The Commanders must pivot effectively.
The Washington Commanders' game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17 will get the primetime treatment. Considering the potential playoff ramifications attached, the schedule-makers flexed the game to Sunday Night Football. This should be a fantastic occasion for the team's regular-season home finale.
They'll also have something else to deal with after a bombshell development with the NFC South outfit.
This game was initially going to be another return to Northwest Stadium for former Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins. He'll be making the trip. However, the veteran will be watching from the sidelines.
Commanders will face Michael Penix Jr. on primetime in Week 17
After some regression in performance levels over recent weeks — something that saw the Falcons relinquish control of the NFC South to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — head coach Raheem Morris took drastic action. He announced that first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. will start moving forward.
It's a bold strategy considering Penix hasn't started an NFL game yet and the Falcons remain in strong contention for the postseason. Morris is hoping that the switch can galvanize his players to a strong finish.
Cousins penned a lucrative contract in free agency before the Falcons took Penix at No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. That was a huge shock considering the investment made in the former Michigan State star. But desperate times call for desperate measures.
The Commanders will have one game of NFL film on Penix when he takes the field this weekend against the New York Giants. That doesn't detract from the tricky conundrum head coach Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. have to solve.
Penix came into the league with some decent college production. He wasn't the finished article and there were injury concerns, but steering the Washington Huskies to the college football national championship game was a tremendous achievement.
Atlanta wouldn't have made this move if they didn't believe Penix was ready. Embarking on a primetime game with potentially high stakes attached in his second professional start is a daunting proposition. The Commanders must make the rookie as uncomfortable as possible in pursuit of a priceless triumph.
Disguising coverages, deploying creative blitz packages, and generating pressure through four-man fronts should be enough to force Penix into mistakes. Things move quicker and the margins are finer at the pro level. The Commanders can use the signal-caller's inexperience to their advantage.
This adds yet another fascinating dynamic to the contest. The Commanders have a proven rookie under center in No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels. Everyone knows what he's capable of. That's not the case with Penix, which makes this late switch a feast-or-famine proposition for the Falcons in no uncertain terms.
It could work in the Commanders' favor if they prepare effectively. However, underestimating Penix given the weapons at his disposal would be extremely foolish.
Quinn and his staff are experienced enough to shift course and make the necessary adjustments. Increased mobility is the biggest concern, but the Commanders have enough explosiveness across their defense to counteract Penix's threat in this regard.
Unless the Commanders can somehow beat the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend, their clash with the Falcons is a must-win. Penix is embarking on a journey into the unknown. Washington's defense must meet him head-on with the playoffs in sight.
