ATLANTA – Michael Penix Jr. has arrived as Atlanta’s starting quarterback a little earlier than expected, but the results are hard to argue with: a 34-7 victory Sunday over the New York Giants that keeps Atlanta in the hunt for a playoff spot .

Penix looked composed and confident in the pocket most of the afternoon, and while he didn’t throw any touchdowns, he didn’t need to considering how well his defense and Bijan Robinson performed.

Penix, the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, led the Falcons to victory just days after being named the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season and likely the foreseeable future. Yes, he received significant help from his defense, which called for two pick-6s on Giants quarterback Drew Lock, but Penix showed control and poise in his first NFL start and gave the Falcons a level of hope at the quarterback position that had decreased significantly in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris promoted Penix to the starting role after a string of ineffective games from incumbent Kirk Cousins. Penix had thrown all five passes all season until Sunday. His only snaps this season came late in losses to the Broncos and Seahawks.

“The (succession) plan came a little early, but the kid was ready and we had a lot of time to develop him,” Morris said after the game. “The boy himself has done a great job of developing and preparing for the moment when he is not too big.”

No task is truly “easy” in the NFL, but facing the Giants, who are in the running to be the worst team in the league, was a less daunting challenge than most. Penix took advantage of a swarming Falcons defense that put up 14 points and held the Giants to just seven points in the first half and none in the second.

Before the game, Penix and Cousins ​​prayed together in the tunnel right next to the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Penix admitted he was a little nervous before the game, but once he stepped onto the field he felt much better.

“You’re nervous, but as soon as you step on the field it goes away,” Penix said. “This is the game I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old. Of course it’s different at a higher level, but it’s the same game. I just have to go out and execute.”

Despite having Robinson and Tyler Allgeier as easy backups in the backfield, Penix threw early and often, starting on his very first play from scrimmage. He showed more agility in the pocket than Cousins ​​ever had, and his arm strength was evident from the jump.

Robinson served as a cheat code for Penix, carrying the ball 22 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns. The Giants’ defenders had to respect Robinson’s ground game and give Penix room to move and distribute the ball to Atlanta’s receiver arsenal.

The problem for Penix was that those Falcons receivers made his debut a little more difficult, as he suffered three in-the-hands drops in the first half alone. Most egregious: Kyle Pitts juggled and then coughed up a pass at the goal line with just 16 seconds left in the first half, a play that was noted as a Penix interception in the box.

Atlanta’s defense was much more generous to Penix, giving him 14 points and swarming Lock all afternoon. After Lock led the Giants to scoring in 14 plays and eight minutes, Atlanta scored 34 straight points. Jessie Bates III and Matthew Judon both recorded pick-6s, and the Falcons simply crushed the Giants’ offense in the second half, holding New York to three punts, the second pick-6 and a turnover on downs to close the game finish.

Penix finished the day with respectable numbers: 18 of 27 for 202 yards and one interception. More importantly, he didn’t do anything that cost the Falcons yardage, points or play, but rather remained in control and executed a run-heavy game plan that allowed him to succeed without significant risk.

In college, Penix led the Washington Huskies to the national championship game in the 2023 season before being drafted by Atlanta. His selection, which came shortly after the Falcons signed Cousins ​​to a massive four-year contract, was met with widespread criticism across the league. Atlanta was clearly planning a succession plan from Cousins ​​to Penix, but probably didn’t anticipate that it would happen until 14 games into Cousins’ first season with the team.

Cousins, meanwhile, helped warm up Penix before the game and stayed on the sidelines the entire time. His future with the Falcons is uncertain (he will reportedly be released on March 17), but the way he handled this sudden transition has earned him even more respect than he already had in the Falcons’ locker room .

“Sometimes when a situation like this happens, one guy is in his feelings, but Kirk was there for him,” Robinson said after the game. “He deserves my full respect for that.”

The Falcons are on the outside looking in for the 2024 playoffs, having lost the division lead to Tampa Bay after four games. Atlanta must win its last two games against Washington (10-5) and Carolina (4-11) and hope that the Bucs (8-6) are eliminated by Dallas (6-8), Carolina or New Orleans (5-9). . Wherever the Falcons go in 2024, Penix will lead them.

Famously, Penix was standing in a Costco last week when he found out he was launching on Sunday. When asked how he would celebrate this victory, he smiled. “We’re not going to celebrate at a Costco,” he said, “something fancier.”