The Atlanta Falcons exchanged Christmas gifts in their locker room Monday and Tuesday, but starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will have to wait for his preferred present. And it won't be under the tree when he wakes up Wednesday morning.

Rookie Michael Penix Jr. made his first NFL start in place of Kirk Cousins, and it's fair to wonder if Cousins will play another meaningful snap for Atlanta.

The Falcons have Penix set up well with an excellent run game led by Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, good players to throw to like Drake London and Darnell Mooney (and maybe even Kyle Pitts if he can finally put it all together) and a sound offensive line to keep him upright. That will matter as Penix finds himself as an NFL quarterback.

The Falcons turned the offense over to their rookie quarterback in Week 16, and the stats don’t fully tell the story.

The Atlanta Falcons have to be happy with what they saw from rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in his first NFL start. While the numbers don’t jump out, Penix’s decisiveness, arm talent and pocket mobility were on display during Sunday’s 34-7 win over the New York Giants.

The Kirk Cousins fiasco for the Atlanta Falcons led to a $180 million decision, and the winner was Michael Penix Jr. and the Falcons. So far.

Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback made his starting debut on Sunday, and he impressed one of the best defenders of all time.

Michael Penix Jr. earned a blowout win in his first career start as two pick-sixes from the Falcons defense and steady play from the rookie QB led to a 34-7 victory. Head coach Raheem Morris described the outing as "almost flawless football".

If the Atlanta Falcons want to recoup something in an offseason trade for Kirk Cousins rather than simply release him after he was benched in favor of

In his first NFL start, Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. brought Atlanta one step closer to the postseason. Here's how he did it.