The Atlanta Falcons' season is all but over as the franchise has lost five straight, pushing their record to 3-7. Making matters worse is the fact that fans can't even turn their attention to mock drafts with the Falcons trading their 2026 first-round selection in exchange for James Pearce Jr. All of this paints an extremely bleak picture that looks even worse with the news that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is likely done for the season.
For the Falcons, this is a step beyond frustrating; however, it does serve as an opportunity at redemption for backup Kirk Cousins. After spending most of the year on the bench, the aging veteran is now going to have his chance to start the rest of the season and put together a resume that gives him one last chance at a starting role.
What is at stake for the rest of the 2025 season won't be anything of note for Atlanta fans, but rather players looking to achieve personal accomplishments. Wins and losses no longer matter unless the Falcons can go on a truly historic run. Something that seems incredibly unlikely given how poorly coached this team has been and the serious injuries to not only Penix, but star receiver Drake London as well.
Falcons Injuries Serve as One Last Opportunity for Struggling Veteran Kirk Cousins
While it is clear there isn't a future in Atlanta for Cousins, the quarterback now has a chance to win a starting job elsewhere. It isn't about winning consistently, but showing yourself to be a capable distributor, proving that last season's struggles were an outlier and not the version of the quarterback the franchise will get moving forward.
Regardless of how it plays out, the league is going to get a final answer on whether or not the aging signal caller is going to get one last chance at a starting role. What will be very interesting for Atlanta is watching whether or not the quarterback's level of play alters the team's plans moving forward. If Cousins were to step in and defy expectations, winning games and looking to be the version of the quarterback he was in Minnesota, all of a sudden, the Falcons have a new problem.
This seems extremely unlikely based on the small sample size of Cousins fans who have watched this season; however, it cannot be ruled out entirely. Atlanta's offense appears to be in complete disarray, lacking both leadership and identity.
These issues provide Cousins with one final opportunity in Atlanta to step in and rebuild his value and reputation as a starting option in this league. If the veteran can accomplish this, it will be a far more interesting offseason for a team that has already squandered away its 2025 opportunity.