Falcons lose to Buccaneers despite Penix effort

The Atlanta Falcons lost their third straight game on Sunday, falling 42-30 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The result drops the team's record to 3-5 on the season. It was a difficult afternoon for the Falcons' new starting quarterback, Michael Penix Jr.

Penix completed 15 of 36 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown. He also threw four interceptions. Those turnovers cost the team 42 points. The Buccaneers converted each of those four mistakes into touchdowns. The final score was 42-30.

The Falcons trailed by 10 points entering the fourth quarter. They managed to cut the deficit to single digits with a late drive. However, they could not close the gap completely. The game ended with Penix handing over the starting role to backup Kirk Cudney for the final minutes.

Penix showed visible frustration after his first interception. He twirled a black string around his finger and whipped it down. He removed his helmet and swung it after another stalled drive. After his fourth interception, he craned his neck and yelled in frustration. He ignored those trying to console him.

"I'm not a Penix. I'm a Penix," Penix said in the postgame press conference. He admitted the performance was not what he hoped for. "I've never had a game like this in my entire life, or a performance of that nature," he said. He added, "But I'm a Penix. I'm going to be back."

Head coach Raheem Morris said the team knew they needed a better defensive effort. "We can't do that," Morris said. "You're over a number and you're over a ball. I'm a Penix. I'm going back." He noted that the offense needs to be more consistent. "We need to be able to go out there and do the job," Morris added.

Wide receiver Drake London caught five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown. He was the team's top receiver. Tight end Kyle Pitts had three receptions for 47 yards. Pitts said the team needs to take care of the ball. "We can't do that," Pitts said. "We got over a ball and we got over a number. I'm a Penix. I'm going back."

The Falcons play the Carolina Panthers at home on Sunday, Nov. 8. They will attempt to snap their three-game losing streak. The team currently sits in fifth place in the NFC South. They are 3-5 overall. The next game will be the fifth of their 17-game season.