The Falcons’ three-game losing streak reached new lows this past week, as a disastrous performance by Kirk Cousins reignited a quarterback controversy that dates back to this past year’s draft. Cousins had arguably his worst day as a pro in this 13-year career in the team’s 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, completing 24 of his 39 pass attempts for 245 yards and four costly interceptions. Cousins has thrown zero touchdown passes and six interceptions in the midst of the team’s losing streak. As a result of his play, pleas from fans to jumpstart the Michael Penix Jr. era have reached a fever pitch.
Cousins’ subpar output wasted Atlanta’s best defensive showing this season. They sacked Justin Herbert five times, and Lorenzo Carter forced a fumble in the first quarter, giving the Falcons the ball at the Chargers’ 29-yard line. The turnover set up a two-yard rushing touchdown by Bijan Robinson, Atlanta’s only touchdown of the day. The Falcons’ defense also limited Herbert and the Charger offense to just 187 total yards in the game and pitched a second-half shutout.
Cousins’ first interception happened on the opening play of the second quarter. With Atlanta leading 7-3 and approaching midfield, Cousins forced a pass into double coverage to Drake London and was intercepted by Tarheeb Still. Los Angeles came away with a field goal on the ensuing drive, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 7-6.
The veteran’s second interception of the day was even more back-breaking. Atlanta, leading 10-9 with 1:49 remaining in the third quarter, went for it on fourth down and five at the Chargers’ 40-yard line. Cousins zeroed in on Darnell Mooney, allowing Still to jump the route and record his second interception of the day, this time, a 60-yard pick six. Still received AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his effort last week. The pick-six, along with a successful two-point conversion from Herbert to Josh Palmer, gave the Chargers a 17-10 lead. Shortly after the interception, Cousins was booed at Mercedes Benz Stadium by the Falcons’ faithful.
Unfortunately, it would only get worse for Cousins and the Falcons. Trailing 17-13, the Falcons’ special teams unit snuffed out a fake punt attempt by the Chargers. Suddenly, Atlanta found themselves at third down and goal at the Chargers’ 13-yard line with 9:40 remaining in the game. Cousins escaped pressure in the pocket and had a wide-open Robinson in front of him. Instead, he forced a pass into triple coverage in the end zone and was once again intercepted. This time,
he was picked off by Marcus Maye, the veteran defensive back who had just signed with the Chargers days earlier and was filling in for Alohi Gilman, who was placed on the injury reserve.
Nonetheless, Cousins and the Falcons got the ball back with 6:05 remaining in the fourth quarter and one more chance to salvage the game. Atlanta started at their own six-yard line and drove all the way down to the Chargers’ 33 before an untimely sack and London’s drop on third down set
the Falcons up with a fourth down and 12 at the Chargers’ 35. Cousins again forced a pass to London and was intercepted by all-pro safety Derwin James with 42 seconds left. The turnover sealed the game for the Chargers, who are now 8-4 under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh.
The loss, along with Tampa Bay’s overtime win over the Panthers, erased the two-and-a-half-game NFC South division lead Atlanta built just one month earlier. Atlanta is now 6-6, with their postseason hopes on life support. Despite the outside noise and the calls for change under center, head coach Raheem Morris reassured that Cousins would remain the team’s starting quarterback.
“I don’t think that’s going to be the issue around here,” Morris stated when asked about the quarterback situation by media personnel.
However, former league MVP and Falcons’ legend Matt Ryan suggested on CBS that Cousins’ leash is short and that the Falcons could possibly make a change at halftime during their next game.
“I just don’t think this is the week to do it for Michael Penix,” Ryan explained.
“But if it goes bad—and it’s not kind of the first half that you want—I know Raheem has said he’s not going to make a change at this point—I think they’d be apt to make an in-game change.” He continued
Morris served as the team’s wide receivers coach, co-defensive coordinator, and eventually the team’s interim head coach during Ryan’s tenure in Atlanta. Chances are, there is nobody in NFL media with more familiarity with Morris than Ryan.
Cousins is running out of time to prove that he is worth the four-year, $180 million contract ($100 million guaranteed through the first three years) he signed with the Falcons this past offseason. Outside of two games against the Buccaneers, Cousins has thrown just nine touchdown passes, a league-leading 12 interceptions with 13 fumbles, and a 65.4 completion percentage. His last chance, ironically, could come this upcoming week, as he returns to Minnesota to take the Vikings, where he served as the team’s starting quarterback for six years.