Michael Penix Jr. is the reason for Falcons’ six standalone games

From 2018 to 2023, the Falcons had a total of 10 primetime games. That changed last year with Kirk Cousins and is being taken to an entirely new level this season, with Michael Penix Jr. playing a large role in the reasoning.

Last year, Terry Fontenot went out and signed the top quarterback available, inking Kirk Cousins to a $180 million free agent deal. It immediately put the Falcons on the NFL’s radar. The league responded by giving the team four primetime games, including two in the first three weeks against two of the biggest brands in the sport — the Chiefs and Eagles.

It was evident the NFL saw Cousins and the Falcons as a national draw, and they were in the first half of the season. Atlanta beat Philadelphia and took Kansas City to the brink. Sitting at 6-3, it seemed the league’s gamble on the Dirty Birds was paying off.

Then, Cousins, injured or otherwise, failed to throw a touchdown in more than a calendar month while tossing eight interceptions. Over a six-week span, the Falcons lost four games and only won once as Cousins threw one touchdown to nine interceptions, including a stinker on national television against the Raiders.

The Falcons aren’t the Cowboys, who will generate great ratings regardless of their record. They must have some sort of draw, and Cousins provided it. Then, the Falcons benched the veteran in favor of the rookie, who quickly became a draw of his own.

Entering Week 17 with a shot at the playoffs on the line, the NFL flexed the Falcons contest against the Commanders to primetime. Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr. didn’t disappoint, and the league took notice.

The Falcons now have six standalone matchups, five of them being primetime contest. They will face the Bucs on Thursday Night Football, the 49ers and Vikings on Sunday Night Football, the Rams and Bills on Monday Night Football, and also travel to Berlin, Germany to take on the Colts in a Sunday morning matinee.

That’s no accident. We all love Drake London and Bijan Robinson. We all hope Jalon Walker becomes a star, but it’s not those guys, or Raheem Morris, or Freddie the Falcon that are the reason for Atlanta having six standalone games. It’s Michael Penix Jr.