- The Atlanta Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins in the offseason to a four-year contract worth $180 million, including $100 million guaranteed.
- The Falcons then drafted Michael Penix Jr. out of Washington with the eighth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, causing some issues with Cousins.
- After a poor stretch of play, the Falcons have benched Cousins for Penix Jr. to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Atlanta Falcons are 7-7 and still in the hunt for a berth in the NFL playoffs. However, they’ve lost four of their last five, and didn’t look good in a 15-9 win over the lowly Las Vegas Raiders.
A lot of that has come down to quarterback play, and Kirk Cousins has struggled badly recently. The Falcons are trying to stem the tide, as they’ve decided to bench Cousins for rookie Michael Penix Jr.
Cousins Benched After Throwing Nine Interceptions in Five Games
The announcement was reported on December 17 that Cousins would be benched for Penix Jr.
Penix Jr. will get the start for the Falcons in their NFL Week 16 game against another bad team, the New York Giants. The Falcons felt the need to make the change after a truly disastrous stretch for the 36-year-old Cousins, who has thrown for one touchdown and nine interceptions over a five-game period.
His touchdown pass against the Giants was Cousins’ first since a three-touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys on November 3rd. He threw four picks in a 17-13 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on December 1st.
Now, the Falcons will switch to Penix Jr., who has completed three of five passes this season for 38 yards. The 24-year-old was drafted eighth by the Falcons, and Cousins was taken aback by Atlanta’s decision. Penix Jr. comes with his own baggage as he suffered two ACL injuries at Indiana, and then had shoulder issues at Washington.
But in his senior season, Penix Jr. led Washington to the CFP Playoff title game, where they lost 34-13 to Michigan. He also finished second in the Heisman voting to LSU’s Jayden Daniels, who is now the favorite in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds with the Washington Commanders.
How Does This Affect the Falcons’ Playoff Chances and Cousins’ Future?
It’s unknown how much Penix Jr. can change the Falcons’ fortunes, and their odds at NFL betting sites. But they had to do something as Cousins was playing them out of the postseason. The Falcons are still in it at 7-7, and they’re still only a game behind 8-6 Tampa Bay in the NFC South. Atlanta is also in the mix for a wild-card in the NFC.
The Falcons face the Giants in Week 16, then travel to Washington to face Daniels and the Commanders, before wrapping up the season at home against Carolina. The Falcons should be favored over the Giants and Panthers at online sportsbooks, and two wins would go a long way.
Atlanta can lean on their running game behind second-year back Bijan Robinson, who has 1,102 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
As for Cousins, the Falcons have to figure out what to do with him. If Penix Jr. plays well down the stretch, that could be the end of the line for Cousins in Atlanta, and possibly, the NFL. He is 36, and suffered a torn Achilles in October 2023 while with the Minnesota Vikings.
He could potentially come back as a backup, but that’s a lot of money to pay for your second-string quarterback. But right now, the Falcons are simply hoping Penix Jr. can lead them to the playoffs.
