“Michael Penix is Not a Bust” – Kevin Stefanski Under Scrutiny Once Again After Falcons’ Poor Start

Michael Penix Jr. is 2-2 since returning from injury after missing the Falcons’ first two games. Penix threw 3 touchdowns and for 225 yards in Week 6, but the Falcons still lost 31-23 to the Bears at home.

In four games, Penix has 71 completions on 110 attempts for 944 yards, 6 touchdowns, and one interception (hasn’t thrown an interception in the last three outings). The Falcons are standing with a 2-4 record.

Penix is 6-10 since the Falcons selected him eighth overall in 2024. His sophomore year ended due to an ankle injury. However, the Falcons were on the verge of benching the former Washington signal caller because he had lost four straight games.

Veteran Kirk Cousins took over and won four straight to end the campaign. The Falcons finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs.

Cousins left in the offseason and Atlanta appointed Kevin Stefanski as head coach. Stefanski made Penix the starter soon after. However, the rehab forced him to miss the first two games. Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand took turns at quarterback. They lost both games.

Penix returned in Week 3 and completed 72% of his passes in a win over the Packers, followed it with a 75% completion game against the Saints in a 45-24 victory. He didn’t cross 60% completion in the next two and took 8 total sacks.

Despite spending two and a half years in the league, Penix boasts a losing record, leading some to consider him a bust. However, retired wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh blamed Stefanski for Penix’s struggles on the latest episode of Speakeasy.

Who’s coaching me? Who’s putting in a system where our team has no idea what to do when they pressure us? Oh, the same guy that couldn’t win in Cleveland.

TJ Houshmandzadeh said

Houshmandzadeh noted that Stefanski won his first Falcon game when he started Penix under center.

He couldn’t win games last year in Cleveland, and they’re leading the division this year. The same guy [who], when the season started, [he] couldn’t win a game with the Falcons. Until Michael Penix was inserted into the game as a starter when he got healthy.

TJ Houshmandzadeh continued

.@Housh84: Michael Penix is not a BUST! We need to look at the head coach. "Who’s coaching me? Who’s putting in a system where our team has no idea what to do when they pressure us? Oh, the same guy that couldn’t win in Cleveland [Stefanski]." https://t.co/GeMzng8UN1

— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) October 22, 2026

The Browns, with a 4-2 record, are the surprise leaders of the AFC North. But the Browns also played good football under Stefanski.

They qualified for the playoffs twice and won a postseason game in 2020. However, he fell off toward the end of his spell. He won a combined 8 games in the last two seasons before the Browns fired him.

Michael Penix Jr. needs better protection

Michael Penix is still learning the offense and needs time to adjust to the system. In the meantime, he needs help from his teammates, especially from the offensive line.

ESPN’s Marc Raimondi highlighted in his Week 6 report that the offensive line was very average in protecting its quarterback.

One thing they need to do is protect [Michael] Penix better. For the game, Penix was pressured on 46% of his dropbacks, and he was blitzed at the second-highest rate of his career. He was 1-of-4 with three sacks when pressured. That was an issue in last week’s loss to the Ravens. Penix is not a very mobile QB, so Atlanta needs to figure out a way to keep a cleaner pocket or call plays that take a shorter time to develop.

Marc Raimondi reported

The O-line must provide better protection considering they will be playing the league’s best team, the 6-0 San Francisco 49ers.

Penix faced the Niners in Week 7 last season. He threw 21 completions for 241 yards and one touchdown, but the Falcons lost 20-10.

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