ATLANTA — Michael Penix Jr. felt a brief bit of apprehension Sunday as he ran down the tunnel at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which was to be expected.
Then he played like a veteran for the Atlanta Falcons.
Penix’s first NFL start went about as smoothly as it could, helped greatly by a defense that returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a 34-7 rout of the New York Giants that bolstered Atlanta’s playoff hopes.
“It’s the game I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old,” the 24-year-old rookie said. “Obviously it’s different, it’s at a higher level, but you know it’s the same game. I’ve just got to go out there and execute. Once we hit the field, I was good.”
Jessie Bates and Matthew Judon each had a pick-six to carry Atlanta (8-7) to its second straight win after a four-game losing streak put its postseason hopes in jeopardy. The Falcons came into the week a game behind the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South but holding the tiebreaker edge — which would come into play if they finish tied atop the division standings — by virtue of a sweep of the regular-season series with wins in both Atlanta and Tampa.
Atlanta and Tampa Bay are the only two teams remaining in contention for the NFC South title and its automatic playoff berth, with the New Orleans Saints (5-9) and the Carolina Panthers (4-11) eliminated from contention for even a wild-card spot. The Bucs (8-7) lost 26-24 on Sunday night against the NFC East’s Dallas Cowboys (7-8), who are already out of the playoff hunt but didn’t play like it, and now it’s all tied up in the NFC South.
The Falcons are one the road to face the Washington Commanders (10-5) next Sunday in a game with huge playoff ramifications for both teams. Atlanta’s regular-season finale is at home against Carolina.
The Bucs face Carolina and then New Orleans, with both matchups at Tampa Bay.
Penix, the No. 8 overall pick in this year’s draft, got the call against the Giants (2-13) after the Falcons decided to bench turnover-prone Kirk Cousins, just nine months after signing the 13th-year pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection to a four-year, $180 million contract that included $100 million in guaranteed money.
Penix had appeared in only two regular-season games and was 3-of-5 passing for 38 yards going into Sunday. The young left-hander was not at all overwhelmed by the moment, completing 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards — numbers that would have been better if not for at least three dropped passes, one of which tight end Kyle Pitts bobbled right into the hands of a New York defender just before halftime for Penix’s lone interception of the game.
“He went out and played almost flawless football,” Atlanta first-year head coach Raheem Morris said. “He kept the game really clean.”
The defense made things even easier for the new starter, throttling an opponent that struggled to put anything together with Drew Lock returning as the starting quarterback after missing the previous game with a heel injury. Tommy DeVito was cleared from concussion protocol and served as Lock’s backup.
The Giants, who took their franchise-record 10th straight loss, will host the Indianapolis Colts (7-8) next Sunday before closing on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 5. If New York loses its last two games, it will mark the franchise’s fewest wins in a season since a 2-12 mark in 1974.
“You can’t win a game when you throw two interceptions for touchdowns,” said Brian Daboll, who fell to 17-31-2 in three seasons as head coach. “I’m just worried about this one. It wasn’t good enough.”
With the Giants up 7-3 in the second quarter, Lock’s pass for Wan’Dale Robinson was easily swiped by Bates, and the safety then ran untouched the other way for a 55-yard touchdown that put the Falcons ahead to stay.
Judon put the game away on the second play of the second half, grabbing a ball that was batted in the air by Falcons defensive end Zach Harrison as Lock attempted to throw. Judon, an edge rusher, took it 27 yards for another pick-six that gave Atlanta a commanding 24-7 lead.
It was only the second time in franchise history that Atlanta has returned a pair of interceptions to the end zone. Kenny Johnson did it by himself in a 47-41 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 27, 1983.
Lock, on the other hand, became the first Giants quarterback since Eli Manning in 2007 to toss multiple pick-sixes in a game. He also lost a fumble.
When asked what Daboll said after the interceptions, Lock said: “Obviously he was telling me you can’t do that. Everything he said to me was the same thing I was feeling in my head. We’re not on two different planets, you know.”
Running back Bijan Robinson had touchdowns rushes of 2 and 4 yards for the Falcons. The second-year pro finished with 94 yards on 22 carries and now has 10 rushing touchdowns this season, making him the first Atlanta back to reach double figures in touchdowns since Devonta Freeman during the 2016 season that was capped by a run to the Super Bowl.
Robinson, the No. 8 pick of the 2023 draft, wanted to keep the focus on Penix for making a difficult week much easier on those around him.
“He carries himself super well,” Robinson said. “I could tell in the game today he was as chill as possible.”
Lock opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone Tracy, who made a dazzling one-handed catch while tiptoeing along the end line. That was about the only highlight for the Giants, who are wrapping up one of the most dismal seasons in their storied history.
Riley Patterson, taking over as Atlanta’s kicker after struggling Younghoe Koo went on injured reserve, made field goals of 52 and 37 yards after missing his first attempt from 43 yards.
And the Falcons got another strong pass-rushing performance from their defense, which was credited with three sacks and six other hits on Lock. After being held to a league-low 10 sacks through their first 11 games, the Falcons have 16 sacks in four games since their open date.
“I was like, ‘It’s coming, I can see it in practice and how we’re practicing and how we’re getting better,'” said Morris, who was the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams the past three years. “But really over the last couple of weeks, they’ve cracked the code. They’re rushing together. When you get four guys all rushing together, that’s how it happens the best.”
Atlanta cornerback Antonio Hamilton didn’t return after injuring a quadriceps muscle during the first half. Falcons receiver Drake London (hamstring) hobbled off in the second half, but Morris said he doesn’t think the injury is serious.