The Atlanta Falcons kick off a highly anticipated 2025 campaign with a divisional matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It’s been a while since there was this type of excitement surrounding the team entering the season. The offense features a myriad of weapons, headlined by Bijan Robinson and Drake London. The defense also hopes to take a considerable step forward. The Falcons drafted defenders with their first four draft picks, and all of them are expected to have big roles when the team takes the field on Sunday.
However, most of the excitement centers around first-year starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. His three-game audition at the end of last season in place of Kirk Cousins featured numerous magical moments. His arm strength and accuracy down the field cannot be taught, but perhaps what was most impressive was his poise under pressure. Penix led the Falcons down the field on several occasions in the fourth quarter to tie or take the lead.
There remains plenty of room for improvement, but there’s reason to believe the Falcons finally found their first franchise quarterback since Matt Ryan was traded ahead of the 2022 season. Penix has a chance to prove that in 2025, and coincidently, he models his preparation leading up to Sundays after the Falcons legend.
Michael Penix Jr. says he got a lot of his game week routine from chats with Matt Ryan.
— Maria Martin (@Ria_Martin) September 3, 2025
When Matt Ryan was drafted by Atlanta, he joined a lifeless organization. The face of the franchise had been arrested, and the head coach left the team high and dry. There was not a lot of confidence the team was going to be good anytime soon.
In an instant, Ryan changed that. The Falcons went from 3-13 to 11-5 in his rookie season, making the playoffs, and the rest was history. Ryan led the best stretch in franchise history, featuring six postseason appearances, three division titles, and a Super Bowl berth.
A good quarterback changes everything, and the Falcons believe they found the next one in Michael Penix Jr.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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