FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons aren't going to make any major changes for Monday's Week 15 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback.
Head coach Raheem Morris has maintained his stance on the position since it was first questioned after the Falcons' Week 13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and again questioned after the Falcons' Week 14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
"You got to believe and you got to have the resolve to be able to stick and stay steady-handed by a guy that you believe in," Morris said. "I don't want to be like some organizations who make harsh decisions or critical decisions on your critical decision-makers, when they fail you or they make mistakes. I just feel like it's our job and my job to back (Cousins) at the highest level of certainty to get out there playing better."
The Falcons signed Cousins during free agency to a four-year, $180 million contract.
They then drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick a month later.
Once the dust settled after the initial storm of confusion, and Atlanta's plan was made clear, Penix's name was rarely brought up by the media. Especially as the Falcons started with a 6-3 record. But now that they're 6-7, the topic of Penix possibly playing in 2024 has come back up.
"This has nothing to do with a non-belief about our backup or anything like that," Morris said. "But he is a rookie. And we do have a plan. We have had a plan from the beginning on how we want to utilize and be able to play our rookie when it's time."
As far as the Falcons are concerned, it's not time. And that's that.
So, back to the reality of Atlanta's current situation.
The Falcons have lost their last four games but remain in playoff contention. They're a game back of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South standings. Because Atlanta holds the tiebreaker after sweeping Tampa Bay, the Falcons only need to match the Buccaneers' record to clinch the division.
"We are essentially playing playoff type football right now," Morris said. "All these games become must wins, except the only thing different right now is you don't go home, right?"
Therefore, even though no major changes are being made, Cousins is willing to make any necessary minor changes in the meantime.
"You certainly have a process that's worked and has enabled you to play well, so you trust it," Cousins said. "I think it'd be foolish, though, to just blindly stick to something even when there's clearly a fundamental you need to improve on."
Like the fact Cousins hasn't thrown a touchdown since Week 9, the Falcons' last win against the Dallas Cowboys. Or the fact he has instead thrown eight interceptions during that same span.
None of this is new. It has been talked about ad nauseam.
Rest assured, Cousins is well aware of his recent stat line.
"As any athlete, sometimes you can remember the bad plays more than you can remember the good because they just stick with you," Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said. "I think that's always the message to Kirk. It's like, 'Man, look what you've done. Look at the amount of production you've had. I know there's a couple things here and there that we can all clean up, but there's been a ton of good football throughout the course of the season.'"
Remember Kirktober? The Falcons – coaches and teammates alike – are confident Cousins can get back to his numbers in October: 10 touchdown passes, three interceptions. No one was doubting Cousins' starting status at that point.
November had vastly different results, though. What was once working no longer is. December needs to be different.
Cousins' openness to tweaking his everyday routine is an important start.
"That's why you have T.J. Yates and D.J. Williams and Zac Robinson to help you on that journey, on that process," Cousins said. "That's why I always say the quarterback room is like a working force together. Because you're saying to Michael and to Nate (Peterman), 'What do you see? What do you think?'"
Both Penix and Peterman will answer because, while Cousins may be the only quarterback who sees the field Monday in Las Vegas, they all play a role in the Falcons' success. And their answers are being implemented into Cousins' fresh start this week.
The Falcons may not be making any major changes. But they're making what they hope are important minor changes.
"For the nature of trying not to tell the Raiders something," Cousins said, "I will keep that close to the vest"
