The Atlanta Falcons are taking on the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in the final week of the regular season. Atlanta has been decimated by injuries this season. The Falcons made a change at quarterback last year, benching Kirk Cousins for then-rookie Michael Penix Jr., but they made another change at quarterback this year due to Penix Jr.’s injury. Here’s the breakdown of Cousins being back in the lineup.
Evaluating Kirk Cousins’ Performance as Falcons Starter
Penix, the Falcons’ starting quarterback, sustained a knee injury in their Week 11, 30-27 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers. Penix Jr. was injured late in the game and did not return. The diagnosis was a torn ACL, and Cousins stepped in for the remainder of the contest. Before his season ended due to injury, Penix Jr. threw for 1,982 yards and nine touchdowns with three interceptions.
Cousins had already stepped in for Penix Jr. earlier in the season prior to the ACL injury. For example, Penix Jr. was ruled out for the Week 8 game against the Miami Dolphins, a 34-10 loss. In that contest, Cousins threw for 173 yards with no touchdowns.
In Week 11, after Penix Jr. exited the game, Cousins finished with 48 passing yards. Outside of that appearance, Cousins has performed fairly well. In Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints, Cousins went 16 of 23 for 199 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The interception came after the intended receiver tipped the ball into the air, allowing a defender to make the play.
In Week 13, the Falcons lost to the New York Jets, 27-24, but Cousins was efficient, completing 21 of 33 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown. However, against the Seattle Seahawks the following week, Atlanta struggled in a 37-9 loss, and Cousins threw two interceptions.
Against Tampa Bay in Week 15 on Thursday Night Football, Cousins led a comeback victory, throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. It appeared to be a career resurgence for Cousins. The following week against the Arizona Cardinals was similar, with Cousins throwing for nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Last week, against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football, the Falcons surprised many fans with a 27-24 win. Cousins did not have a strong statistical performance, throwing for 126 yards and a touchdown, but it was enough to secure the victory.
Cousins’ Season Grade
Through this point in the season, Cousins has thrown for 1,541 yards and nine touchdowns with four interceptions. While those numbers are not outstanding, his record as a starter this season is 4-3. PFSN has Kirk Cousins graded with a 73.1 Quarterback Impact Score.
Based on Cousins’ production and win total, his season grade to this point is a C-.
