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Summary:
- The Atlanta Falcons broke a four-game victory with a key 15-win victory over the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
- The victory kept the Falcons’ playoff aspirations intact, keeping their NFC South title hopes alive.
- Despite the victory, coach Raheem Morris emphasized quarterback Kirk Cousins’ need to “play better.”
The Atlanta Falcons snapped a four-game losing streak on Monday night, securing a crucial 15-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
The win kept the Falcons’ hopes of claiming the NFC South title alive. However, its quarterback play is still a lingering concern.
Coach Morris on Cousins: “He’s Got to Play Better”
In a game where the Falcons relied heavily on their ground game, Kirk Cousins completed 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards, tossing one touchdown and one interception.
The team leaned on running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, who combined for 34 carries, to help control the clock and take pressure off the struggling quarterback.
Cousins’ performance has been a troubling trend. Over his last five games, he has thrown nine interceptions and has only one touchdown pass.
His 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Drake London in the first quarter marked his first touchdown pass since Week 9 when the Falcons were 6-3 and leading the division.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said
He’s got to play better and obviously, you got to go back, you got to get to look at everything, But he wants to play better. He’s got to play better. We’ve got to find a way to get him to play better.
While Morris acknowledged the need for improvement, he stopped short of suggesting any immediate changes at quarterback.
Cousins, Unable to Produce the Big Plays
The Falcons had drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the April draft, just weeks after signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract.
The Falcons’ focus on the run game was so pronounced that Cousins did not throw a pass on first down in the first half, a situation that he never encountered before in his 13-year career.
Despite throwing for 344 yards against the Minnesota Vikings the previous week, Cousins could not find similar success against the Raiders.
The Falcons converted only 4 of 13 third downs, and Cousins seemed unable to produce the big plays they needed.
After a four-interception performance against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13, Cousins showed some signs of improvement against the Vikings, but his performance against the Raiders was a step backward.
“I Don’t Think That’s a Mystery.”
When asked if he had made progress or regressed, Cousins said it was “a little of both,” adding that his biggest issue right now was “decision-making“.
So that you’re not putting the ball in harm’s way and not trying to be too aggressive, And I think that’s really the key. Protect the football.
Although Cousins did throw fewer interceptions than in recent games and did not fumble, he still leads the league in both interceptions (16) and fumbles (12, tied with Baker Mayfield).
His performance against the Raiders, while an improvement in some respects, still fell short of his own expectations.
Responding to Morris’ comments about needing to play better, Kirk Cousins offered a candid take:
I don’t think that’s a mystery. I think the last few weeks I would say I need to play better, Raheem says it, but it’s stating the obvious, and every week you kind of go through your process and you plan to go out there and play the very best you can. And so, this week will be no different.
