By The Numbers: Kirk Cousins proves that Falconing is stronger than Chargering

Breaking it down, numbers style.

Is there a more chaotic matchup than when the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers cross paths?

Within just the first quarter, there was a missed field goal, a lost fumble, and a 49-yard gain that was almost rendered moot by another fumble. If that wasn’t enough, the second quarter started with new public enemy #1 in Atlanta, Kirk Cousins, throwing his first of four interceptions on the day.

Though if you were to be in the midst of chaos, having somebody like Jim Harbaugh, a man who seemingly brings his own brand of chaotic energy with him, does bode well for you as opposed to the more moderate Raheem Morris.

Maybe fighting chaos with chaos is the answer. Maybe the Falcons need to dip into that more aggressive mindset before this season finally does slip away from them. What does that look like for Atlanta though? Is that pushing the rookie out there to gain a spark for the offense? Is it asking for Kirk to push the ball downfield again?

Who knows. The only thing that we do know is that if Atlanta wants to break their playoff skid, it can’t continue down this road.

But enough stalling; Here are four numbers that provide a bit of reasoning as to how the Falcons allowed this golden opportunity to gain some momentum after the bye to slip through their fingers.

30

Since the start of the 2022 season, there have been 30 instances where a team has gained 350 yards while allowing less than 200 yards to their opponent. Going into this week, teams were 29-1. The only team to lose?

The 2023 Atlanta Falcons in week 6 against the Washington Commanders.

Remember how that game felt? How it felt like if Desmond Ridder could just avoid the back-breaking turnovers, this game would have been well in hand.

This game was that but multiplied by four.

No, literally.

Ridder generated -2.1 total EPA (-.04 EPA/play) that day, mostly because of his 300+ passing yards and two touchdowns. Kirk Cousins generated -7 EPA (-.16 EPA/play) against the Chargers and it felt that bad. Not only is that unacceptable, but it also wasted a truly electrifying performance from this Atlanta defense.

5,453

It has been 5,453 days since there was a game that the Falcons defense:

– Limited a passer to under 150 yards passing

– Limited a team’s rushing attack to under 60 yards

– Didn’t allow an offensive touchdown

The day was December 27^th, 2009. Second-year signal-caller Matt Ryan was trying to lead this team to a feat never seen before by Atlanta: back-to-back winning seasons. What followed was a complete 31-3 team win that saw Ryan drop 250 yards and three touchdowns while truly launching the ball downfield (Ryan’s aDOT was 11.1 yards).

On the other hand, the Bills’ first eight drives saw them punt the first four drives, including two quick three-and-outs, an interception, a fumble, and two more punts before finally getting into field goal range late in the third quarter.

Cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Chris Owens got an interception apiece, while Jonathan Babineaux and Jonathan Abraham got a sack apiece.

There is one thing that Sunday’s win had that this game did not: Five sacks from the defense. When you add that to the equation, Falcons fans have to go back to 1997, when Atlanta’s defense confounded the New Orleans Saints quarterback Doug Nussmeier to the tune of six total sacks and four interceptions on the way to a 20-3 win to sweep the Saints.

12.8

According to Next Gen Stats, the Atlanta Falcons have scored a league-high 12.8 points fewer in losses (12.8) than in wins (30.0). This is a tell-tale sign of not only the volatility of the offense but also of quarterback Kirk Cousins’s volatility—one of the fears that came with acquiring Cousins this off-season.

Kirk Cousins’ stats in Wins

– 144/205 (70.2%)

– 1,711 yards

– 14 TDs

– 2 INTs

– 114.1 Passer Rating

Kirk Cousins’ stats in Losses

– 125/194 (64.4%)

– 1,361 yards

– 3 TDs

– 11 INTs

– 66.54 Passer Rating

It’s like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Two completely different quarterbacks take the field and the team feels it. Consistency is a key component for playing winning football. Right now, Cousins isn’t showing that consistency, he’s showing the volatility and scattershot nature that made the Vikings hesitant to extend him beyond a year-to-year basis.

107

I don’t mean to harp on the Cousins of it all, but this is a crazy stat.

There have been 107 interceptions thrown in opponent’s territory heading into week 13 of the NFL season. There have only been three instances of quarterbacks throwing three interceptions in opponent’s territory in the same game (Brock Purdy vs. Kansas City, Jameis Winston vs. LAC and Sam Darnold vs. Jacksonville).

Kirk Cousins is the first quarterback this season to throw four interceptions in opponent’s territory in the same game.

We have seen some bad quarterback play in 2024, detrimental even, but this simply can’t continue from Cousins if Atlanta wants to make the playoffs.

Cousins has a chance to redeem himself against a familiar foe next week in the Minnesota Vikings and their defense led by Brian Flores that ranks third in total points allowed, sixth in yards per play allowed, third in EPA/play allowed and second in defensive success rate.

May God help us all.