When Michael Penix Jr. didn’t play well in Week 2, it didn’t seem like it mattered much. The Atlanta Falcons won a tough road game against the Minnesota Vikings, and everyone understood the Vikings have an excellent defense.
When Penix was even worse against a Carolina Panthers defense that hadn’t played well since the start of the 2024 season, that was worrisome.
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Penix took a seat in the fourth quarter of a woeful effort against the Panthers. The Falcons were shut out. They never passed the 30-yard line. Last season the Panthers gave up the most points in a season in NFL history and they were allowing 26.5 points per game through two games this season. Then they looked like the 1976 Steelers against Penix and the Falcons. Kirk Cousins came in the game and Falcons coach Raheem Morris said the move was made because the game was out of hand. Morris quickly shot down any thought that the move was permanent, but everyone will be watching to see what happens if Penix struggles again. It was reasonable to keep Cousins, even at a high price tag, but it opened up the talk of a quarterback controversy if Penix ever struggled. And he is.
It’s early this season and early in Penix’s career as well, but all of a sudden the results don’t look so good. This season he has 605 yards and one touchdown in three games. He has played in eight games, six of them starts, and has completed 58.3% of his passes for 1,380 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. That’s a 75.2 passer rating. The only regular starting quarterback lower than 79.4 last season was Anthony Richardson. Richardson was also the only starter last season to complete less than 60% of his passes. Richardson doesn’t have a starting job anymore. And Penix isn’t playing at a starting level to start this season.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. didn’t finish a rough loss on Sunday. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
If Penix doesn’t improve, he can’t be guaranteed to keep his job regardless of his first-round pick pedigree.
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“I think he just missed his throws today. We won’t make excuses for him,” Morris said, via the team’s site. “We did not play well in any phase, and he did not play well himself, either, and we did not play well around him. We have to play better across the board.”
It’s early. Penix had some good moments late last season and played well in the season opener. He’s only six games into his career, which is way too early to make any sweeping opinions about what he’ll be as a player. But the Falcons need it to look better, and they can’t wait around all season for that to happen.
Panic meter: A little concerning, but let’s give it some time
Ravens defense ranks among worst
The Ravens have given up the most yards in the NFL. Only one team has given up more points. The Ravens have a great offense and it has resulted in a 1-2 record. Before this season no quarterback had ever lost multiple games in a season when putting up a passer rating of at least 140; Lamar Jackson has had it happen twice already this season according to NFL researcher Zak Koeppel.
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You can’t win a championship if you don’t have a passable defense. Ask Joe Burrow. Do the Ravens have a terrible defense? The one factor to consider is two of their three games have come against elite offenses. The Bills are moving the ball on everyone and the Lions are just fine on offense. Still, not being able to stop either of those teams in the slightest was troubling. The Ravens had a slow start on defense last season and figured it out. They were one of the best defenses in the NFL over the second half of last season. That better happen again if they want to be a Super Bowl contender.
Panic meter: Probably will correct, but there are some alarms
Titans flailing
After Week 1, Titans coach Brian Callahan didn’t challenge a catch and said afterward that the receiver needed to have a foot in bounds in addition to an elbow, which was incorrect. An NFL coach not knowing a rule like that was stunning. Then came Week 3, when the Titans took a delay of game on a field goal attempt, went back 5 yards and then missed from 62 yards. That’s a basic game management mistake. The Titans are 3-17 under Callahan. Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said his team realized the Titans looked lethargic on Sunday.
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“Right then and there we all sat there and were like ‘They don’t want to play today,'” Pittman told reporters.
None of that reflects on the coach, who better turn things around quickly.
Panic meter: Very, very high
49ers move ahead without Nick Bosa
The 49ers are 3-0. They’ve navigated many injuries, which is a testament to Kyle Shanahan’s coaching. But losing defensive end Nick Bosa to a season-ending knee injury is a difficult challenge.
Bosa is a rare difference maker. Suddenly the 49ers are very young on defense around linebacker Fred Warner. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has done a great job so far this season, but it will be hard without Bosa. They need first-round pick Mykel Williams to grow up in a hurry, but even he is dealing with what appears to be a minor wrist injury.
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The 49ers are somehow the most injured team in the NFL two seasons in a row. Many of their stars who are injured now will return, but Bosa won’t. The NFC West looks tough, and missing one of the best defensive players in the NFL will be very hard to overcome.
Panic level: Yeah, this is bad
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