After six successful seasons in Minnesota, Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency.
The 36-year-old quarterback suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last year, and there were doubts about how he will play this year. The Falcons drafting Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick brought more pressure on Cousins, but the veteran quarterback has managed to prove his critics wrong.
Former NFL MVP Cam Newton recently discussed Cousins on ESPN’s “First Take” and praised the Falcons quarterback.
Cam Newton Discusses Kirk Cousins’ Impact on Falcons
During his appearance on “First Take,” Newton mentioned that Cousins has changed the culture in Atlanta and has quickly become a fan favorite.
“I really know that Kirk Cousins has engulfed the culture in Atlanta. Being an Atlanta native, we didn’t know how this Kirko experience was going to be,” Newton said. “Got a little spooked with the draft pick, but at the same time, I think two things that really impacted how people look at Kirk Cousins in Atlanta.”
“No. 1, winning in Philly. He walked in that trap and took over that trap. Winning on Thursday night, putting up 509 [yards,] I believe, making sure nobody walk into his trap … Kirko, keep it up!”
Before the start of the season, many thought that the Falcons would be a Super Bowl contender with Cousins as their quarterback. This was primarily due to the division they play in, the NFC South, which hasn’t been competitive in the past few years.
This year, we could have two playoff teams from the NFC South, as the Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are both playing good football. Atlanta has already defeated Tampa Bay 36-30 in Week 5, in which Cousins threw for 509 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception with a passer rating of 114.8.
Cousins and Falcons Are on a Three-Game Winning Streak
After a disappointing 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, the Falcons have bounced back. They have won four of their last five games and are currently on a three-game winning streak, with their only loss coming against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Falcons will play against the Seattle Seahawks at home in Week 7. Atlanta is currently favored by three points to win the game. Cousins is 2-5 against the Seahawks in his career, but he did win the last matchup against them (30-17) in 2021.
In his last game against the Seahawks, Cousins threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns and completed 78.9% of his throws. The Falcons fans will hope that the veteran quarterback plays that well again on Sunday.
In six games this season, Cousins has thrown for 1,598 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions with a passer rating of 94.2. He is averaging 266.3 passing yards per game and is ranked fifth in that category across the league.
The Falcons are tied with the best record in the NFC South with the Buccaneers. With a win against the Seahawks, they could have a one-game lead as Tampa Bay could lose its Week 7 matchup against the high-flying Baltimore Ravens.
