The Atlanta Falcons came within a feather of finishing first in the NFC South and making the playoffs last season, but right now, they seem to be the favorites to win the division this coming season.
The main reason is their signing of free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler. He could end up being a massive upgrade over Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, Atlanta’s two starting QBs in 2023.
However, the move came with some risk. Cousins tore his Achilles midway through last year while with the Minnesota Vikings, and after 12 seasons in the NFL, he has a good amount of mileage, which could complicate his efforts to return to his accustomed level of play.
While he said on “The Jim Rome Show” that he’s not fully his old self again, it has helped that he has gotten onto the field during the Falcons’ OTA sessions.
“I’m not fully 100% yet, but to be out there, getting reps, throwing the football, makes a meaningful difference,” Cousins said.
At the time of his injury, Cousins was having a whale of a year. He had accumulated 2,331 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns on a 69.5 percent completion rate, and perhaps he would’ve been named to the Pro Bowl again had he not gotten hurt.
On Monday, Cousins admitted that had he remained in Minnesota, the Vikings wouldn’t have had him participate heavily in OTAs.
“{W]hen I first did it [suffered the injury], and I was in Minnesota the second half of last season, the conversation was, what will OTAs look like?” said Cousins. “And the answer I got back was, we won’t put you in the practice reps, it’s just not worth it,” Cousins said. “If it’s a walk-through, maybe, but the practice reps, you don’t need to be in there. I was planning on basically getting my first practice rep late July.
“I feel that I’ve gotten every rep there was to get in these OTAs, and I think that’s been a huge win for … building that continuity that we talk about.”
The Falcons may not be looking like juggernauts right now, but they do have the beginnings of what could be a playoff team. Drake London is a promising young wide receiver, running back Bijan Robinson was named to last season’s All-Rookie Team and tight end Kyle Pitts has proven to be fairly productive.
Since they play in the NFL’s weakest division, it should likely only take nine or 10 wins for them to finish first and make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Last season, they lost four of their last five games after it looked like they were in position to win the division. If Kirk Cousins is up to the task, especially by midseason, perhaps a late plunge like that won’t happen this time around.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
