Penix leads NFL with 56.3% of snaps under center for Falcons

Pistol rate was 52.3% last season, second-highest since 2016

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 56m1 min read

Michael Penix Jr. has aligned under center on a league-high 56.3% of snaps this season, per Next Gen Stats. Last season Via @marcraimondi on X

What happened: Michael Penix Jr. has aligned under center on 56.3% of snaps this season, the highest rate in the league per Next Gen Stats. Atlanta made the shift after he operated from pistol on 52.3% of snaps last season.

Why it matters: The change reverses last season's pistol-heavy approach, which ranked second among qualified quarterbacks since 2016. Sustained under-center work changes play-action timing and run-game mesh points for the Atlanta offense.

By the numbers: 56.3% under-center rate this season, league-high. 52.3% pistol rate last season, league-high and second-highest by a qualified QB since 2016.

What to watch: Atlanta's alignment split bears monitoring in coming weeks for whether the under-center rate holds and how it shapes early-down production.

Sources

@marcraimondi 2026-10-14T12:48:07.205736+00:00

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