The Falcons entered the offseason with franchise-altering decisions that signaled a new direction: hiring Raheem Morris as head coach, signing Kirk Cousins to a massive deal, and then drafting Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall. At the time, these moves were met with widespread skepticism from the national media, and as the season has unfolded, the critics have only been proven right.
Concerns about Raheem Morris’ ability as a head coach—stemming from his disastrous first stint leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—have not been alleviated. His coordinator hires have failed to inspire confidence, the free agents and trade acquisitions he championed have underperformed, and his motivational tactics appear to have fallen flat at several critical junctures. Most concerning of all has been his in-game management, which has been questionable far more often than not. Thirteen games in, it’s hard to find any area where Morris has genuinely excelled.
Yet, the hiring of Morris wasn’t nearly as controversial as the two decisions that followed: handing Kirk Cousins a lucrative contract and then drafting Michael Penix Jr. just weeks later. It was an unprecedented strategy—one that few could envision succeeding—and the results have been worse than anyone could have imagined.
Kirk Cousins, returning from a torn Achilles, has been a shell of the player he was prior to the injury. He hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in over a month, has tossed eight interceptions during that stretch, and has been the primary culprit in a four-game losing streak that has severely damaged the Falcons’ playoff hopes. Calls for Michael Penix Jr. have grown louder, but the financial ramifications of benching Cousins so early in his four-year deal are a bitter pill the Falcons seem unwilling to swallow.
The entire situation has devolved into a full-scale disaster for Atlanta, and the season could reach its lowest point tonight against the Raiders—a team led by none other than the Falcons’ former quarterback, Desmond Ridder.
A loss tonight would all but eliminate Atlanta’s playoff hopes and serve as the humiliating exclamation point on an already embarrassing season. For owner Arthur Blank, who has proven to be an emotional decision-maker, such a result could spark drastic changes within the organization, even just one year into the Raheem Morris era.
Blank’s tenure as Falcons owner has been marked by his emotional ties to players and coaches, often resulting in questionable contract extensions or holding onto underperforming staff too long. However, there have also been moments when public embarrassment has pushed him to act swiftly.
Last season serves as a prime example. Heading into Week 15, Arthur Smith’s job appeared secure, but an embarrassing loss to the Panthers proved to be the tipping point. A few weeks later, Smith was fired.
Of course, the circumstances are different—Smith was in his third year, while Morris still in his first. But if the Falcons lose tonight to a Raiders team they’re expected to beat, it might just be enough to force Blank’s hand. He cares deeply about the perception of his team, and few results would be more humiliating than this one.
For Raheem Morris, Kirk Cousins, and the entire Falcons organization, tonight feels like a tipping point. A win might provide temporary relief, but a loss could signal sweeping changes across the board.
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Photographer: Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire
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