In October, it looked like the Atlanta Falcons were going to win the NFC South. But after opening November with a 27-21 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, a four-game losing streak ensued.
The two-win Las Vegas Raiders hosted the Falcons on Monday night and Atlanta snapped their losing streak, albeit in ugly fashion. The Falcons scored just one offensive touchdown in the 15-9 victory, and quarterback Kirk Cousins finished the night with just 112 passing yards.
The veteran signal-caller also increased his NFL-leading interception total when he fumbled in the third quarter. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris continues to face questions about whether he will bench Cousins in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr., given Cousins’ continued streak of poor performances.
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Kirk Cousins (18) looks on as Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris talks about offense and defense during offseason workouts at the Atlanta Falcons training complex on May 14, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
After the narrow victory over Las Vegas, Morris deviated slightly from his usual staunch public defense of Cousins. The head coach admitted that the team needed more production from the quarterback.
“He’s got to play better. We’ve got to find a way to get him to play better. We’ve got to play better at the quarterback position,” the Falcons’ first-year coach told reporters.
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The Falcons finished Monday’s game with just 261 yards of total offense, much of which came from star running back Bijan Robinson, who rushed for 125 yards. Cousins has thrown nine interceptions and just one touchdown in the last five games.
Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in the offseason. An estimated $100 million is fully guaranteed, according to previous reports. Morris and the Falcons’ brass have likely weighed the financial implications of sitting Cousins and potentially leaving him behind at the end of the season.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins throws against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. (Kirby Lee/Image Images)
The Falcons used the eighth overall pick on Penix Jr. in April, several weeks after signing Cousins. The former Washington Huskies quarterback’s 4,903 passing yards led the 2023 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins walks off the field after throwing an interception during the second half against the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The decision to draft Penix Jr. was met with questions, but many of those concerns were put to rest when Cousins demonstrated his ability to perform at a high level.
The 36-year-old threw for 509 yards in an overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in early October.
The victory over the Raiders allowed the Falcons to remain in playoff contention. The Bucs, riding a four-game winning streak, enter Week 16 in first place in the NFC South.
