In stark contrast to the first half of the season, when the Falcons found new ways to win each week, the last month has been characterized by finding creative ways to lose.
Special teams has been a glaring issue, with Younghoe Koo’s uncharacteristic misses serving as lowlights. On defense, despite a resurgent pass rush in recent weeks, holes across all three levels have led to persistent inconsistencies.
However, nobody has been worse at their respective job over the last month than Kirk Cousins.
Yesterday’s loss to the Vikings marked Cousins’ fourth consecutive game without a touchdown pass. His two interceptions brought his total to eight over that stretch, making him the first quarterback since Brett Favre in 2005 to endure such a slump. Cousins hasn’t just struggled—he’s been the worst quarterback in the NFL since November, displaying slow reactions, poor arm strength, and abysmal decision-making.
The four straight losses have the Falcons now in second place in the NFC South, with the Buccaneers reeling off their third straight win against the Raiders on Sunday. This is an Atlanta team that now needs to be perfect down the stretch to break its six-year postseason drought, and they’ve shown nothing to suggest they are capable of doing so, especially with Kirk Cousins under center.
All of this has rightfully led to calls for the rookie Michael Penix Jr. It’s almost impossible to imagine he could be any worse than Cousins has played recently, and even if growing pains are expected, this is still an opportunity for him to gain some valuable experience that could help catapult his development heading into next year. Which, at this point, should be the Falcons’ primary focus.
Even if Raheem Morris’ squad somehow wins out, this isn’t a team built to contend for a Super Bowl, and Cousins is clearly not the long-term solution. Michael Penix Jr. represents the future of the franchise and may be the only player capable of sparking optimism and salvaging jobs within the organization.
Giving Penix reps now isn’t just what fans want to see—it’s a strategic move that aligns with the Falcons’ long-term interests. For Raheem Morris, it could be the decision that saves his tenure as head coach. Unfortunately, Morris doesn’t appear ready to make that leap—at least, not yet.
“Morris: Everything is always discussed when you watch the tape. Kirk Cousins is our quarterback. Kirk played significantly better than he did the week before,” Marc Raimondi reported after Sunday’s game, via Twitter/X.Â
Raheem Morris clearly feels Kirk Cousins gives the Falcons the best chance to win right now, and he’s probably right. However, he obviously didn’t spend too much time studying his predecessor.
A couple of years ago, Arthur Smith made a similar decision, starting Marcus Mariota down the stretch over Desmond Ridder while the Falcons held onto a false sense that they could be competitive. It set up a domino effect that led to him being fired after just three seasons with the team. Raheem Morris seems to following a similar path, and nobody should be shocked if he faces a similar fate down the road.
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Photographer: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire
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