Marc Raimondi, ESPN writer
LAS VEGAS – Atlanta Falcons stopped a four-game losing streak and kept their hopes of winning the NFC South alive on Monday night Victory 15-9 over Las Vegas Invaders at Allegiant Stadium. However, the team still has a pressing issue: quarterback play.
Kirk Cousins He was 11 of 17 for 112 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In the match, the Falcons focused mainly on their fast attack. Sesame Robinson AND Tyler Allgeier for a total of 34 carriers.
Cousins has nine interceptions over his last five games and just one touchdown pass in that span. His 30-yard lob in the first quarter to the winger Drake London was his first touchdown pass since Week 9, when the Falcons were 6-3 and in control of their league.
“He has to play better and obviously you have to come back, you have to look at everything,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “But he wants to play better. He needs to play better. We have to find a way to make him play better.”
Morris hasn’t said he’s ready to change the quarterback position. The Falcons drafted a quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft in April, weeks after signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million free agent contract.
Atlanta (7-7) focused so much on the running game that Cousins didn’t make a first down in the first half. This is the first such situation in his 13-year career.
Cousins intercepted the ball twice Minnesota Vikings last week, but he passed for 344 yards through the air. There weren’t as many big plays against the Raiders, with the Falcons going 4 of 13 on third down.
Morris said Cousins showed improvement against the Vikings, throwing four interceptions against the Vikings Los Angeles Chargers in week 13. Asked if Monday was an improvement or a regression for him, Cousins replied it was “a little bit of both” and the biggest problem for him right now is “decision-making.”
“To not put the ball in danger and not try to play too aggressively,” Cousins said. “And I think that’s really the key. Protect football.”
It was his fewest steals in three games, and Cousins did not record a single foul. He leads the league in both categories – 16 and 12 (tied with Baker Mayfield), appropriately. But this trip certainly wasn’t up to his standards.
When Cousins was asked about Morris’ comments that he needed to play better, the point guard replied, “I don’t think it’s a secret.”
“I think over the last couple of weeks I would say I have to play better,” Cousins said. “Raheem says it, but he’s stating the obvious and every week you kind of go through the process and plan to go out there and play your best. So this week will be no different.”
