Author: Marc Raimondi

Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterDec 22, 2024, 06:01 PM ET

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ATLANTA — It’s uncommon for a rookie quarterback to make his first start in late December on a team still vying for a playoff spot, when the incumbent starter has not been injured. But that’s exactly what happened with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

And Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 overall pick in the draft last April, followed through with a solid performance in the Falcons’ 34-7 rout of the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Penix was 18-of-27 for 202 yards and one

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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterDec 20, 2024, 06:00 AM ET

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Kirk Cousins stood at the podium inside the press room at the Atlanta Falcons facility Wednesday afternoon, about 24 hours after being told by head coach Raheem Morris that he would no longer be the team’s starting quarterback.

Morris announced Tuesday it would be rookie Michael Penix Jr. as the team’s No. 1 QB “moving forward.” Cousins had thrown nine interceptions in the span of five games against just one touchdown pass. The Falcons went 1-4 during that stretch, going

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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterDec 18, 2024, 05:13 PM ET

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Less than 24 hours after being benched, Kirk Cousins said he will do what he can to help new Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Falcons coach Raheem Morris on Tuesday made the decision to start Penix following the team’s 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on “Monday Night Football.” Cousins struggled in that game, was limited in the game plan and now has nine interceptions in his past five outings.

“It’s pro football, and there’s a

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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterDec 17, 2024, 08:55 PM ET

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Michael Penix Jr. is the new starting quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons and Kirk Cousins is heading to the bench, coach Raheem Morris announced Tuesday night.

“After review we have made the decision Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward,” Morris said in a statement released by the team. “This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.”

The Falcons beat the Las Vegas

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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterDec 17, 2024, 06:06 PM ET

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Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris was largely noncommittal Tuesday when asked if Kirk Cousins will be the team’s starting quarterback for Sunday’s home game against the New York Giants.

The Falcons beat the Las Vegas Raiders 15-9 on the road on “Monday Night Football” to snap a four-game losing streak. But Cousins once again didn’t look like himself. He was 11 of 17 for 112 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Cousins has nine interceptions in the last five games with

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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterDec 17, 2024, 01:39 AM ET

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LAS VEGAS — The Atlanta Falcons snapped their four-game losing streak and kept their hopes of winning the NFC South alive Monday night after their 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. But the team still has a glaring issue: its quarterback play.

Kirk Cousins was 11-of-17 for 112 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a game the Falcons leaned heavily on their rushing attack. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier combined for 34 carries.

Cousins has

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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterDec 12, 2024, 01:15 PM ET

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have a plan for quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s development, and coach Raheem Morris said that plan does not include putting the rookie in “too early.”

Falcons starter Kirk Cousins has struggled mightily with eight interceptions and no touchdown passes over the last four weeks. He threw four interceptions against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13 and another two against the Minnesota Vikings last week.

After once holding a commanding division lead, Atlanta (6-7)

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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterDec 11, 2024, 06:00 AM ET

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ATLANTA — Falcons coach Raheem Morris was asked after his team’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13 about what improvements he wanted to see in his quarterback, Kirk Cousins.

Morris replied that it was the turnovers, namely the four interceptions Cousins had. That had to get better, Morris said.

And it did Sunday. Just not to the level the Falcons needed in what ended up a 42-21 loss on the road against the Minnesota Vikings.

Cousins, 36, threw two interceptions against

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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterDec 8, 2024, 06:06 PM ET

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MINNEAPOLIS — Kirk Cousins entered the Atlanta Falcons locker room with his baseball cap pulled down and his eyes facing the floor. Minutes earlier, the veteran quarterback had a fourth straight game without a touchdown pass.

Despite the struggles, the Falcons will stick with Cousins as their starter, according to head coach Raheem Morris. Cousins has eight interceptions during Atlanta’s current four-game losing streak, with the latest loss coming to the Minnesota Vikings, 42-21, on Sunday at US Bank Stadium. Michael Penix

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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff WriterDec 2, 2024, 03:15 PM ET

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said Monday that he’ll be ready if the Atlanta Falcons coaching staff calls upon him, but he knows the decision is out of his hands. In fact, he believes Kirk Cousins will be able to stem the tide this season.

Cousins is in the middle of arguably the worst stretch of his 13-year NFL career, with six interceptions over the past three games without a touchdown pass. The Falcons have lost all three of those

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