Home / Sports / Rookie QB Penix Jr. Shines in Narrow Defeat Against Buccaneers
Rookie QB Penix Jr. Shines in Narrow Defeat Against Buccaneers
8 Sep
Summary
- Penix Jr. completes 27 of 42 passes for 298 yards and a TD
- Leads Falcons to take a 20-17 lead in the 4th quarter
- Buccaneers' Mayfield praises Penix Jr.'s potential
On September 3rd, 2025, the Atlanta Falcons faced off against their NFC South rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the Falcons ultimately came up short, their young quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., left a lasting impression on the opposing team, including Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield.
In just his fourth career start, Penix completed 27 of 42 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown. When the Falcons were trailing late in the third quarter, Penix led them down the field, first on a field goal drive and then a touchdown drive to give Atlanta a 20-17 lead.
Penix made several clutch plays, fully extending on a 4th-and-1 run to pick up a first down, and then running for a touchdown on 4th-and-goal. Though the Buccaneers regained the lead, Mayfield was impressed, telling reporters, "He's going to be a problem in this division for a long time. I think he's a great player."
Despite the Falcons' eventual loss, the team should be encouraged by Penix's performance, especially his ability to lead crucial drives when the game was on the line. At just 22 years old, the young quarterback has shown he has the potential to be a force in the NFC South for years to come.
