Sunday within the Superdome was the quintessential Kirk Cousins soccer sport. 300 yards passing, a stable completion proportion — and one L for good measure. The now 6-and-4 Falcons seem susceptible on the high of the chaotically terrible NFC South, however no matter whether or not Atlanta can win the division or not it’s rising abundantly clear that this plan simply isn’t going to work. The Falcons aren’t constructed to win a Tremendous Bowl, they don’t have the angle on the sphere, and above all else: Kirk Cousins continues to be a Costco scorching canine.
That is one thing I explored in January of 2023 when the Vikings flamed out of the playoffs after a stellar common season. We’re virtually two years eliminated, however the actuality in the case of Cousins nonetheless stands.
“Cousins will without end be precisely the man he’s proper now. Each season he’s going to throw for 4,000 yards, he’s going to make the Professional Bowl yearly, and he’s going to repeatedly do exactly sufficient to make you assume he has the expertise to win a Tremendous Bowl. He received’t. It’s not in his DNA as a participant. There’s simply one thing eternally lacking from Cousins’ sport that the actually nice ones, the ring-winning, Lombardi-hoisting QBs possess, which he lacks. Cousins is the Scottie Pippen of NFL quarterbacks. He’s by no means going to be the man you want when the strain is on, when a important sport on the road — however he’ll get you at near the dance, as if that’s a comfort prize.”
Only for good measure, Cousins in on-pace for 4,397 yards. He’ll make a Professional Bowl due to his spectacular uncooked yardage and completion proportion. As soon as once more a Cousins-led staff goes to both battle to make the playoffs in any respect, or flame out within the opening spherical.
That is the character of a Costco scorching canine. It’s dependable. It’s serviceable. If you find yourself in want of sustenance it’s going to be there for you. Hell, it’s completely tremendous to love the Costco hotdog as properly — however no one goes to confuse it with a life-changing eating expertise. No person goes to run to their mates and inform them they have to strive the new canine at Costco.
The Falcons’ loss to the Saints on Sunday was a distillation of every little thing Cousins is as a quarterback. He actually didn’t do something fallacious. Even his lone interception didn’t even have a bearing on the sport attributable to horrific Saints offensive administration on the following drive that noticed they throw three-straight move makes an attempt inside the 2 minute warning, relatively than attempt to hand off to Alvin Kamara and run out the clock.
Nevertheless, the distinction between Cousins and Derek Carr was explosive performs. Those that don’t stuff the stat sheet, however really win video games. It’s turning into extraordinarily clear that Cousins simply can’t generate this game-changing explosive performs with out a receiver who could make him higher — and with out Justin Jefferson, Cousins’ play is simply … flat. Even with out somebody of Jefferson’ caliber there’s merely no excuse for getting such common outcomes out of Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Kyle Pitts. Positive, the three mixed for 248 yards, nevertheless it took 28 targets to get there, and even then the longest reception of the day for Atlanta was a busted protection 33-yard move to Mooney.
If this sport was a distillation of Cousins, then this play was an additional discount into his base components.
Even with the sport on the road, figuring out he would have to throw a landing to win the sport — Cousins appeared content material throwing a checkdown and taking the loss. See, that is the issue, and why Cousins was by no means going to have the ability to replicate Tom Brady on the Buccaneers or Matthew Stafford on the Rams to play the position of heroic veteran to place a near-champion over the hump. It’s exactly why a near-champion in Minnesota was comparatively accepting that he was going to depart in free company with out numerous angst.
There are just a few primary tenets of soccer: While you out-gain a staff by 103 yards of offense, it is best to win. While you virtually double an opponent in dashing yards with a 5.7 yard-per-carry common, it is best to win. When you might have the higher offensive line, higher receivers, and are taking part in a 2-7 opponent who simply traded away their finest defensive again — it is best to win.
Positive, there are mitigating elements you should utilize to make excuses for Kirk Cousins. Younghoe Koo lacking three fields objectives was atrocious, and in a really possible way value the Falcons the sport. However the sport was additionally placed on Koo’s more and more shaky leg as a result of the offense have been solely 5-for-14 on third down, together with 3-for-11 on third down performs the place Cousins tried a move.
Time and time and time and time and time (repeating) once more, a play was dialed up for Cousins on a important down and distance the place the Falcons wanted a play — and virtually each single time he allow them to down. That’s a foul trait to have when the No. 1 promoting level on coming to Atlanta was that you simply’d have the ability to make the performs that Desmond Ridder couldn’t.
