How Tampa Bay’s Michael Penix Jr. will impact the Bucs’ playoff hopes

TAMPA — Michael Penix Jr. was at Costco with his girlfriend buying a hot dog when he received a call from the Falcons telling him he would be their starting quarterback for the rest of the season.

“Whenever I got the call,” Penix told reporters in Atlanta on Wednesday, “I wasn’t hungry anymore.”

Just like that, an NFL quarterback from the Tampa Bay area could have the biggest impact on the Bucs’ playoff chances since Shaun King.

King, a former Gibbs High School star, replaced the injured Trent Dilfer in the final five games of the 1999 season. He led the Bucs to a 4-1 finish and then to the NFC Championship Game, where they beat the 11-6 Rams lost.

In Atlanta, Penix, a Dade City native and former Tampa Bay Tech star, replaces the ineffective Kirk Cousins ​​and could have a big impact on the Bucs’ playoff fortunes.

The Bucs hold a one-game lead over the Falcons and control their own destiny. Win and they are the NFC South champs. But should Atlanta win one more game than Tampa Bay down the stretch, the Falcons would win the division since they own the tiebreaker with a series win this year.

Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield called Penix’s situation “a difficult deal” from experience.

“I learned a lot about Tyrod Taylor and Drew Stanton (in Cleveland) and just tried to absorb as much information as I could,” Mayfield said. “That’s the most important part. You have to support each other in this space, and that’s what it’s all about. A completely different look so late in the year that he’s going for it and the stakes are high for her.

“Just take it all in, trust yourself. … Don’t get too confident because we’re still trying to get to the playoffs ahead of each other. It’s a tricky deal, but the whole locker room has to support him and you just have to give everything for him to succeed.”

The Falcons host the Giants on Sunday and then face a tough game in Washington on Sunday Night Football on December 29th before facing the Panthers on January 5th in Atlanta.

Bucs rookie receiver Jalen McMillan, a former Washington teammate, said he exchanged text messages with Penix after the announcement.

“Oh, I was so happy. I mean, a lot of people think he should play,” McMillan said. “But at the end of the day, getting this opportunity has always been a part of his life, just like it was on his path to college. I’m just so happy for him. I know he’ll freak out too. No question.

“For one thing, he’s a leader. But he’s also just a field general. He’ll learn to control the offense and once he gets going, he’ll be gone. … He looks at it more as an opportunity to do what he loves.”

McMillan’s confidence grows

Speaking of McMillan, his development could take the Bucs’ passing game to a new level. He has scored three touchdowns in the last two games and his confidence and chemistry with Mayfield have improved.

“Consistency. That’s the biggest thing,” Mayfield said. “He always had the potential to be a really, really good player. It’s just about putting it all together and being consistent. That doesn’t just apply to the concepts of the passing game, where and when he’s supposed to be, but also for the run game. You can see he’s really proud of the run game and what he’s supposed to do.”

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen said McMillan’s progress started in practice and meetings and continued on the field.

“It starts with J-Mac (at the team facility),” Coen said. “When he’s locked in and you can see his intent in walkthroughs, drills and meetings, he usually has a good day on Sundays. He’s trendy there and that’s what he does.

“You go out and you see him catch a couple of balls on the first drive – obviously the touchdown – but on the second play he catches an in-cut, goes over there and tries to make a play with it. I really enjoy his playing energy. He has a good manner about him. He has always brought energy and energy to the huddle, and now you can see it come to life even more in live games. It really helped us.”

Dark horse for the Bucs’ sack leader?

It’s time to give credit to Logan Hall. The 33rd overall pick in 2022, he has struggled to make much of an impact as a pass rusher, recording three sacks in his first two seasons with the Bucs.

But this year, despite playing just 52% of the snaps on defense, Hall has 4½ sacks and is making an impact.

“Logan played very well,” coach Todd Bowles said. “I love the way he plays the run. He has also incorporated a pass rush into his arsenal. He helped us a lot this year.”

Defensive linemen Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea are tied for the Bucs’ sack lead with six points. Lavonte David has 5½.

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