On Monday night, the Falcons ended their four-game winning streak in Las Vegas. Likewise, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ended his horrific slump, with no touchdown passes and eight interceptions.
But Cousins had his fifth straight game with a passer rating below 80, on 17 attempts, 11 completions, 112 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
He was also sacked three times and fumbled once. (He recovered it.)
Coach Raheem Morris, who has said Cousins won’t be benched for rookie Michael Penix, Jr., spoke more bluntly than ever regarding Cousins’s performance.
“He’s got to play better,” Morris told reporters after the game, via Josh Kendall of TheAthletic.com. “We have to find a way to get him to play better. We have to play better at the quarterback position.”
Yes, they do. They should have beaten the Raiders far more convincingly than they did. And they’re still one game behind the Buccaneers for first place in the NFC South.
Atlanta finishes with the Giants, the Commanders, and the Panthers. Running the table works only if the Bucs slip, against the Cowboys, Panthers, or Saints.
Miss the playoffs, and it’s a given that Penix will be the guy in 2025. Even if they make it, a one-and-done could mean Cousins is, too.
It’s still possible that the Falcons will flip to Penix before the end of the season. With each passing week, it seems less likely.
Still, Morris said it all tonight. Cousins has to play better. They have to find a way to get him to play better. And they have to play better at the quarterback position.
At some point, the only option would be to see if Penix can give them better play at the quarterback position.
