ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons find themselves navigating through a four-game losing streak, compounded by quarterback Kirk Cousins accumulating eight interceptions and no touchdown passes during this challenging stretch. However, amidst the turmoil, there’s a glimmer of hope: they compete in the NFC South, a division that offers them a chance to stay in the playoff picture.
The Falcons are set to face a couple of struggling opponents next, the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants, who currently share the worst record in the NFL at 2-11. Coach Raheem Morris has confirmed that Cousins will remain the starting quarterback for the upcoming Monday night matchup against the Raiders.
After suffering a 42-21 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta’s record fell to 6-7, placing them one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South standings. Fortunately, the Falcons hold the tiebreaker over Tampa, making their upcoming games against Washington and Carolina critical for any hope of revitalizing their season. “We’re right in this thing,” remarked right guard Chris Lindstrom, who expressed dissatisfaction with their performance but maintained belief in the team’s potential to succeed.
In order to capture their first playoff berth since 2017, Cousins and the Falcons need to address their ongoing red-zone struggles. Although Atlanta ranks eighth in the NFL by averaging 371 yards per game, they sit at 19th place for scoring, averaging only 21.4 points due to continual challenges in finishing drives.
Despite the favorable situation in the NFC South, the Falcons face significant scoring issues, caused by an array of turnovers, penalties, and inconsistent offensive play. Coach Morris acknowledged the critical nature of Cousins’ interceptions, stating they cannot afford to overlook them.
Even with these challenges, Cousins remains the starting quarterback, but first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. is waiting in the wings. Morris underscored his commitment to Cousins while expressing confidence in Penix’s talent and readiness to step up if needed.
On a positive note, the Falcons displayed a strengthened pass rush with four sacks against the Vikings, marking a significant improvement in an area that has plagued the team in recent years. Their back-to-back games featuring at least four sacks have not been seen since 2019, with the total rising to nine sacks in just two games, nearly doubling their previous league-low tally for the first 11 games.
However, despite the success of their pass rush, the Falcons’ defense struggled to prevent big plays, allowing four completions of over 40 yards to Vikings receivers. Morris noted that the Vikings game-planned effectively to avoid targeting cornerback A.J. Terrell, leaving opportunities for others that the Falcons failed to exploit.
Among the standout performances, running back Tyler Allgeier contributed significantly with nine carries for 63 yards and a touchdown. Bijan Robinson also played well, contributing with 22 carries for 92 yards, allowing Allgeier to re-establish himself as a valuable asset to the offense.
Conversely, Kirk Cousins faces scrutiny with a concerning 17 touchdown to 15 interception ratio. Morris reflected on Cousins’ early season success, noting that he was instrumental in securing a 6-3 record and emphasized the need for Cousins to rally to overcome their current struggles.
Additionally, wide receiver Darnell Mooney had a standout game, achieving a career-high 142 receiving yards on six receptions, successfully leading the team in receiving yards for the third time this season.
As the Falcons prepare for their next challenge, former Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder is anticipated to start for the Raiders on Monday night, following a knee injury sustained by Aidan O’Connell during last Sunday’s game.
