The vibes are not any better for the Atlanta Falcons with Michael Penix Jr. back under center.
Penix, the Falcons quarterback, made his return on “Thursday Night Football” against the Green Bay Packers. It marked Penix’s first game back ever since suffering a partially torn ACL in November of last year.
But Penix got a rude welcome-back during the first quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc. On Penix’s very first drive (with just a minute-and-a-half having gone by in the game), he was intercepted by Packers safety Xavier McKinney on a terribly-placed ball.
Xavier McKinney picks off Penix!@ATLvsGB on Prime Video
— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2026
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Aql7wNm61c
As a result, Penix and the Falcons got roasted whole over social media. Here is a sample of the meme parade that Penix’s early interception sparked.
Falcons fans going from watching Cooper Rush throw INTs to Michael Penix throwing INTs pic.twitter.com/c9Kw01PsXK
— NFL Memes (@NFLMemes) September 25, 2026
Falcons fans: “Let’s go! We finally have a real QB tonight”
— Fliff (@fliff) September 25, 2026
Michael Penix on his first drive of the game: pic.twitter.com/dMPtzGyAzf
Falcons fans: "Penix will save the season"
— ParlayPlay (@parlay_play) September 25, 2026
Penix on the first drive: pic.twitter.com/y6iWfUnVSL
Michael Penix Jr. dropping back to pass pic.twitter.com/ZVCtilUEyS
— Onyx Odds (@OnyxOdds) September 25, 2026
Atlanta lost their first two games of the season after Cooper Rush was named the starting quarterback (with the injuries to both Penix and Tua Tagovailoa) and proceeded to throw four interceptions. Rookie QB Jack Strand even came on for Atlanta in Week 2 after Rush was benched … but also managed to throw a pick of his own.
Now Penix has managed to make it a clean six interceptions for Falcons quarterbacks through just the first nine quarters of the 2026 season. Combined with Tagovailoa (who has yet to appear in a game this year), Atlanta truly has the greatest collection of meme QBs in the NFL.
