FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — There are plenty of big storylines swirling around the Atlanta Falcons heading into their Week 14 matchup.

For many people, however, the biggest involves Kirk Cousins returning to Minnesota where he excelled for six seasons, earned three Pro Bowl nods and made two playoff appearances. Cousins is looking to regain that standard after not throwing a touchdown pass in the Falcons' previous three games.

The most important game in the NFL is always the next one, but the added interest for this one has left one question on our editorial team's minds:

Is this a good time for Kirk Cousins' return to Minnesota?

McELHANEY: In theory, I think so.

If there was ever a time the Falcons needed Cousins to show up, it's against a thriving Minnesota Vikings team when Atlanta is on a three-game slide.

Simultaneously, if there was ever a time Cousins needed to show up for himself, it's in the place that established his career and saw some of his best statistical seasons happen.

We all know the storyline of this game: Cousins is coming off one of the worst single performances of his career in the four-interception game he played last Sunday against the Chargers. He needs redemption and the Falcons need to get back on track. It doesn't matter in the grand scheme of the season where they do it, but because of Cousins' own history with the Vikings organization, perhaps it just means more that he could do it in Minnesota.

McFADDEN: In the grand scheme of things, yeah, there are better times for this game to take place. But the NFL is very good at providing harsh realities.

For Cousins, the harsh reality is that it has to be a good time for him to go back to Minnesota because the Falcons need it to be. He's in the midst of one of the worst stretches of his career, but Atlanta now holds the division lead by only the slimmest of margins and needs this slide to end.

Quarterbacks get an outsized share of the credit or blame for team outcomes, but they also have a large impact on how games turn out. Right now, the Falcons need Cousins to walk back into the place he used to call home and play to the level he was when he last left it.

That is where I am hopeful this trip can provide a remedy for Cousins. Yes, the Vikings have a tremendous game day environment, but the true challenge for him on Sunday feels like it could be internal as much as anything. It would be for me, at least. In that case, it would do Cousins wonders to see a few passes connect early. Familiar sight lines, visuals and the general comfort that comes with returning to a stadium where he has played very well should all work in his favor.

The Falcons have been dynamic and explosive at times this season on offense, and the defensive performance against Los Angeles was promising. It's not hard to envision Atlanta going on a late run, but Cousins is the key piece. If there was ever a good time for him to go back to Minnesota, the Falcons need it to be this weekend.

WAACK: I used to cover the New Orleans Saints for The Times-Picayune. Obviously, the Falcons play in New Orleans once a year, and where they go, I go. That's one trip I always look forward to each season. Even though my responsibilities on game day are the same, home or away, it is nice to be surrounded by familiar faces and places that I don't get to see nearly as often anymore in the lead-up to the action.

So, if I were Kirk Cousins, I'd look at this Week 14 return to Minnesota as a blessing. He gets to go back. He gets to catch up with former coaches and teammates. I doubt he'll hit the town Saturday night, but he'll still get glimpses of the place he used to call home. Embrace that. Allow the positive emotions to wash out any recent negativity.

Because let's be real: After three consecutive losses, the latest in which he threw a personal-high four interceptions, the pressure on Cousins to perform is higher than it has been all season in Atlanta. Understandably so. Cousins hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since Nov. 3. It has been more than a month and three full games, the longest streak of his career.

Well, what better stadium to end that drought than one in which he's comfortable?

Or, if going off ~feelings~ alone isn't enough to ease worries, here’s an indisputable stat to remember: Through 44 games at U.S. Bank Stadium, Cousins has only had two without a touchdown pass. That means 95% of the time, he successfully found the end zone. Focus on that. Minnesota was — and still can be — somewhere Cousins thrives.

SUBHAN: On the surface, it may not seem like a good time for this game. Surely the ideal time would be when the Falcons are not in a crucial stretch of the season; when Kirk Cousins is peaking and "Swag Surfin'" after every game with chains all around. That would be a "good time" to return to Minnesota. Still, I happen to think Week 14 is also a good time.

There's something to be said about familiar environments. It may be emotionally jarring to come in as a visitor, but Cousins' muscle memory knows how to throw a touchdown in that stadium; he knows how to win in that stadium.

I find it an even more interesting storyline for Cousins to redeem himself from the last few outings against his former team rather than returning when things are all happy and shiny.

I also think that Cousins, as a competitor, will rise to the challenge. Cousins has thrown 13 interceptions, the most he's ever had at this point in the season. He's making mistakes he doesn't typically make. But he's had a "coming home" game before, when he played the Washington Commanders in 2022, and he knows how to handle his emotions. He also knows how to make the most of a moment like this, because he's done so before.