You know that feeling when a lefty quarterback winds up and lets a ball fly? It just looks different. It’s a bit weird, honestly. But when it’s Michael Penix Jr. throwing the rock, it’s basically art. People spent so much time arguing about whether the Atlanta Falcons should have drafted him at number eight in 2024 that they almost forgot to watch the tape. And man, the Michael Penix Jr highlights are something else.
He’s got this flick of the wrist that makes a 50-yard post route look like he’s just tossing a set of keys across the kitchen. It’s effortless. It’s violent. It’s exactly what the Falcons were betting on when they ignored the "draft experts" and took him while Kirk Cousins was still unpacking his boxes in Georgia.
But look, highlights can be lying. They don't show the three-and-outs or the missed reads. So, let’s get into what actually happens when Penix takes the field and why his 2025 season has been such a rollercoaster of "oh my god" throws and "wait, what happened?" moments.
That Ridiculous Week 4 Against the Commanders
If you want to understand the hype, you start with the Washington Commanders game in late September 2025. This was the peak. Penix threw for 313 yards, which is still his career high. He was 20-for-26. That’s surgical.
There was this one specific play where he stepped up in the pocket, avoided a crashing defensive end, and fired a ball to Drake London on a deep crosser. The ball traveled about 45 air yards and never rose more than ten feet off the grass. It was a laser. Basically, if you were a defender, you didn't even have time to put your hands up before the ball was already in London’s chest.
That game showed his processing speed. He’s always said his "brain is his weapon," and you saw it there. He wasn't just throwing to open guys; he was throwing guys open.
The College Tape: Where the Legend Started
We can’t talk about his NFL highlights without mentioning the absolute madness he pulled off at the University of Washington. Remember that 2024 Sugar Bowl against Texas? Honestly, that might be the best game any college quarterback has played in the last decade.
He threw for 430 yards. Every single pass felt like it was going to be a touchdown. He was hitting Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze in windows that didn't even exist.
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- The 13-0 regular season in 2023.
- Leading the FBS in passing yards per game (357) back in 2022.
- Winning the Maxwell Award.
- That iconic "climb the pocket" throw against Oregon that still haunts Ducks fans.
His college career wasn't just about stats; it was about the fact that he did it after four—yes, four—season-ending injuries at Indiana. The guy is made of something different. You’ve got to respect the sheer grit it takes to come back from two ACL tears and two shoulder injuries just to become a top-10 pick.
The "Big Game" Gene and the Patriots Performance
Fast forward back to the NFL, specifically Week 9 of the 2025 season against the New England Patriots. Atlanta lost by a point, which was brutal, but Penix was a monster. He threw three touchdowns.
One of those scores to Drake London was a fourth-down prayer that Penix answered with a "cannon shot" down the middle. He finished that game with a 103.6 passer rating. Even when the Falcons are losing, Penix looks like a guy who belongs.
He’s currently sitting around 1,982 passing yards for the 2025 season with a completion percentage hovering near 60%. Not elite yet, but the flashes? The flashes are blinding.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Running
There’s this weird narrative that Penix is a "statue" in the pocket. People see the knee braces and assume he can’t move. That’s just wrong.
In the 2025 season opener against Tampa Bay, he had an 18-play scoring drive. On play 18, he scrambled for a 4-yard touchdown. He’s not Lamar Jackson, sure. But he’s got "the wheels" when he needs them. He ran for 21 yards in that game and showed he’s more than happy to lower his shoulder or slide to keep a drive alive.
He’s actually faster than people think. He clocked a 4.58-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. That's moving for a guy who’s 6'3" and 213 pounds.
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The Lefty Factor: Dealing with the "Spin"
Being a lefty quarterback is a whole thing. Michael Vick—the GOAT of lefty QBs in Atlanta—actually sat down with Penix recently. They talked about how coaches sometimes try to "hold back" lefties by rolling them out only to their strong side.
Penix’s response? "Coach, call it. Roll me out to the right. It don't matter, I can do it."
And he’s right. Some of his best Michael Penix Jr highlights from the 2025 season are him rolling to his right, squaring his shoulders, and firing back across the field. It’s a level of torso flexibility and arm talent that most righties can’t even mimic.
Why the Highlights Actually Matter for Atlanta's Future
The Falcons haven't had this kind of "big play" potential since the prime Matt Ryan days. But while Ryan was a master of the system, Penix is a master of the "unstructured."
He makes the kind of throws that make defensive coordinators quit their jobs. When he’s on, he’s hitting deep shots to Darnell Mooney or finding Bijan Robinson out of the backfield for 50-yard touchdowns (like they did in Week 1 of 2025).
Currently, Penix is ranked in the top 10 for pressure-to-sack rate. That means even when the offensive line breaks down, he isn't just taking the hit. He’s getting the ball out. Usually to Drake London. Usually for a first down.
Real Talk: The Struggles are Real Too
It hasn't all been sunshine. He’s had games, like Week 3 against the Panthers, where he threw two picks and the offense got shut out 30-0. His passer rating in that game was a miserable 40.5.
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He’s a rookie-ish starter (even if it's his second year in the league). He’s going to make mistakes. He’s going to trust his arm too much sometimes and try to fit a ball into a window the size of a mail slot. But that's the price you pay for the highlights.
What to Watch for Next
If you’re tracking Penix, you need to look at his "Big Time Throw" percentage. According to PFF, he’s consistently stayed in the top half of the league in that category. He isn't a check-down king. He’s a hunter.
He wants the deep ball. He wants the postseason. He told Michael Vick his goal for 2025 was "Got to get into the postseason." Whether the Falcons' defense can help him get there is another story entirely.
To really see what makes him special, watch his footwork in the pocket during the fourth quarter. He stays calm. He doesn't get "happy feet." That poise is why he was able to lead those 90-yard drives against the Bucs and the Commanders.
Keep an eye on his chemistry with the younger receivers like Casey Washington. If Penix can start clicking with the depth chart the way he has with London, this offense is going to be impossible to stop by 2026.
For the most impactful viewing, go back and re-watch the Week 4 Commanders tape. Focus on his eyes. He looks off safeties better than almost any young QB in the league right now. That’s the real highlight—the stuff that doesn't always make the 30-second TikTok clips but wins football games on Sundays.
The next step is simple: watch the upcoming Falcons home games. Pay attention to how he handles the blitz. If he keeps showing that elite processing, the highlight reels are only going to get longer and more ridiculous. Expect more deep shots to London and more of those "how did he do that?" sidearm throws that are becoming his trademark.