Kirk Cousins Debut with Falcons Did Not Go Well

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Kirk Cousins
Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings kicked off their regular season on Sunday with a win over the Giants. Their new QB, Sam Darnold, looked great. Kevin O’Connell had his team rolling and vibes will be good this week, at TCO Performance Center. The same cannot be said about Kirk Cousins and his new team, the Atlanta Falcons.

A forgettable start for former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins

To say things went poorly, in Kirk Cousins debut, would be putting it far too lightly. It’s been a long time since Kirko has looked every bit the mediocre quarterback he is so often accused of being. That was certainly the case on Sunday, though.

The Falcons lost 18-10 against the Justin Fields-led Pittsburgh Steelers. It certainly wasn’t the start anyone wanted to see, for the $180 million man. But even worse, suddenly Cousins’ fit in Atlanta appears to be in question.

They were running the pistol and changing around his footwork. It’s like they’re trying to re-make a 37 year-old QB. The Athletic’s Mike Sando definitely took notice.

“New quarterback Kirk Cousins was in the pistol formation 26 times, a career high for him. Cousins was in the pistol just 108 times previously in his career, per TruMedia, with 96 of those snaps stemming from his long-ago seasons with Washington.”

“They rightfully were worried about exposing Cousins to injury against all-world Steelers pass-rusher T.J. Watt. Falcons coach Raheem Morris said getting the play call into the huddle late contributed to a fumbled exchange. Whatever the case, this was not the debut Atlanta sought.“

Mike Sando on Kirk Cousins’ Atlanta debut (The Athletic)

Cousins is dealing with a new play caller, in Zac Robinson, who very clearly isn’t Kevin O’Connell. Robinson will need to get more creative (maybe less creative) if he wants the best out of Cousins.

Related: Does Kirk Cousins Regret Leaving the Minnesota Vikings?

It would probably be beneficial for the Falcons to think again, before altering the entire process of a 36-year-old quarterback, too. Why bring the guy in, and pay him all that money, if you think these fundamental areas of his game need changed?

It was just one game, but the Falcons didn’t bring Cousins in to be mediocre. They have Super Bowl aspirations, but nothing we saw on Sunday suggests they are capable of getting that done.

Can Kirk Cousins turn it around for the Atlanta Falcons?

Sunday was Cousins’ first regular season game action since tearing his achilles against the Green Bay Packers, in week 8 of 2023. He no longer has Minnesota Vikings superstar WR Justin Jefferson to throw to, which isn’t helping his case in Atlanta either.

The Falcons head to Philadelphia this week, before welcoming the Chiefs and Saints to Atlanta in weeks three and four. Something needs to change if Kirk Cousins and his new dirty birds are going to get their season back on track.

Minnesota Vikings fans have seen Cousins play good football, but he needs to be in the right situation. Playmakers in Atlanta aren’t what he had in Minnesota, but they aren’t lackluster either. Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson make for a legitimate set of weapons.

Related: Kirk Cousins Says Vikings Wouldn’t Have Done Him Dirty Like Falcons Did

How he rebounds will certainly be worth watching on Sunday. The Atlanta Falcons have already drafted his replacement, but they probably aren’t ready to rip that $100 million band-aid off quite yet.

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