Penix rising

With Penix set to return as the Falcons' starter in Week 3 at Green Bay, I used Sportradar's NFL data to build a baseline: his averages across his 2025 starts versus the Falcons' 2026 games with other quarterbacks. Michael Penix Jr. went 3-6 in his nine 2025 starts, but per game he still threw for more yards and touchdowns with fewer interceptions and sacks than the Falcons' 2026 quarterbacks, and eight of the nine produced a better passer rating than the Falcons managed in the first two games of 2026.