Atlanta Falcons star players praised God after finally finding victory on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.
“I got two words, man: But God. But God, man. I’m just so thankful, so blessed to be back in this position, you know,” Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. told a THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL reporter.
“I’ve been fighting and scratching for a long time to get back to where I’m at today,” he continued. “I’m so thankful for the trainers that helped me. Thankful for my family supporting me, my wife supporting me, my teammates supporting me, being there for me each and every day. And it’s just such a blessing to be able to come out here and finish this game healthy with a win.”
According to Fox News Digital, Atlanta opened the season 0-2. Penix was still working back from a partially torn ACL, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa also missed the first two games. Tagovailoa was supposed to be the Week 1 starter but was out with an oblique injury suffered in practice. That pushed Cooper Rush into the lineup, and through two games, he had four interceptions and a lost fumble, and the team hadn’t scored an offensive touchdown. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand also saw action.
But in Week 3, Penix Jr. returned to the field and led his team to a 35-14 win over the Packers. In his first game back since tearing his ACL last November, he completed 18-of-25 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown.
Penix Jr. had some help from teammate Bijan Robinson, who rushed 29 times for 194 yards and two touchdowns and caught both of his targets for 19 yards. That brought his total to 213 yards.
Related: Falcons RB Bijan Robinson Wants ‘Everybody’ to See God ‘Through Me’
After the game, Robinson said, “Hey, what a win, man. God is good, always. And I can’t wait to keep on going. But we gotta get back. And we’re gonna keep getting these dubs hopefully — God willing,” per Christhlete.
Through three games this season, Robinson has 349 rushing yards on 66 carries, plus 13 receptions for 118 yards and a receiving touchdown, according to ESPN.
Two weeks ago, the Falcons’ season looked like it was slipping away, with an 0-2 start, three quarterbacks and no offensive touchdown. Thursday night showed what the team can look like with a healthy Penix Jr. under center and Robinson running behind a recharged offense. Atlanta takes on a MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL match against the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 5.
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