The Atlanta Falcons clawed their way back into the win column for the first time since Week 9, edging out the Las Vegas Raiders 15-9 in a defensive struggle on Monday Night Football. While the victory moves Atlanta to 7-7 and keeps their playoff hopes alive, it did little to answer mounting concerns about the performance of $180 million quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The win highlighted a persistent theme for the Falcons in recent weeks: the offense remains inconsistent and underwhelming. Cousins’ stat line—11-of-17 passing for 112 yards, one touchdown, and one interception—underscores his struggles. Atlanta managed just 261 total yards on offense, converted a mere 4 of 13 third downs, and found the end zone just once, a 30-yard strike from Cousins to Drake London. That lone explosive play was the exception in an otherwise stagnant offensive outing.
Cousins’ Struggles Since Week 10: A Numbers Game
The 36-year-old quarterback, signed to a four-year, $180 million deal this past offseason, has been anything but the stabilizing force Atlanta envisioned. Over the past five games, Cousins has:
- Thrown just one touchdown against nine interceptions
- Compiled a dismal 0.1 TD-INT ratio (ranks 31st among qualified passers)
- Posted a 63.8 passer rating (third-worst in the NFL)
His 16 interceptions now lead the NFL, marking the highest total for a Falcons quarterback since Matt Ryan’s 2015 campaign.
Head coach Raheem Morris didn’t shy away from addressing the quarterback’s play after the win, emphasizing improvement is needed.
“He’s got to play better. We have to find a way to get him to play better. We have to play better at the quarterback position,” Morris said, per The Athletic.
While Morris has publicly supported Cousins, the decision by Atlanta’s front office to draft former Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft looms larger with each passing week. Penix, who led the nation with 4,903 passing yards in his final collegiate season, remains on the bench but calls for the rookie to see action grow louder among Falcons fans.
Playoff Picture and What’s at Stake
Despite their offensive struggles, Atlanta sits at 7-7, tied for second in the NFC South, and still in the thick of the wild-card hunt. However, with games remaining against playoff contenders, the Falcons need more from Cousins to remain competitive. Their defense has kept them afloat, holding the Raiders to just 253 total yards and forcing a turnover on Monday night, but the margin for error is razor-thin.
Cousins’ ability to rebound could determine whether Atlanta punches a ticket to the postseason or collapses under its offensive inefficiencies. Next week’s matchup will be a critical test for Cousins and an entire offense teetering on the edge.
Final Thoughts
For now, Atlanta remains a team with playoff aspirations but plenty of unanswered questions. Cousins’ recent struggles not only place added pressure on him but further magnify the presence of Michael Penix Jr., waiting in the wings. If the Falcons’ high-priced signal-caller cannot reverse his downward trend, the calls for change could grow impossible to ignore.
