The Michael Penix Jr. that fans saw last Sunday in his first NFL regular-season start was not the one who arrived here last April as the No. 8 overall pick in the draft. What Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney saw from Penix at first was a quarterback too eager to let go of the ball,

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.

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.