But Falcons head coach Raheem Morris felt his 24-year-old signal caller delivered an "almost flawless" performance, avoiding fatal mistakes and operating a high level to help Atlanta get its largest win in over four years.

The Kirk Cousins fiasco for the Atlanta Falcons led to a $180 million decision, and the winner was Michael Penix Jr. and the Falcons. So far.

The Michael Penix Jr. era started ahead of schedule for the Atlanta Falcons. The 24-year-old rookie debuts against the hapless 2-12 New York Giants.

Michael Penix Jr. will make his first NFL start for the Falcons who are favored by more than a touchdown over the flailing, ailing Giants.

The Falcons surprisingly selected Penix with the eighth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. The pick wasn't a surprise because of Penix's résumé so much as the team's $180 million signing of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins earlier in the offseason. After a rough 14 games to begin his Falcons career, Atlanta benched Cousins for Penix.

Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. connected on a jump ball to Drake London for a 20-yard touchdown to give Atlanta a 24-17 lead over Carolina. London appeared to catch a touchdown on the previous play but was ruled out of bounds.

Penix found London in the back corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown strike to put the Atlanta Falcons ahead, 24-17, on the Carolina Panthers with 37 seconds left in the

Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s pass-catchers continue to do him no favors. In Sunday's home game against the Carolina Panthers, Penix dropped back on a 1st-and-10 at Atlanta's 27-yard line and fired a pass to wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III early in the third quarter.