Michael Penix Jr. earned significant praise from Jessie Bates III after balling out in the Atlanta Falcons' 29-20 upset win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon.

Penix has brough stability to the Falcons in his return from injury, helping the team bounce back from a poor 0-2 start. They have since won three of their last five games, being more respectable among NFC squads.

Penix played a big role in helping Atlanta beat San Francisco, who boasted a perfect 6-0 record going into the game. He completed 25 out of 34 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns.

Bates reflected on Penix's efforts after the game, per reporter Tori McElhaney. The standout defender's comments about the starting quarterback display his full support in Penix leading the offense.

“You can sleep good at night when you have Michael Penix playing quarterback for you,” Bates said.

How Michael Penix Jr., Falcons played against 49ers

Michael Penix Jr. has solid momentum in his favor, leading the Falcons past the 49ers in great fashion. It is clear that Jessie Bates III likes how things are going for him and the squad after the upset win.

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“We know that we’re not out of the fight yet. (But) even if we were in a division that’s winning, it’s still early. There are plenty of teams that were 2-4 that figured it out and got it rolling. That’s what we’re preaching in there. A lot of teams, they pick and choose. When you’re 2-4, a lot of people walk into work a little bit later; they start just checking off the boxes. The group of men that we have in that locker room, I’ve got nothing but confidence that they’re going to respond,” Bates said, per The Athletic.

Bijan Robinson was active with 20 rushes for 63 yards while catching five passes for 59 yards. Drake London led receivers with seven catches for 66 yards and a touchdown, while Kyle Pitts Sr. caught five passes for 22 yards and a touchdown.

The Falcons will look forward to their next matchup, being on the road. They take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8 as kickoff commences on Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. ET.