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Marc Raimondi, ESPN writer
LAS VEGAS — The Atlanta Falcons snapped their four-game losing streak and kept their NFC South hopes alive Monday night after their 15-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. But the team still has one glaring problem: its quarterback play.
Kirk Cousins was 11 of 17 for 112 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a game in which the Falcons relied heavily on their running game. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier combined for 34 carries.
Cousins has nine interceptions in his last five games with just one touchdown pass during that span. His 30-yard first-quarter lob to receiver Drake London was his first touchdown pass since Week 9, when the Falcons were 6-3 and in control of their division.
“He’s got to play better and obviously you’ve got to come back, you’ve got to be able to watch everything,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “But he wants to play better. He has to play better. We have to find a way to get him to play better.”
Morris didn’t say he was ready to make a quarterback change. The Falcons selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft in April, a few 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 throw on a first down in the first half. It was the first time that had happened in his 13-year career.
Cousins threw two interceptions against the Minnesota Vikings last week, but had 344 yards passing. Those big plays weren’t there against the Raiders and the Falcons went 4 of 13 on third down.
Morris said Cousins showed improvement against the Vikings, following a four-interception performance against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13. When asked if Monday was an improvement or regression for him, Cousins said It was “a little bit of both” and the biggest issue for him now is “decision making.”
“To not put the ball in danger and not try to be too aggressive,” Cousins said. “And I think that’s really the key. Protecting the ball.”
It was the fewest interceptions he threw in three games and Cousins did not have a fumble. He leads the league in both categories: 16 and 12 (tied with Baker Mayfield), respectively. But the outing certainly didn’t live up to his expectations either.
When Cousins was asked about Morris’ comments that he needed to play better, the quarterback said, “I don’t think that’s a mystery.”
“I think the last few weeks I would say I need to play better,” Cousins said. “Raheem says it, but he says the obvious, and every week you go through your process and plan to go out and play the best you can. And so this week will be no different.”
