One month ago, the Atlanta Falcons were atop the NFC South and had a 6-3 record.
They’re now 6-7 and have fallen behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional race.
Though this is a team sport, and it’s never wise, fair or accurate to point the finger at just one player, a lot of that regression has to do with the play of quarterback Kirk Cousins.
“Zero touchdowns, eight interceptions in his last four games, which is the worst ratio in the Super Bowl era in a four-game stretch. It’s been miserable,” analyst John Daigle said, via the Ross Tucker Podcast.
“0 TDs, 8 INTs in his last four games, which is the worst ratio in the Super Bowl era in a four game stretch. It's been miserable.”@notJDaigle with a jarring Kirk Cousins stat: pic.twitter.com/aLDOPNdd3E
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) December 14, 2024
With that lingering slump, it didn’t take long before fans and analysts started urging head coach Raheem Morris to give rookie Michael Penix Jr. a chance.
Penix looked very good in limited preseason action and was among the best passers in college football last season.
Also, though an NFL rookie, he’s a seasoned player with plenty of collegiate experience.
The Falcons used the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to select Penix despite having Cousins under contract for a big payday, a move that raised a lot of eyebrows.
However, as high as the Falcons are on their young quarterback, they don’t think he’s ready to take the reins.
But if Cousins continues to cost them games, they might want to reconsider that stance, as they’ve now lost four in a row and the playoffs might be slipping through their fingers.
NEXT: Insider Reveals A Big Concern He's Hearing About Kirk Cousins' Future
