Should the Kirk Cousins period in Atlanta be over already?
The 36-year-old quarterback, who signed a $180 million free agent contract with fanfare this spring, endured the worst month of his NFL profession, throwing eight interceptions with out a single landing within the Falcons’ four-game dropping streak. .
Atlanta, as soon as staked on a three-game lead within the NFC South and a transparent path to ending a six-year playoff drought, is now on the surface wanting in. The Bucs have received three straight video games and now management their future to win a fourth. straight division title, regardless of the Falcons being the oddsmakers’ favourite all summer time and simply the crew to beat a month in the past.
It seems Cousins has much less endurance as a result of Atlanta has rookie Michael Penix Jr. on the sidelines, after utilizing the No. 8 total decide this yr to take the franchise’s quarterback of the longer term. As quickly because the Falcons did that, they created the opportunity of controversy, ought to Cousins stumble and fail to stay as much as the lofty expectations that include such a big contract.
It was a horrible four-game spell for Cousins. Going again to 1980, there are solely 3 times a quarterback has thrown a number of interceptions with out a landing move in 4 video games. Ryan Leaf had 10 picks in 1998, Eric Kramer 9 in 1999, and Brett Favre 9 in 2005. To be clear, Atlanta’s issues are actually not restricted to the quarterback, as in the identical 4 video games, opposing quarterbacks had 11 touchdowns and nil interceptions towards the Falcons.
“Kirk Cousins is our quarterback,” coach Raheem Morris mentioned flatly after Sunday’s loss. “We’re going to have an opportunity to go watch this tape like we do each single week. Kirk performed rather a lot higher than the week earlier than… We’re going to do every part we will to win soccer video games, and Kirk is unquestionably part of that.”
Cousins has owned his poor play, taking accountability for his errors and sustaining a optimistic outlook that he and the crew can flip issues round within the remaining 4 video games.
“I wish to play with much more manufacturing, and it has been disappointing the final 4 weeks to not have a landing move,” he mentioned Sunday. “I want it had been completely different. I hope we will, within the final stretch of the season, change that.”
Were the Falcons satisfied this is able to simply be a redshirt yr for Penix? Like any backup quarterback, he is gotten a small fraction of observe reps over the previous 4 months, however for those who’re gifted sufficient to be a top-10 draft decide, there’s an expectation that you can deal with the highlight at regardless. If Cousins had been injured, the Falcons would belief Penix with out hesitation, so why not think about him an appropriate various to the QB1’s persistent struggles?
The time is nearly very best for a change. Atlanta is on the street this week, however on the Raiders, who’ve the worst document within the NFL and rank twenty ninth in scoring protection. Despite having three takeaways towards the Bucs on Sunday, Las Vegas solely has eight all season, matching the bottom complete within the NFL. After that, they will play at residence towards the Giants, additionally at 2-11, with the No. 25 move protection within the league. There’s a tricky sport in Washington, however then the Falcons shut out the yr at residence towards Carolina with three wins, giving Penix three manageable opponents in a primary take a look at 4 video games.
Five weeks in the past, the New York Times playoff simulator gave the Falcons a 96% likelihood of creating the playoffs, however that likelihood dropped to 37% when Atlanta fell behind Tampa Bay. Lose Sunday in Las Vegas – the Falcons are three-point favorites – and your playoff odds drop in half to 17%. There is little room for error at a time when all of the momentum is unfavourable for the franchise.
And as dedicated because the Falcons are to Cousins, with $90 million absolutely assured, they may nonetheless commerce him within the offseason to a QB-needy crew that is not choosing excessive sufficient to discover a surefire starter in a nasty QB draft. A brand new crew can be dedicated for one yr and $37.5 million, which is dear however represents a extra short-term resolution than different high-end veteran options like Sam Darnold or Russell Wilson.
The Falcons have described their main simultaneous investments in two quarterbacks as their current and their future, however there has all the time been the query of when one would finish and the opposite start. Ideally it is not a 2024 dialog with what they’re paying Cousins, but when the objective is to get again to the playoffs, why not now?
The line within the sand for Atlanta all season has been 22 factors: the Falcons are 6-0 after they rating that a lot or extra, 0-7 after they do not. That’s not a lot to ask of a gifted offense with weapons all around the area. And though the Bucs are in first place now, they play the Chargers (and the NFL’s No. 1 protection) this week, and a loss, mixed with a Falcons win, would put Atlanta again on high of the division and in command of its crew. destiny of the playoffs with three weeks to play.
If Penix can lead the Falcons to wins towards three of the worst groups within the NFL this season – the Raiders, Giants and Panthers are a mixed 7-32 – on that alone, Atlanta would have a 48% likelihood of creating the playoffs with the New York City. York Times calculations.
He’s handing Penix the keys to the franchise ahead of you would like, however Cousins has put him on the road together with his struggles over the past month. If they stick to the veteran and fall quick, they will probably transfer on this spring, and the narrative across the franchise is unfavourable, characterised by Cousins’ disappointment slightly than Penix’s upside.
The rookie continues to be very unknown. He made 5 passes all through the season, in a restoration effort following two lopsided defeats. Even within the preseason he made only one look, with 16 passes and 104 yards, with out touchdowns or interceptions. But as unhealthy as Cousins has been over the past month, is uncertainty higher than one thing you realize is an energetic impediment to successful?
Greg Auman is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He beforehand spent a decade protecting the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Times and the Athletic. You can observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.
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