ATLANTA — Michael Penix Jr. and Bryce Young each delivered a similarly somber message after disappointing performances in losses last weekend: “I’ve got to be better.”
The two young quarterbacks will be in the spotlight Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Young and the Carolina Panthers will visit Penix and the Atlanta Falcons as both teams seek more balanced offense in the renewal of the Interstate 85 rivalry between NFC South Division teams.
The Panthers (5-5) and the Falcons (3-6) share similar stories of franchise frustration that stretches into the previous decade. Each team is looking to snap a streak of seven consecutive losing seasons and reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season.
Each team is counting on the guy behind center to spark a turnaround, but the 2025 results have been mixed as the running games have been more reliable for Atlanta and Carolina. Penix and Young rank 21st and 25th in the league, respectively, in passing yards.
Falcons second-year head coach Raheem Morris — whose debut season produced an 8-9 record capped by an overtime loss to the Panthers — is facing increased pressure after last week’s 31-25 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin left Atlanta with a four-game losing streak.