Kirk Cousins, the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback, shouldered the blame after a disappointing 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, in which he turned in one of the worst performances of his 13-year NFL career. Despite a strong effort from the Falcons’ defense and special teams, Cousins’ struggles with turnovers were the key factor in the defeat.
Cousins’ performance on Sunday was marked by four interceptions, matching a career high he last reached in 2014. Among those turnovers, a 61-yard pick-six by Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still and an end-zone interception by Marcus Maye significantly dampened the Falcons' chances. Three of the Falcons' final drives in the game ended with Cousins being picked off, which ultimately sealed their third consecutive loss.
In his postgame press conference, Cousins took full responsibility for the defeat, acknowledging that he needed to improve his performance moving forward. "I look to myself and say, 'I've got to play better,'" Cousins said. "It hurts. When you feel like your defense played winning football, feel like your special teams made big plays, felt like the run game [did] a solid job, I've got to play better."
Falcons' Playoff Hopes Still Alive
The loss left the Falcons at 6-6, still holding on to first place in the NFC South but facing mounting pressure. This marked Cousins’ third consecutive game without throwing a touchdown, a streak that is uncharacteristic for the veteran quarterback, who had never gone back-to-back games without a touchdown pass since becoming a full-time starter in 2015.
Despite Cousins' recent struggles, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris expressed confidence in his quarterback's ability to rebound. The Falcons’ defense showed signs of improvement, recording a season-high five sacks and holding the Chargers to no offensive touchdowns. However, their offensive woes proved too much to overcome.
Morris Backs Cousins as Starting Quarterback
Even with the pressure mounting, Morris made it clear that Cousins would remain the starting quarterback moving forward. “Kirk was brought here to put us in a playoff position,” Morris said. “Everything is still right in front of us. We're still sticking with our plan.”
Morris emphasized that Cousins' primary focus should be to reduce turnovers, something he believes will help the quarterback bounce back. “I have no doubt [Cousins] will bounce back next week against the Minnesota Vikings, his former team,” Morris added. The Falcons signed Cousins in the offseason to a four-year, $180 million contract, and Morris reiterated that Cousins has been a key contributor to the team’s success this season.
"He's been great for us all season and it's hard to throw that guy under the bus," Morris said.
Drake London Defends Cousins
Wide receiver Drake London also came to Cousins' defense, downplaying the notion that the quarterback was solely responsible for the loss.
“Everybody who's played football and especially at this level has had games like that, I feel like I just had a game like that. So, it’s not all on Kirk. It can never be all on Kirk. We have to run the right routes. We have to be detailed, and we have to execute our plays," London said.
London’s comments reflect the belief that football is a team game, and while Cousins’ mistakes were costly, the entire offense must take responsibility for its performance.
Cousins Reflects on His Role
Cousins, for his part, emphasized that he is not making excuses for his play.
"I’m healthy, though I would love to tell you that I’m fighting through something," Cousins said, suggesting that his struggles were not due to physical issues. He also spoke about his mindset regarding his role as the Falcons' starting quarterback: “There’s no entitlement in the NFL. You just have to go earn it. And if it ever was [entitlement], I wouldn’t want it. I need to play at a level that justifies being out there and so that's the way I’ll always view it.”
He added that over his 13-year career, his focus has always been on earning the right to play, rather than taking anything for granted.
"I've always felt through my whole 13 years that it should never be about anything but earning the right to be out there."
With the Falcons’ playoff hopes still alive, Cousins and the team will look to bounce back next week against the Minnesota Vikings, his former team.
