Michael Penix Jr. wins first NFC Offensive Player of the Week award

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday, October 28, after throwing three touchdown passes in a 29–20 Week 7 home win over the previously unbeaten San Francisco 49ers. It is the first weekly player award of his NFL career, NBC Sports reported.

Penix completed 25 of 34 passes for 213 yards, according to NBC Sports. His 118.9 passer rating was his second-highest of the season to that point. The award recognizes a performance that helped Atlanta hand San Francisco its first loss of the season.

How Penix earned the Week 7 award

His final touchdown pass came on the first play of the fourth quarter: a 21-yard throw to wide receiver Drake London that put the Falcons two scores ahead, Huskies Wire reported. The game was Penix’s second in a row with three touchdown passes, according to NBC Sports.

What Falcons teammates and coaches said

Falcons safety Jessie Bates III described Penix as central to the team’s play. ‘When No. 9 is out there, this is a completely different football team,’ Bates told the media, according to Huskies Wire. Bates also said he believed Penix was a franchise quarterback, an assessment of his potential rather than a conclusion established by the award.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski pointed to the value of Penix facing varied defenses and game situations. ‘I think for any quarterback, the more experience you have going up against different defenses and getting put in different situations can only benefit you,’ Stefanski said, as quoted by Huskies Wire. He said Penix was building on those experiences as well as the wins.

The recognition comes after a torn ACL ended Penix’s 2025 season early, according to Huskies Wire. His latest performance gives Atlanta a concrete result as it tries to climb the NFC South standings. The Falcons are scheduled to visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8, NBC Sports reported.