The New York Giants have been faced with more challenges this year than any franchise should reasonably expect in a single NFL season.
Well, get ready for one more.
On Sunday, they will be the foil when the Atlanta Falcons roll out their top draft pick, quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the eighth selection in this year’s NFL draft.
This will be Penix’s first NFL start. He has been patiently sitting behind veteran Kirk Cousins, who was benched after underperforming by head coach Raheem Morris this past week.
“After review we have made the decision Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward,” Morris said in a statement. “This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.”
So, what do the Giants — or anyone — know about Penix? Only this: He made his debut in the fourth quarter of the Week 7 matchup against Seattle and completed one pass for 14 yards. Then, he recorded two passes for 24 yards in Week 11 at Denver.
That’s it. Giants head coach Brian Daboll said on Wednesday that the team was preparing for Cousins and now has to switch gears to face Penix.
“Penix hasn’t played, I would say, a ton. He got in the Denver game when the score was out of hand, like seven snaps or somewhere around there. Seattle. Played in the preseason against Miami. And then we have tape from him in college. So, catching up to do relative to the starting quarterback,” he said.
“He was a good player at Indiana. He was a good player at Washington. Made it all the way to the national championship game. Had a lot of good pieces around him. He’s a good quarterback.”
Drew Lock, who will start at quarterback for the Giants this week, is very familiar with Penix. He played with the Seattle Seahawks the past two seasons while Penix starred at Washington with the Huskies.
“Being in Washington when he was up there doing his thing, being in Seattle — it was fun to go to those Dawgs (Huskies) games from what I heard,” Lock said.
“Watching him, he’s a talented, talented kid. Definitely can push the ball downfield like the best of them. There was a lot of buzz up there about him. He’s a great player. He deserved that buzz and he’s getting his shot now. Best of luck to him, just can’t say that this week.”
Matt Waldman of FootballGuys had this to say about Penix:
Penix was the best boundary thrower of fades (front and back-shoulder), deep outs, go routes, and comebacks in this draft class. His arm talent is on par with Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, and his placement at the boundary is even better.
Expect Penix to deliver more timing throws to the boundary and leverage his receivers’ size and aerial abilities. Drake London and Kyle Pitts should earn more big plays on sail/corner routes and fades that originate from the slot. London and Darnell Mooney will see more timing routes 15-20 yards downfield that break to the boundary.
It makes sense to say that the Falcons are looking to exploit the Giants’ battered secondary with their speedy receiving corps after watching the Ravens slice them up last week.
