Atlanta Falcons fans have gone to a dark place following Sunday night’s 30-24 overtime loss to the Washington Commanders. Despite holding a 10-point halftime lead, the team had no answer for Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels in the second half.
The Falcons will likely miss the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season, but the future looks bright with Michael Penix Jr. under center. The rookie quarterback showed a ton of poise down the stretch, throwing a 13-yard touchdown to Kyle Pitts on fourth-and-goal to tie the game at 24.
The rush from Penix’s late heroics quickly faded as Daniels marched the Commanders down the field for the game-winning touchdown in overtime. Sunday’s loss was as painful as they come, but Hawks point guard Trae Young chose to focus on the bright side.
“Penix is the future,” Young posted on social media after the game.
We gon be aight…
Penix the future! https://t.co/kOcJZmDAN8— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) December 30, 2024
Penix completed 19 of 35 pass attempts for 223 yards, one touchdown and one interception. While fans are rightfully upset at the moment, Penix’s potential is worth getting excited about.
The No. 8 overall pick made two clutch throws on fourth down to keep the Falcons alive in the fourth quarter. While poor time management and an inability to stop Daniels’ were the deciding factors, Penix’s future is undeniably bright.