Michael Penix Jr. has earned his first NFC Offensive Player of the Week award after Atlanta's 29–20 win over San Francisco, the Falcons announced on Wednesday. The recognition follows a comeback against a previously unbeaten opponent.
Penix's passing earns league recognition
The Falcons' Wednesday announcement credits Penix with three touchdown passes, no interceptions and a passer rating among his best. The club says this is his first weekly offensive award since he entered the league. It comes during his first season working with head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.
SportsRivo compared the Falcons' Wednesday award announcement with their Sunday game centre. Both record 213 passing yards, three touchdown throws and no interceptions; the game centre also lists 25 completions from 34 attempts. Those figures tie the award directly to Penix's work in Atlanta's win, without treating the later announcement as a new match result.
The Falcons' Sunday match report identifies Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Nick Muse as Penix's touchdown targets. Pitts' reception put Atlanta ahead after a change of possession and a strong return to open the second half. London's score extended the lead, while Muse's catch gave the tight end his first career touchdown. The different targets show how the passing scores were distributed across the offence.
"You can sleep good at night when you have Michael Penix playing quarterback for you," Falcons safety Jessie Bates III said in the club's Wednesday award report. Bates' assessment came after the victory, while Stefanski praised Penix's judgement about when to attack a tight window and when to check the ball down.
The win behind the award
Atlanta had lost their last two games before hosting San Francisco, according to the Falcons' Sunday report. The report notes that Maason Smith forced a fumble and Khalil Herbert returned the second-half kick-off to set up the offence. Penix then capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Pitts, giving Atlanta the lead, according to the Falcons' Sunday report. Kendal Daniels later contributed an interception. Penix and Pitts supplied the go-ahead play, while the Falcons' report also credits the defence's turnovers and Herbert's return in building the win. It was Atlanta's first home win of the season. San Francisco's loss on Sunday was its first of the campaign.
What changed for Atlanta and San Francisco
- Penix now holds his first NFC weekly offensive honour, recognising his role in the Falcons' win, according to Atlanta's Wednesday announcement.
- San Francisco's unbeaten start ended in Atlanta, and the Falcons stopped a run of consecutive defeats, the club's Sunday match report says.
- The Falcons' Sunday game centre lists Atlanta at 3–4 and San Francisco at 6–1 after the contest, giving the award its immediate standings context.
Atlanta's next test in Tampa Bay
The Falcons' Sunday match report identifies the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their next opponent, away from home. It will be Atlanta's first meeting with its division rival this season. Penix's award therefore arrives before another game that directly concerns the Falcons' position in the NFC South.
Source: Atlanta Falcons