NFL Analysis
12/1/24
5 min read
Falcons Should Bench Kirk Cousins in Favor of Michael Penix Jr.
If the Atlanta Falcons have any interest in making a playoff run, then it's time to see what rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. can do.
The Falcons have lost three straight games to move to 6-6, losing again on Sunday in a 17-13 to the Los Angeles Chargers. Kirk Cousins had his worst game of the season, throwing four interceptions, including one near the goal line and another for a pick-six that completely flipped the momentum for the game.
Cousins hasn't looked like the same quarterback as he did earlier this season during the team's three-game losing streak. Its lead in the NFC South is slipping away, and with how poorly things are going, it should be time for Atlanta to finally see what Penix is capable of as the team's starter.
Kirk Cousins Looks Done
At 36 years old and recovering from a torn Achilles, Cousins is starting to look more like a player on the verge of retirement than a veteran in his prime.
Cousins completed almost 65 percent of his passes for 245 yards on Sunday, but the baffling decisions that led to turnovers crippled Atlanta's ability to put points on the board. According to RBSDM, Cousins generated -7 in total EPA in the loss.
Things haven't gone well at all for Cousins, particularly in the last three games. He's generated -12.3 EPA in the losing streak, throwing zero touchdowns and six interceptions in that span.
What's alarming for Falcons fans is how quickly Cousins has fallen off the map. His lack of arm strength has become evident, with Cousins struggling to step into throws and deliver with velocity. According to Pro Football Focus, he completed just 3 of 13 passes when throwing 10-plus yards downfield, throwing as many interceptions as completions, with three each.
Even the underneath routes look awful due to the lack of velocity. This pick-six was a telegraphed pass that Tarheeb Still baited Cousins into throwing the whole way.
TO THE 🏡
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 1, 2024
📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/9EjMGmntzr
There can't even be a debate about the Falcons coaching staff being unaware of Cousins' current physical limitations. The offensive playcalling intentionally tries to keep the 36-year-old quarterback from turning his back to the defense. He runs play-action on just 14.1 percent of his passes, the lowest rate of any starting quarterback in the NFL.
The Falcons can't afford to keep trying to hide their quarterback, especially with so much offensive talent. Players like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Darnell Mooney are exciting weapons who can move the chains, but turnovers are killing Atlanta's chances to win games.
It's time for Atlanta to make a change under center.
Michael Penix Time
The Falcons made the most controversial selection of the 2024 NFL Draft by taking Penix Jr. in the first round. Now, it's time for them to see what the investment is worth with the season on the line.
Penix was a seasoned college starter, seeing significant action across six college seasons with Indiana and Washington before going pro. He became a superstar by his final college season, earning All-American honors and the Maxwell Award after leading the Huskies to the national championship game with a 14-1 record, 4,903 passing yards, 39 total touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
A 6-foot-2, 216-pound quarterback, Penix was drafted because of his elite arm talent, rifling in throws into tight windows and hitting receivers in stride on deep shots. However, Falcons fans have only gotten a glimpse of what he's capable of at the NFL level.
Penix has attempted just five passes in his NFL career, completing three of them for 38 yards. However, even those limited dropbacks have shown flashes of what the first-round QB is capable of.
Every regular season Michael Penix dropback so far
— FFYT (@_FootballFilms_) November 19, 2024
Nothing worth overanalyzing but some good throws pic.twitter.com/48AFu7IoP6
That arm talent and ability/willingness to attack defenses vertically is precisely what the Falcons are struggling to do with Cousins under center.
Penix may be a rookie, but he's had all season to learn behind the 36-year-old veteran and should be familiar enough with the offense to step in as a starter if called upon.
Will the Falcons make a Change?
Despite Penix's potential and the flashes the Falcons have seen, head coach Raheem Morris seems committed to Cousins. He even said as much during his postgame press conference following Sunday's loss.
#Falcons HC Raheem Morris was asked about Kirk Cousins’ struggles today:
— Bryce Lewis (@Bryce_Lewis86) December 1, 2024
“We won’t make any excuses for them. That guy has carried us all season, he’s done such a marvelous job. It’s hard to throw that guy under the bus. We’ll bounce back, bring him back and we’ll be ready to… pic.twitter.com/Gyaj26Hc2v
“We won’t make any excuses for them," Morris told reporters about Cousins' turnovers. "That guy has carried us all season. He’s done such a marvelous job. It’s hard to throw that guy under the bus. We’ll bounce back, bring him back, and we’ll be ready to go."
That doesn't mean that it would be impossible for Cousins to get benched. External pressure and a review of Cousins' film from Sunday's game could have the Falcons head coach changing his mind ahead of preparation for next week's game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Ownership and the front office could also pressure Morris to keep Cousins in the starting lineup. The Falcons made a massive financial commitment to the veteran quarterback, giving him a four-year, $180 million contract that virtually guarantees he'll stay on the roster at least through the 2025 season.
Regardless of the reasoning, things are going so poorly for Atlanta during this losing streak that it's at risk of losing its spot at the top of the NFC South if it doesn't turn things around quickly.
