This Sunday’s prime-time matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Commanders has no shortage of storylines. Not only will the Falcons face off against former head coach Dan Quinn, but rookies Michael Penix Jr. and Jayden Daniels are set to make NFL history.
Penix, who will be making his second start, and Daniels, a front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year, are the first rookie quarterbacks drafted in the first round to face off in prime time.
While it sounds crazy, NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” account shared the following tweet:
It’ll be an NFL first on Sunday Night Football when Michael Penix Jr. and Jayden Daniels take the field. pic.twitter.com/BUJV9wg1tq
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 26, 2024
Penix led the team to a 34-7 win over the New York Giants in his first NFL start. The rookie finished the game with 202 passing yards and one interception — which wasn’t his fault.
Atlanta benched Kirk Cousins after a miserable five-game stretch from Weeks 10-15. The Falcons will look to Penix to lead them to their first playoff appearance since 2017.
Daniels has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league this season. The No. 2 overall pick has passed for 3,303 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions over his first 15 games.
At 10-6, Washington is making a late-season push to win the NFC East. Dan Quinn will face Atlanta for the first time as a head coach since being fired by the Falcons in 2019.
Sunday Night’s game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET inside Northwest Stadium.