Michael Penix Jr. prepared the Atlanta Falcons all week for the unusual challenge of facing a strong contingent of Chicago Bears fans inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He said the team practiced the silent count throughout the week ahead of Sunday’s game, anticipating the crowd noise that typically comes from home supporters but was instead dominated by the Bears’ fan base.
“We did silent count all week so we were good with silent count stuff,” Penix said after the Falcons’ 31-23 loss to Chicago. “The crowd noise thing, you know, it’s always tough whenever you’re playing at home and you hear early in the week that we might have to work silent cadence—because you always expect our fans to overrule the opponent’s fans, but we were ready for it and I think we executed the silent cadence well.”
That preparation helped Penix and the Falcons keep the offense moving despite the hostile atmosphere. Penix threw for three touchdowns without an interception, matching a personal NFL best in a losing effort for the second time in his career. The Falcons nearly erased a 24-point deficit in the fourth quarter, with Penix connecting twice with tight end Kyle Pitts for touchdowns in the final period.
Penix also converted both two-point attempts, finding rookie Zachariah Branch and wide receiver Drake London to keep Atlanta within striking distance. The Falcons’ late surge fell short, however, as the Bears held on for the win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Penix’s numbers through four starts this season show promise. He has 944 passing yards, six touchdowns, and a passer rating of 106. Still, the quarterback acknowledged there is room to improve. “You’re never pleased,” he said. “There’s always work to do, there’s always ways to get better. And that’s what I’m trying to do each and every day, you know, figure that out. I’m going to go to the drawing board and see what we did in this game and try to figure out how I can be better for this team to help us win football games.”
The Bears’ presence in what is normally a Falcons stronghold was striking. Penix’s anticipation of the situation showed in the team’s preparation on the practice field. Despite the loss, his performance suggested he can handle the pressures of an NFL starting quarterback, even when the crowd is not in his favor.
Penix’s only blemish came in a lost fumble during the game. But he kept the Falcons competitive deep into the fourth quarter, nearly matching the high-powered Bears led by fellow 2024 NFL Draft quarterback Caleb Williams. The game’s final score was 31-23 in Chicago’s favor. Penix’s ability to rally the team after a significant deficit in front of a mostly opposing crowd underscored his growing command on the field.
The Falcons will look to build on Penix’s progress as they head into their next game, with the quarterback focused on refining his play and maintaining his good form. His full post-game press conference was shared by the Falcons’ official YouTube channel.
According to Yahoo Sports.