Make no mistake, there’s zero comparability between Cousins and Ridder as quarterbacks — besides a shared trait that neither could make a play when it issues probably the most. For as flawed and shaky as Derek Carr might be, on Sunday he out-played Cousins as a result of whereas he didn’t full as many passes or transfer the chains as a lot, what he did do was full 4 passes downfield of 30 or extra yards, which was the only purpose the Saints received.
Now there’s numerous soul looking out to do for the Falcons. Positive, they’re 6-4 and nonetheless accountable for the NFC South, however with the Buccaneers at 4-6 and each the Saints and Panthers at 3-7 there’s a really actual probability that somebody, anybody might come up and supplant Atlanta.
If all the hassle and the cash in signing Kirk Cousins ends in Atlanta not successful the division will probably be an abject failure. However that’s what occurs whenever you overpay for a Costco scorching canine.
Winner: Kyler Murray and Jonathan Gannon
There’s one thing occurring in Arizona we actually shouldn’t ignore. The now 6-and-4 Cardinals are taking part in sneaky good soccer, and will actually shock lots of people as we strategy the back-end of the season.
Beating Aaron Rodgers and the hapless Jets isn’t essentially one thing to write down dwelling about, however how this staff is successful is completely price appreciating. Jonathan Gannon’s defensive transformation of the Cardinals has taken form, and it begins with the secondary. The Gannon defensive has turned security Budda Baker right into a focal piece, and he’s having a profound influence as a do-everything security who’s equally comfortably making certain the protection doesn’t quit massive performs, simply as he’s at dwelling taking part in within the trenches as a blitzing security.
That is merely a staff construct round shutting down the move, rating ninth within the NFL in passing touchdowns allowed. This unit merely doesn‘t quit massive performs, and whereas Arizona continues to be a piece in progress in the case of run protection, nonetheless this staff is constructed to deal with the trendy NFL.
That bend-don’t-break protection can be for nothing if not for Kyler Murray on the opposite aspect of the ball. Murray has been again in a giant manner this season, sneakily placing up mammoth numbers exterior of Kliff Kingsbury’s Air Raid — which many didn’t assume was attainable. Because it stands Murray is No. 2 within the NFL in passer ranking, mixing sensible resolution making with legit explosive performs, capping all of it off together with his working capability.
Regulate Arizona, as a result of the Playing cards are placing all of it collectively and will actually shock individuals come playoff time.
Loser: Each single particular person in Chicago answerable for Caleb Williams’ growth
There’s no good option to say this: Caleb Williams sucks proper now. That’s not a condemnation of his expertise, however because it stands he’s firmly on the Bryce Younger trajectory of getting his profession destroyed by unhealthy coaches in a foul system.
How the hell Matt Eberflus nonetheless has this teaching job is past me — although there’s some terrifying suggestion that sharing an agent with Bears’ GM Ryan Poles might have a hand in it. Whereas there are some points just like the offensive line which may’t be mounted in a single day, there’s additionally a actuality that no one contained in the Bears’ resolution making staff has any concept methods to scheme across the staff’s deficiencies.
So we’re left with Williams, being trotted out week-after-week, barely finishing 50 % of his passes, having next-to-no explosive performs, and usually trying the worst of the large three rookie QBs.
We’re left with one in every of two eventualities:
- Like early-season Bryce Younger, Caleb Williams has forgotten methods to play soccer
- Absolute idiots are ruining his growth, like Bryce Younger
Anybody who has seen the Bears is aware of what’s occurring.
Winner: Bryce Younger
So let’s counterpoint that with two wins in a row for Bryce Younger. Whereas it’s hardly one thing to write down dwelling about whenever you beat the likes of the Saints and Giants, it’s nonetheless essential to see Younger play mistake-free soccer with a less-than-ideal receiving corps.
There’s one thing slowly constructing in Carolina. We’ll maintain off daring predicitions for now, however it seems that this staff is beginning to put it collectively.
Winner: Firing Dennis Allen
Saints followers ought to give Panthers followers an open-mouth kidd at the moment, however no tongue as a result of that might be bizarre. The loss to Carolina was the straw to interrupt Dennis Allen, and New Orleans seems to be like a brand new staff.
There’s an edge and competitiveness which has returned with Darren Rizzi main this staff. Heck, there’s a sense that Saints gamers get pleasure from taking part in soccer extra with out Dennis Allen being their coach.
In terms of New Orleans there’s long-term work to be achieved, notably on the roster aspect — however for now we’re seeing Rizzi make this staff aggressive once more. That’s greater than they’ve seen in seven weeks.
