In a stunning display of ineptitude, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw four interceptions on Sunday, gifting the Los Angeles Chargers a 17-13 victory and putting his team’s tenuous hold on first place in the NFC South in serious jeopardy. The devastating loss drops the Falcons to 6-6 and extends their losing streak to three games, with a critical matchup against Cousins’ former team, the Minnesota Vikings, looming next week.
Cousins Takes Responsibility for Disastrous Outing
Facing reporters after the game, a visibly dejected Cousins shouldered the blame for the loss, acknowledging that his performance was unacceptable. “I look to myself and say, ‘I’ve got to play better,'” Cousins admitted. “It hurts. When you feel like your defense played winning football, feel like your special teams made big plays, felt like the run game [did] a solid job, I’ve got to play better.”
The veteran signal-caller’s four interceptions tied a career-high mark he set back in 2014, and included a devastating 61-yard pick-six by Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still. Cousins also had a potential scoring drive snuffed out in the fourth quarter when safety Marcus Maye intercepted him in the end zone. In total, three of the Falcons’ final possessions ended with Cousins turnovers.
Offense Sputters Despite Defensive Dominance
Ironically, Atlanta’s defense put forth perhaps its finest effort of the season in the losing cause. The unit racked up a season-high five sacks and did not allow a single offensive touchdown, but still saw its valiant stand go for naught thanks to Cousins’ blunders. The loss is all the more frustrating considering it came after a bye week in which the Falcons focused on shoring up their defensive shortcomings.
“Kirk was brought here to put us in a playoff position. Everything is still right in front of us. We’re still sticking with our plan.”
– Falcons head coach Raheem Morris
Rookie Penix Remains on Bench
Despite Cousins’ woes, head coach Raheem Morris made it clear after the game that he never considered benching the veteran in favor of rookie first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. Morris expressed unwavering confidence in Cousins, insisting he is still the right man to lead the Falcons to the postseason.
“He’s been great for us all season and it’s hard to throw that guy under the bus,” Morris said of Cousins, who inked a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta this offseason. While Penix, the No. 8 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, may represent the Falcons’ future under center, the present still belongs to Cousins.
Teammates Rally Around Embattled QB
In the locker room, Cousins’ teammates were quick to come to his defense and shoulder some of the responsibility for the offense’s struggles. Star rookie wideout Drake London bristled at a question suggesting the loss fell squarely on the quarterback’s shoulders.
“Everybody who’s played football and especially at this level has had games like that. I feel like I just had a game like that. So, it’s not all on Kirk. It can never be all on Kirk. We have to run the right routes. We have to be detailed, and we have to execute our plays. So that question kind of irks me a little bit. I really don’t like that. Kirk is more than an exceptional quarterback.”
– Falcons wide receiver Drake London
Crunch Time in Hotlanta
With just five games remaining and their division lead down to a single game over the surging Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the pressure is mounting on Cousins and the Falcons to right the ship quickly. A season that once held such promise is suddenly on the brink, and it will be up to the $180 million man to prove he was worth the investment.
For his part, Cousins remains undaunted by the challenge ahead. “You just have to go earn it,” he said of his status as Atlanta’s unquestioned starter. “And if it ever was [about entitlement], I wouldn’t want it. I need to play at a level that justifies being out there and so that’s the way I’ll always view it.”
The Falcons faithful can only hope that their embattled quarterback will back up those words with a bounce-back performance against the Vikings next week. With their postseason aspirations hanging in the balance, nothing less than vintage Kirk Cousins will suffice.
