The Atlanta Falcons were picked by many coming into this season to finish first in the NFC South, but after starting 6-3, they have lost four of their last five games.
While they beat the Las Vegas Raiders, 15-9, on Sunday, it hardly did anything to alleviate the concerns they have been facing.
Atlanta has now decided to bench starting quarterback Kirk Cousins and hand the offense over, at least for now, to rookie Michael Penix Jr.
Tight end Kyle Pitts said he was surprised by the quarterback switch.
“I didn’t think it would have happened this early or now,” he said.
Here's the video of Kyle Pitts on why the QB change was a 'surprise' to him. #Falcons https://t.co/p4RZlk4hMU pic.twitter.com/NpP4IXgxwp
— Maria Martin (@Ria_Martin) December 18, 2024
Cousins, who is 36 years of age, was signed by Atlanta to a four-year, $180 million contract during the offseason.
He has made the Pro Bowl four times, but he was coming off a torn Achilles he suffered midway through last season and is now 36 years of age.
After signing Cousins, the Falcons then drafted Penix out of the University of Washington with the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft, which led many to scratch their heads and wonder what the franchise was doing.
Others, however, felt that the Falcons were setting up a succession plan, especially considering Cousins’ injury and overall mileage.
Through 14 games, Cousins has thrown for a strong 3,508 yards, but he has an NFL-high 16 interceptions, and he threw four picks on Dec. 1 versus the Los Angeles Chargers.
Penix was sensational at Washington last year, leading the NCAA with 4,903 passing yards and throwing 36 touchdown passes, but he has now been put in the middle of a tight race for the division title.
Atlanta has a 7-7 record and trails the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers by one game, but they do hold the tiebreaker by beating the Buccaneers twice this year.
NEXT: Insider Reveals How Kirk Cousins Could Dictate His Next Team
