The Atlanta Falcons, who have been picked by many when this season began to win the NFC South, went on a four-game dropping streak after beginning 6-3, and regardless that they ended that skid with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, they made an enormous change.
They determined to maneuver veteran beginning quarterback Kirk Cousins to the bench and promote rookie Michael Penix Jr., who has thrown a grand complete of 5 move makes an attempt this 12 months.
Penix mentioned he was caught off guard when he obtained the information — he was buying at Costco and getting a scorching canine, and as soon as he was notified he can be beginning, he apparently misplaced his urge for food, per Yahoo Sports activities.
Michael Penix Jr. was at Costco when he discovered he’d be beginning this weekend 😂
(through @maryalexanders_)
pic.twitter.com/NUSiVsBJLF— Yahoo Sports activities (@YahooSports) December 19, 2024
Penix had a wonderful 2023 season on the College of Washington by main the NCAA in passing yards, however many questioned the Falcons’ determination to take him with the No. 8 decide on this 12 months’s draft once they had already signed Cousins to an enormous contract.
Then again, it might have been a sensible transfer, contemplating Cousins is 36 years of age and coming off a torn Achilles he suffered in Week 8 final season.
He has struggled this season and is at present main the NFL with 16 interceptions, but loads of persons are second-guessing the transfer to bench him.
The Falcons are 7-7 and are only one recreation behind the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a staff they maintain the tiebreaker over.
They’ve three winnable video games coming as much as shut out the common season, however asking a rookie to return in and ship a division title is a tall order.
NEXT: Kirk Cousins Does not Maintain Again His Ideas About Being Demoted