Michael Penix Jr. gets another shot to reset the tone for the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, and the setting could hardly be more unusual: Madrid, Spain, against the Cincinnati Bengals.
That opportunity comes after the roughest outing of his season. Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Penix went just 8 of 24 for 125 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions in a 16-0 loss. His 12.0 passer rating was the lowest of his NFL career, a stark reminder of how quickly a quarterback’s day can unravel when the passing game never finds a rhythm.
Penix didn’t duck from it on Thursday.
"It was hard to watch it, but at the same time, that's what comes with it," Penix said Thursday. "You still got to look at it, even though games like that you don't really want to watch it, but you got to correct some things that need to be corrected.
"So, spent that next day doing our correcting and then after that, it was, 'We're moving onto Cincy.'"
That next step could be a favorable one. Through six games, Penix has completed 104 of 168 passes for 1,282 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions. He’s hitting 61.9% of his throws and averaging 213.7 passing yards per game, numbers that show what he can do when the operation is cleaner around him.
Cincinnati, meanwhile, has been giving up plenty through the air. The Bengals are allowing 383.3 total yards per game, which ranks 27th in the NFL, and their pass defense has been even more vulnerable.
They’re surrendering 261 passing yards per game, also 27th, while opponents have completed 63.6% of their passes and averaged 7.6 yards per attempt. Cincinnati has given up eight passing touchdowns and has had trouble getting teams off the field, with opponents converting 47.3% of their third downs, 29th in the league.
That’s the kind of stat sheet a quarterback wants to see after a bad week.
Tommy Rees made it clear the Falcons can’t let one game spill into the next.
"It's week to week. You have the highs, San Francisco, and then you've just got to refocus after last week," Rees said. "Mike's pretty even-keeled, we all know that, but it's part of our job to always motivate, always reassure."
Rees also pushed back on any excuse-making after the weather-related issues against New England, saying the coaching staff is focused on the mistakes Atlanta can control.
"Last week, yes, you can point to the weather all you want, but that's not what we're falling on. They played in the same weather we did, and our job as coaches, our job as players, is playing football," Rees said.
Atlanta does have the pieces to make Cincinnati pay if Penix is sharp. Drake London, Kyle Pitts Sr., and Jahan Dotson give the Falcons options in the passing game, and Dotson has been especially productive with 14 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns.
Still, the Bengals bring real pressure with them. They’ve already piled up 23 sacks through seven games, good for fourth in the league, and they’ve forced 11 turnovers, including four interceptions. That means Penix can’t afford to force throws if Cincinnati’s pass rush starts closing in.
The Falcons will need protection up front and a calmer version of their quarterback, one willing to work through progressions and let the offense breathe.
Dotson expects Penix to answer the bell.
"He's super even-keeled. I have no doubt in my mind that he'll bounce back. That's just the kind of guy he is and the way he goes about his business," Dotson said.
He also pointed to how tough the conditions were in the previous game.
"I can't imagine being a quarterback and trying to throw a pass in the rain like that," Dotson said. "But he's looking to bounce back this week, and so are we as a football team."
Penix doesn’t have to carry everything himself. He just has to make the right reads, stay patient, and let Atlanta’s playmakers do their part. After the worst performance of his season, Sunday offers a clean chance to turn the page.
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