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Here’s where the Falcons find out if Kirk Cousins ​​was worth the money

The Falcons lost because the man who can’t have a bad game – their starting quarterback – had a terrible game. Only once in his 161 previous NFL games has Cousins ​​thrown four interceptions, in 2014 in his 10th professional start. Just FYI: Desmond Ridder, who the Falcons spent a fortune to replace, never threw four INTs in a game.

The new guy’s poor performance in the opening loss to Pittsburgh could be due to rust. (Cousins ​​had torn his Achilles tendon.) He fulfilled the position’s requirements over the next eight games. In the first win over Tampa Bay, he threw for 509 yards and four touchdowns; He threw four more touchdowns in the second half. The star-studded offense clicked. The team took first place. Then the team and its QB hit a wall.

His passer rating in Weeks 8 and 9 wins: 145.9 and 144.8. His rating in the three games since, all losses: 75.1, 68.9 and 40.0. With his season rating (90.8), he ranks 19th among the starters. The value hasn’t been this low since 2015, his first full season as a starter. Oh, and his 13 interceptions lead the NFL.

And now you ask: Do the Falcons have another quarterback? Why, yes. He is Michael Penix Jr., taken with the No. 8 pick in the draft a month after the Falcons landed Cousins. The Falcons love Penix’s talent and now you’re probably wondering: Should the rookie start against Minnesota?

The game against Cousins’ former employer is huge. With Tampa Bay 2-10 against Las Vegas, a fourth straight loss could drop the Falcons to second place in a division they nearly won.

The case for sticking with Cousins: He’s been a competent starter for a decade. He was never one of the top five quarterbacks in the league, but his competence was the reason the Falcons broke the rules and handed Cousins ​​$180 million after two years with Marcus Mariota and Ridder. Yes, he had three bad games. No, he’s not having a great statistical year. Still, he’s an NFL quarterback.

We have no idea if Penix is ​​it. He has thrown five professional passes. Whatever the Falcons’ succession plan is, we can assume it didn’t involve a quarterback change in Game 13 of Year 1 with Cousins/Penix. If they lose on Sunday and miss the playoffs, they’ll have reason to reconsider. (Cousins ​​is 36 and, as analytical writer Rivers McCown has noted, non-elite QBs can turn sour quickly.)

But the Falcons aren’t there yet. They brought Cousins ​​here to win games like this. Here you can find out whether he can do it.


SUNDAY GAME

Falcons at Vikings, 1 p.m., Fox, 92.9 FM

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