Kirk Cousins arguably had the worst game of his career in Week 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback threw four interceptions, and his team suffered a 17-13 loss.
The Falcons have lost three straight games, and their fans were quite upset with how the veteran quarterback played. Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with Atlanta this past offseason, but the fans are already looking forward to moving on from him.
Fans React to Kirk Cousins’ Performance vs. Chargers
In the loss to the Chargers, Cousins went 24-for-39, throwing for 245 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions with a passer rating of 40.0. The Falcons had a chance to win the game, but the 36-year-old quarterback attempted pass was caught by Chargers safety Derwin James Jr.
Here’s how fans reacted to Cousins’ horrific outing against the Chargers:
Kirk cousins needs to retire
— Marq (@snohsidepiece) December 1, 2024
“180 million to throw four picks,” said one fan.
“Start [Michael Penix Jr.] next week,” said another fan.
Captain Kirk Cousins continues to prove he’s incapable of winning the big games: 4 int. didn’t help his team today
— JasonSmithberg (@dodgerjason) December 1, 2024
Another fan added, “Coach Raheem Morris needs to bench Kirk Cousins.”
“Kirk Cousins gave that game to the Chargers. That s**t was disgraceful to watch.” said one fan.
Why is Kirk Cousins still employed pic.twitter.com/Yy5cNV7z5b
— DZ (@jidzv1) December 1, 2024
After dropping their last three games, the Falcons are now 6-6 on the season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can tie their record with a win against the Carolina Panthers today, but Atlanta holds the tiebreaker over Tampa Bay.
The Falcons will travel to Minnesota next week to face Cousins’ former team. It will be a very tough fixture for the NFC South franchise, but it’s important for their quarterback to at least have a respectable outing and not be the reason why his team loses the game.
Cousins has thrown for 3,052 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, completing 67.4% of his throws with a passer rating of 90.8 in 12 games. He hasn’t looked like his previous self since returning from the Achilles injury but could get better with time.
Should the Falcons Start Michael Penix Jr.?
The Falcons drafted Penix with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The decision to draft him surprised everyone, as it came after the franchise had signed Cousins to a long-term deal.
However, since Atlanta drafted Penix, the franchise finds itself in an ideal situation. If Cousins’ play doesn’t improve, they could go to the rookie, but is it the right time yet?
Falcons head coach Morris has confirmed that Cousins will be the team’s starting quarterback next week, and it is the right decision. If they give Penix an opportunity and he also doesn’t play well, then benching him could have a long-term effect.
Raheem Morris says there won't be any questions about the starting QB internally this week. It's up to the Falcons as a team to bounce back, and he believes "there's no better man than 18 to do that for us."
— Will McFadden (@willmcfadden) December 1, 2024
As a result, the Falcons should continue with the veteran quarterback and let the rookie develop behind the scenes. Atlanta has a plan for Penix, and rushing him onto the field this year is likely not part of it. They are still at the top of their division, and Cousins is experienced enough to bounce back from his performance against the Chargers and potentially lead his team to the playoffs.
After the Week 14 game against the Vikings, the Falcons have four winnable games against the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and Carolina Panthers. Due to this, there is no reason for the fans to panic.