Falcons’ Bold Move: Benching Kirk Cousins for Michael Penix Jr. Was the Right Call, Says Matt Ryan

The Atlanta Falcons are making a significant change at quarterback, benching Kirk Cousins for rookie Michael Penix Jr. This bold move, with the NFC South title potentially on the line, has ignited a debate, but Falcons legend Matt Ryan believes it’s the right decision. Speaking on CBS Sports Network’s “That Other Pregame Show,” Ryan declared the benching “obviously the right move,” emphasizing Penix Jr.’s arm talent as a crucial differentiator.

Ryan highlighted Penix Jr.’s ability to exploit the separation created by Atlanta’s receivers, pushing the ball downfield and utilizing his exceptional deep ball accuracy. Penix Jr.’s impressive college statistics, including leading the FBS in passing yards last year and boasting the most completions of 25+ air yards in the past five seasons, further support this assessment. The comparison to Patrick Mahomes, one of only two players to achieve multiple seasons of 4,500 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns, further underscores Penix Jr.’s potential.

Beyond his physical abilities, Ryan praised Penix Jr.’s professional approach and diligent work ethic, citing positive feedback from within the Falcons organization. The article addresses the initial skepticism surrounding the Falcons drafting a quarterback after signing Cousins, suggesting that this decision might ultimately be the key to saving their season.