Should the Falcons bench Kirk Cousins for rookie first-rounder Michael Penix Jr.?

There are 100 million fully guaranteed reasons this may not happen, but the Falcons need to send Kirk Cousins to the sideline and start Michael Penix Jr. 

Let’s start, naturally, with the numbers as justification. Over the last three games, all Atlanta losses, Cousins has thrown six interceptions without a touchdown, averaged 6.96 yards per attempt, and led an offense that failed to score more than 20 points.

The abysmal quarterback play has coincided with a surge for Atlanta’s defense. Since the start of Week 11, the Falcons are eighth in Expected Points Added per play in non-garbage-time situations. In the most recent loss, that unit sacked Justin Herbert five times! They came into the game with five sacks on the season! And the Falcons still couldn’t win. 

In fourth quarters alone, Cousins has a 56.6 rating, which stems from two touchdowns to seven interceptions at 61% completion and 6.02 yards per attempt. Nine of Atlanta’s 12 games to date have been within one score entering the fourth. 

This isn’t a schematic problem, nor are fluky plays the culprit here. 

Cousins has regressed from a dependable, high-efficiency pocket passer with limited upside to an immobile quarterback whose weak arm and poor decision-making have become clear liabilities. 

As the kids say, Cousins is cooked. 

If completion percentage and yards per attempt are checked, it’d appear Cousins is operating on-brand. During his six-year stint in Minnesota, he completed 67.8% of his throws at 7.6 yards per attempt. This year in Atlanta, his completion rate is 67.4%, and his yards-per-attempt average is 7.6.  

But the film tells a completely different story. 

Three of his four interceptions in the 17-13 loss at home to the Chargers were of the brutal variety. 

Those type of decisions and, especially, that lack of arm strength hamstrings an NFL offense today. Cousins is operating like a quarterback of…

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Author : Chris Trapasso

Publish date : 2024-12-02 15:58:00

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