Atlanta Falcons fans are fired up over head coach Raheem Morris’ latest move. With just days before the regular season kicks off, Morris left both Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins out of the final preseason game lineup. The city is buzzing with reactions, questions, and plenty of frustration. The real story: why did Morris choose to keep his top quarterbacks on the sideline, and what does it mean heading into the 2024-25 campaign?
Why Did Raheem Morris Bench Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins?
The final preseason game usually acts as a dress rehearsal for what’s to come, so Morris’ choice not to play either Penix or Cousins instantly drew heat from Falcons fans. For some, it crossed the line from questionable coaching to outright confusion.
Falcons fan Austin Wilson called the decision a “clown show.” He replied to the news, saying, “And so the clown show continues. Fantastic.”
User @officia1_dell posted a meme that compared Morris with former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, using the caption, “You killed the man but not the idea.”
— michael penix durag (@officia1_dell) August 18, 2025
On the flip side, user @UnGr_Show voiced his frustration, calling Morris and the staff “completely un serious people… Mickey Mouse Morris back at his jokes again…”
“Ok dude wtf is his problem, actually this doesn’t help s**t bro literally I’m calling for his job bro he just be saying bs,” @BradyBuchheit tweeted, demanding Morris’ firing. Fellow fan Kevin Waltman echoed that call for accountability. He wrote, “If the offense isn’t hot week 1 I want Ra fired.”
How Will Atlanta Falcons Fans Respond to the Week 1 Quarterback Situation?
This debate isn’t just about the preseason; fans are already looking ahead to opening week. The Falcons are set to host their division rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on Sunday, Sept. 7. Some, like user NoSkillZ_09, believe the move all but confirms a loss: “I mean that all but confirms a week one loss. Offense isn’t gonna look good at all lmao.”
Another user, @Falcon_Hawk_ATL, chimed in, “He better take accountability when we score 13 points in week 1.” Meanwhile, @iWalt_91 said, “If the starters come out looking rusty/slow against Tampa, the blame will solely be on Raheem.”
User DirtyBirdz11 is bracing for a rough start. He replied, “Starting the season 0-1 ✅”.
While a lot of the uproar is about who suits up in the last preseason clash, fan Erbar Stefan is worried about more than just the lineup. He wrote, “I have a lot more concerns with Morris than that. There are arguments for playing and not.”
Putting the speculation to rest, Morris’ call confirms that neither quarterback was ever going to hit the field in the preseason. For Penix, this marks a second straight preseason without a snap. Last season, Penix took over for Cousins in the final three games and heads into his second year as Atlanta’s starting quarterback.
Meanwhile, when the Falcons face the Dallas Cowboys in the final preseason contest, Easton Stick and Emory Jones will handle quarterback duties. With so much drama before kickoff, all eyes are on the Falcons to see what this decision means when it counts for real.
