Tua Tagovailoa sparks viral NFL meme after brutal Falcons debut

The Atlanta Falcons’ 2026 NFL preseason opener turned into an array of online banter after Tua Tagovailoa‘s tough start with the franchise. Regular season play is still weeks away from launching the new NFL season. However, Falcons fans are growing restless after Tagovailoa’s brutal opening drive against the Denver Broncos. MORE: Steelers’ Keeanu Benton makes franchise history with massive extension Kevin Stefanski opted to give Tagovailoa just one series during Friday night’s preseason opener. Although, that quick spell of plays was enough to create an outpour of online memes and criticism. The former college football standout passed for just 22 yards and nearly fumbled a snap while falling to the ground. However, the most viral clip of the evening came when Michael Penix Jr. is seen pointing at Tua during an awkward encounter. MORE: Projecting the Week 1 starter at QB for every NFL team Many social media commenters suggest that Penix Jr. isn’t thrilled with Tagovailoa’s play. Others responded with some hilarious jabs at the former Miami Dolphins QB. Falcons fans already skeptical over Tua’s play Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) shown on the field during training camp at IBM Performance Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters) Even Falcons fans were catching stray comments from Broncos coach Sean Payton during halftime. Payton pointed out the amount of empty seats in the crowd for the first preseason game. The former Dolphins first-rounder enters a new chapter in Atlanta as the NFC South team looks to rebuild. However, Atlanta’s offensive weapons are an immediate upgrade for Tagovailoa compared to what the Dolphins currently look like. The issue for Tagovailoa continues to be his inconsistency in the pocket and costly turnovers. Last season, the former Alabama star threw 15 interceptions compared to just 20 touchdown passes. Stefanski is certainly a well-respected coach that managed to get a lot of his Cleveland Browns teams. Atlanta’s weapons like Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts give Tua a chance to succeed. MORE: ‘Bachelorette’ host Jesse Palmer calls Jayden Daniels immature in LSU jersey dispute However, it’s just as likely that the Falcons pivot towards Penix Jr. at some point in 2026 if things go south quickly. The former Washington Huskies QB has been limited over his first two NFL seasons due to a variety of injuries. The 2025 Falcons fell just short of reaching the playoffs despite having an 8-9 record, which matched that of the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Panthers secured the NFC South based on a tiebreaker. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —