The Atlanta Falcons, who were picked by many when this season started to win the NFC South, went on a four-game losing streak after starting 6-3, and even though they ended that skid with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, they made a big change.
They decided to move veteran starting quarterback Kirk Cousins to the bench and promote rookie Michael Penix Jr., who has thrown a grand total of five pass attempts this year.
Penix said he was caught off guard when he got the news — he was shopping at Costco and getting a hot dog, and once he was notified he would be starting, he apparently lost his appetite, per Yahoo Sports.
Michael Penix Jr. was at Costco when he found out he’d be starting this weekend 😂
(via @maryalexanders_)
pic.twitter.com/NUSiVsBJLF— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 19, 2024
Penix had a marvelous 2023 season at the University of Washington by leading the NCAA in passing yards, but many questioned the Falcons’ decision to take him with the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft when they had already signed Cousins to a big contract.
On the other hand, it may have been a wise move, considering Cousins is 36 years of age and coming off a torn Achilles he suffered in Week 8 last season.
He has struggled this season and is currently leading the NFL with 16 interceptions, yet plenty of people are second-guessing the move to bench him.
The Falcons are 7-7 and are just one game behind the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team they hold the tiebreaker over.
They have three winnable games coming up to close out the regular season, but asking a rookie to come in and deliver a division title is a tall order.
NEXT: Kirk Cousins Doesn’t Hold Back His Thoughts About Being Demoted
