Even though the Atlanta Falcons are going through a four-game losing streak and dealing with the uncertainty caused by quarterback Kirk Cousins’ eight interceptions and no touchdown passes during that time, there is still some hope for the team.
They play in the NFC South.
There is more good news: The Falcons’ next two opponents, the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Giants, have the worst record in the NFL at 2-11.
Coach Raheem Morris has said he is sticking with Cousins for next Monday night’s game against Las Vegas.
Sunday’s 42-21 loss at Minnesota brought Atlanta’s record to 6-7, putting them one game behind Tampa Bay in the NFC South. The Falcons hold the tiebreaker over the Buccaneers, so if they can make the most of their upcoming games, which also include Washington and Carolina, they might still be able to turn their season around.
“We’re right in this thing,” right guard Chris Lindstrom said Monday, though he also admitted he is “obviously not happy or satisfied with where we’re at.”
Kirk Cousins walks off the field in the 2nd half
Lindstrom said he still has “the ultimate belief in what we’re doing and everything that we have going on and everything is still in front of us.”
Cousins and the Falcons need to fix their issues in the red zone if they want to keep their chances of making the playoffs alive. The Falcons rank eighth in the NFL with 371 yards per game but are only 19th in points scored, averaging 21.4 per game, due to their ongoing struggles inside the 20-yard line.
Even with the NFC South being a forgiving division, it can’t make up for the scoring problems caused by penalties, turnovers, and other ongoing mistakes.
“You can’t live with it at all,” Morris said Monday when asked about Cousins’ recent interceptions.
Even so, Cousins will remain the starter, while first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. waits for his chance.
“It’s for sure Kirk is our quarterback, but I have no hesitations about what our young man has been doing and how he has been preparing and the things he is ready to do,” Morris said. “So if that time ever came, I would have a lot of confidence in what Mike is able to do, but Kirk is our quarterback. Kirk is the guy who is going to lead us.”