It ended quickly, as Tua threw a pick to Hamilton on his second pass of the drive.
It was a frustrating end to another very winnable game, and a reminder of just how big the gap is between the Falcons' QB1 and their primary backup.
For their efforts, Brent Sobleski at Bleacher Report has given Penix a "B"
grade for the week, while Tagovailoa got an "F."
"Any injury that Penix suffers is significant considering his expansive history. Plus, any potential time missed will once again create upheaval within the Falcons' offense. While it may be unfair, Tua Tagovailoa was thrust into the lineup and failed to deliver. His interception ended overtime and handed the Ravens a victory. Grade: Penix, B; Tagovailoa, F"
Penix was lucky to avoid throwing a pick himself on his first pass of the game, which was behind Drake London and hit Nate Wiggins in his hands. In fact, Penix started 0-5 and didn't get going until late in the second quarter. Otherwise, Penix has been pretty phenomenal since his return to the lineup.
As for Tua, the sample size we've seen from him in a Falcons uniform is small but also very discouraging. If he has to play in Week 6 and Caleb Williams returns for the Chicago Bears, you can go ahead and pencil in a fourth loss for the season.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: B/R grades Michael Penix, Tua Tagovailoa for SNF performances
