Falcons' Kirk Cousins endures forgettable afternoon with four interceptions vs Chargers
Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons entered Week 13 hoping to snap a two-game losing streak and re-establish themselves as the team to beat in the NFC South.
Instead, the Falcons lost their third consecutive game and have opened the door for the other NFC South teams to catch them in the divisional race.
The Falcons had plenty of chances to score during their 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a likely playoff team in the AFC. However, Atlanta was undone by missed opportunities and turnovers, most of which were the fault of Cousins.
Here's what to know about the lowlights from the 13-year veteran's career-worst day.
Kirk Cousins stats today
Cousins had one of the worst performances of his career in the Falcons' 17-13 loss to the Chargers. He tied a career-high with four interceptions, a mark he had only reached once before in his NFL career back in 2014. He also failed to record a passing touchdown for just the 16th time in 161 career games.
Below is a look at his full stats against the Chargers:
- Completion rate: 24-of-39 (61.5%)
- Passing yards: 245
- Passing TDs: 0
- INTs: 4
- Yards per attempt: 6.3
- Passer rating: 40.0
Cousins' passer rating of 40.0 is the fourth-worst he has ever produced in his 157 starts. The veteran quarterback's teams are now 0-13 in contests during which he posts a passer rating under 60.
Kirk Cousins interceptions
Cousins' interceptions were the main blight on his stat line. He struggled to read the Chargers defense throughout the game, throwing two in the direction of Tarheeb Still and one that left many wondering what exactly he was attempting to accomplish on the play.
Perhaps Cousins' worst was his second interception of the day. It came when he stared down Darnell Mooney and threw an ill-advised touch pass in his direction. Still was able to undercut the route with ease and galloped untouched into the end zone.
Later in the game, Cousins nearly fell for the same trick – during which the cornerback played the receiver softly but broke on the route. It showcased his shaky field-reading ability on Sunday afternoon.
Cousins' third interception may have been more egregious. It came on a third-and-goal from the 13-yard line where the veteran quarterback simply lobbed the ball into traffic in the end zone. The result was an easy pick for new Chargers safety Marcus Maye.
That interception denied the Falcons a chance at an easy-looking field goal attempt. That became crucial late in Atlanta's four-point loss, as the team could have kicked a field goal on its final possession that would have put it ahead.
Instead, Cousins and Co. were forced to play for a touchdown. The 38-year-old had to toss up a desperation heave on fourth-and-12 late in the quarter, and that ended up being his final pick of the day.
Cousins' four-pick game increased his interception total for the season to 13. That puts him on pace to exceed his career-high mark of 14 from 2022 – provided that the Falcons continue to trust him as starting quarterback.
Will Falcons replace Kirk Cousins with Michael Penix?
Cousins' poor performance had some fans calling for the team to turn to rookie Michael Penix Jr., selected by Atlanta with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Falcons haven't given any indication that they are planning to bench Cousins for Penix. They signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal during the offseason, so Atlanta doesn't seem likely to bench Cousins just 12 games into his time with the team.
Falcons playoff picture: NFC South standings
The only thing that could force the Falcons' hand is if Cousins' recent struggles lead them to fall out of the playoff picture.
When Atlanta was 6-3, it appeared to have a stranglehold on the NFC South. After the Falcons' three-game losing streak, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are within striking distance of first place in the division.
Below is a look at the NFC South standings after the Falcons' loss and with the results of the Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints games still pending.
NFC South standings
- Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
- New Orleans Saints (4-7)
- Carolina Panthers (3-8)
The Falcons beat the Buccaneers twice, so Atlanta owns any two-team tiebreaker over Tampa Bay. Still, the Falcons have a lot less breathing room than when they sported a two-game lead over the Bucs.
And while the Falcons remain alive in the NFC wild-card standings, they would be at least two games behind the No. 7 seed Washington Commanders if they slip out of the NFC South lead. That makes a division title Atlanta's easiest path to a postseason berth.
But Cousins will have to play a lot better for the Falcons to stave off competition from the Buccaneers for first place. Tampa Bay has the third-easiest remaining strength of schedule, so the pressure is on the veteran to up his game and get Atlanta's offense humming once again.