Why Tua Tagovailoa finished Falcons' overtime loss instead of Michael Penix Jr. originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Falcons appeared to be sitting pretty on Sunday night, leading by eight late in the fourth quarter and seemingly on track to win in primetime for the third consecutive week.
Atlanta instead surrendered the game's last 15 points to the Ravens and played its final drive without QB Michael Penix Jr, whose return in Week 3 changed just about everything for the team's offense.
A win would have put the Falcons in sole possession of first place in the NFC South. Instead, the 30-23 loss sends Atlanta under .500 and might come with a major consequence.
Here's what you need to know about why Tua Tagovailoa, not Penix, finished the game for the Falcons.
MORE:Why Lamar Jackson didn't play for Ravens on 'SNF'
What happened to Michael Penix Jr.?
Penix exited Sunday night's game with a rib injury after taking a hard hit on the Falcons' final drive of regulation.
MICHAEL PENIX TAKEN DOWN HARD HE IS IN PAIN https://t.co/Ref6DhrROW
— wok (@wokdior) October 12, 2026
The third-year quarterback with a lengthy injury history returned for one more place after a brief cameo by Tagovailoa, but when it came time for the Falcons to answer the Ravens in overtime, he was hanging his head on the bench.
Tagovailoa entered for the Falcons, who needed a touchdown in under three minutes, but he was intercepted on his second throw.
KYLE HAMILTON PICKS IT OFF! @RAVENS WIN! https://t.co/CbkK3CiuUN
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2026
With Penix banged up, that might not be the last action Tagovailoa sees. He would be next in line to start for Atlanta against the Bears in Week 6 if Penix can't play, and the pain Penix appeared to be in at the end of Sunday night's loss indicates that is a realistic possibility.