Falcons QB on J.J. McCarthy's NFL debut: 'He showed heart'
The Atlanta Falcons are hoping to bounce back from a tough Week 1 loss when they play the Minnesota Vikings on NBC's "Sunday Night Football" in Week 2. The game marks the first time that Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr . and Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy will face off since the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship.
McCarthy's Michigan Wolverines routed Penix's Washington Huskies in a 34-13 victory. Both quarterbacks went on to become top-10 draft picks in 2024. The Falcons took Penix with the No. 8 overall pick, and the Vikings snagged McCarthy two picks later with the 10th overall selection.
Neither quarterback did much in Year 1 of their NFL careers. Penix spent his first 14 games backing up Kirk Cousins , while McCarthy missed the entire season due to a knee injury he suffered during the 2024 preseason.
McCarthy made his first NFL start in Week 1, leading the Vikings to a 27-24 comeback win over the Chicago Bears . Penix was impressed with McCarthy's ability to bounce back after a rocky first half.
"He showed heart," Penix said of McCarthy's NFL debut.
McCarthy threw a pick-six and did not look comfortable for much of the first half. However, the former Wolverines standout scored three touchdowns in the second half to upset Caleb Williams and the Bears. It was far from a perfect performance by McCarthy, but he gave fans a glimpse of his potential.
Penix played well in Week 1, but the Falcons still lost, 23-20, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . He finished his fourth NFL start with 298 passing yards, 21 rushing yards and two total touchdowns. Penix even led two clutch drives in the fourth quarter.
His fourth-down touchdown run gave the Falcons a 20-17 lead with two minutes left in the fourth quarter. Then, after giving up a quick score to the Bucs, Penix led the team back into field-goal range but Younghoe Koo missed a 44-yard game-tying attempt.
Last season, the Falcons were blown out by the Vikings, 42-21, in Cousins' return to Minnesota. With Penix under center, perhaps Atlanta can yield a different result this time around.
Sunday's game starts at 8:20 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Stadium, and will air on NBC's Sunday Night Football. Check out the Falcons' updated depth chart and injury report ahead of this weekend's showdown in Minnesota.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. praises Vikings' J.J. McCarthy
