The Atlanta Falcons didn’t sign Kirk Cousins to a four-year deal with $180 million, $100 million of which is guaranteed, to watch their offense score ten points and lose to Justin Fields in Week 1. However, that’s exactly what happened in the Falcons’ 18-10 loss at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Falcons must bench Cousins until he’s ready to run the offense effectively. Cousins went 16/26 passing for 155 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Cousins limited abilities in the passing game hurt the Falcons’ rushing attack. The Falcons finished with 89 yards on the ground.
Is Kirk Cousins washed?
Derrik Klassen with The Athletic noted this week that Cousins seems off due to the Achilles tear he suffered last season. He questioned if the 36-year-old quarterback was “washed” because he could not move against the Steelers:
That doesn’t sound like a problem for a pocket passer, but this isn’t about scrambling or creativity — we know he’s never been that guy. The issue is Cousins was so limited that deep dropbacks from under center and any play-action attempts that required him to turn his back to the line were off the table. All Cousins could manage was to take shotgun and pistol dropbacks with limited movement, 2015 Peyton Manning style.
Cousins’ limitations forced offensive coordinator Zac Robinson into a box. The Falcons ran all but one play from shotgun or pistol, and they never moved Cousins outside the pocket by design. All their rushing plays were out of the pistol, too, as that was their best way to simulate the under-center looks they wanted.
The Atlanta Falcons have trouble upcoming
Frankly, there’s no other explanation for the Falcons’ results on offense last week other than Cousins is limited in what he can do as a passer.
Klassen thinks the Falcons will need to endure another month of Cousins ramping his way back to being mobile enough to run the play-action pass, which is the veteran quarterback’s bread and butter.
The Falcons’ next two opponents are the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Those aren’t teams the Falcons can afford to play a quarterback that isn’t 100%. The Falcons could quickly be looking at going 0-3 before playing the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Seattle Seahawks.
The Falcons could risk injuring Cousins against the Eagles and Chiefs. They didn’t give him all that money to suffer an injury in the first month of the season.
The Falcons must start Michael Penix Jr.
The front office took a risk by drafting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round. He’s an insurance policy against Cousins until the Falcons make him the eventual long-term starter.
After how Cousins performed physically against the Steelers, the Falcons need to start Penix until Cousins can at least protect himself in an offensive scheme where he can be an effective game manager.
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