FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. closed out his postgame press conference last Sunday after the Atlanta Falcons' Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a rather vulnerable remark.

"I'm not perfect, man," Penix said. "I try to be."

The 25-year-old used the word "perfect" eight times in a similar manner. The Falcons weren't perfect. The offense wasn't perfect. He wasn't perfect. Doesn't mean each one didn't want to be. Of course they did.

That message continued into Wednesday when Penix addressed the media again as Week 2 preparations began. He reflected on the loss before looking ahead to the Falcons' road game this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).

"It's not always going to be perfect," Penix said. "There's definitely a lot of things we wanted to clean up whenever we saw the film."

There's an honesty to Penix's answers at times that should be found refreshing. He still struggles. The pressure to be perfect has definitely not lifted from his shoulders.

"It's still on me," Penix said. "I'm not going to lie. I just say it to help myself."

Obviously the expectations on Penix come with a unique weight. The Falcons drafted him with the No. 8 overall draft pick last year. Originally, the plan was for him to develop as a backup under veteran Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract in the same offseason to be the Falcons' starter. However, things did not go as planned. Penix was inserted into the starting offense in Week 16 after Atlanta sidelined Cousins.

Penix and the Falcons went 1-2 to close out their 8-9 season. Both of the losses, however, ended with an overtime in which Penix didn't even get a chance to attempt a comeback. Though he'd likely disagree and take any accountability possible, he's not to blame for Atlanta's rough finish. Penix played well as a rookie.

So much so, Penix is now expected to be "the guy" for the Falcons in just his second season, with only four starts to his name.

Regardless of experience, actually being perfect is a difficult – arguably impossible – goal to obtain.

"I know I'm not, but I want to be," Penix said. "I'm going to do everything I can to get as close as I can to that. But I do feel like I do put some pressure on myself. I feel like my fiancé helps me a lot getting through that. She always is on me about just being so hard on myself, stuff like that. But I feel it. I feel it every day.

"That's what comes with this position. That's what comes with a small-town kid making it to this level. I've been through a lot to get to this, to this spot. So, sometimes I do expect a lot of myself. It's probably not as healthy. But I know whenever I step inside the line, my mind is clear and I'm ready to go play football."