Even though the Atlanta Falcons snapped their four game losing streak last night on Monday Night Football with a 15-9 road win over the Las Vegas Raiders it was still a lackluster performance for Falcons’ quarterback Kirk Cousins and the passing game. Cousins finished the game going 11-17 for 112 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception. Kirk Cousins came into the game with zero touchdown passes and eight interceptions in his last four games.
In a game where the Falcons defense had four sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery, the Falcons’ special teams had two blocked punts and a blocked extra point, and the Falcons ran for 168 yards, along with having a few drives with really good starting field position, but only scoring 15 points, it’s hard not to say the passing game didn’t hold the Falcons’ offense back from a big night and a blowout victory.
After last night’s performance from Kirk Cousins, Mike Johnson and Beau Morgan believe it’s time for the Falcons to bench Cousins and start rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., and they explained why earlier today on The Morning Shift.
“Honestly I would be shocked if Kirk Cousins starts Sunday, because you said it Tiff he [Raheem Morris] said he was going to allow Kirk [Cousins] to play his way out, well he’s not. This to me is the yips, he’s not injured, so just stop, there’s nothing about him that looks injured, but there is something in between the two bird logos on his helmet, and it’s not good.” Beau Morgan said.
Mike Johnson added on by saying that “the playbook with him [Kirk Cousins] a part of it right now just feels like an empty bag of tricks”. Beau replied by saying “ To me it’s as limited as you can get.”
The Falcons had 24 first down snaps last night against the Raiders, and ran the ball on 23 of those 24 first down snaps, and they didn’t throw the ball once on first down in the first half of last night’s game either. If that isn’t a sign of a limited playbook then I don’t know what is.
If the Falcons have to play conservative with a quarterback they gave $100 million guaranteed dollars to then it might be time to reevaluate the quarterback position in Atlanta.
