Members of the Atlanta Falcons praised quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for his impact on their resurgent offense after Monday's 45-24 win over the New Orleans Saints.
"We just want to show the world who we can be," safety Jessie Bates III said, according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi. "The first two weeks were not up to our standards. Obviously, when you got (Penix) back there dealing, it's a whole different team. So, we're just excited to continue to go with this."
The Falcons have scored 80 points over the past two weeks since Penix returned from a torn ACL sustained in November 2025. They had managed just 16 points in the opening two weeks with third-stringer Cooper Rush at quarterback.
"Obviously, we got the results we wanted. It went real good," Penix said postgame with a smile.
Penix is 33-for-45 passing with 479 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception this season.
Atlanta has won each of its last two games by over 20 points - the first time it's done so since Weeks 14-15 in 2016.
"He's been phenomenal, man," running back Brian Robinson Jr. said, according to Raimondi. "It ain't really much other words I can say about the way he's been playing. I appreciate his attitude, how he come in and just take the field, and he's focused and he's ready. He's not letting nothing that he's been through in his past get in the way of his goals and what he wants in the future."
The Falcons drafted Penix eighth overall in 2024. They went 3-6 in his nine starts last season as he recorded a 60.1% completion percentage, 1,982 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns, and three interceptions.
