The Atlanta Falcons are back to the drawing board after an unfortunate 2024 campaign that saw them quickly fall out of the playoff race and turn to rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. sooner than anyone expected.
Kirk Cousins' contract was a disaster and it's obvious he has no future with the team. But he's not the only sour apple that led to these poor results. The Falcons went just 2-6 over their final eight games while trying to compete for a playoff spot, and there's significant blame to go around.
Atlanta's roster should be competitive, especially in a poor NFC South. However, head coach Raheem Morris too frequently made major game-management mistakes that cost his team wins. Sometimes, it's obvious when a coach is in over his head. That's the case here and the Falcons will come to regret keeping Morris for another season.
Kirk Cousins admitted for the first time today on Good Morning Football that he took a hit during the #Falcons Week 10 game against the Saints and hurt his right shoulder and elbow. That game was the start of Atlanta's four-game losing streak.
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) February 4, 2025
Falcons Made Major Mistake Retaining HC Raheem Morris
There are multiple reasons why it should've been clear that Morris isn't the guy to lead Atlanta to the promised land. Admittedly, he's been with the organization for a year. Typically, franchises show loyalty and give coaches a chance to build a culture for more than one season.
That said, sometimes it quickly becomes clear when change is needed. Not only did Morris' bizarre use of timeouts and lack of situational awareness cost the Falcons, but he also completely mishandled Cousins.
Doing media tours following the season, Cousins revealed that he hurt his throwing shoulder and elbow against the New Orleans Saints in Week 10. That coincided with Atlanta's four-game losing streak and Cousins' collapse. Either Morris wasn't paying enough attention to see that Cousins was hurt, or he hid the ailment in a stubborn refusal to acknowledge that Penix needed to start.
Regardless, it's a bad look for the guy who is supposed to lead your team. Morris' calling card is defense, though the Falcons still ranked 19th in opponent yards per play (5.5). If you can't manage the game and your side of the field is among the worst in the league, what's the point of retaining you as head coach?
Atlanta has a strong foundation that can make the playoffs in 2025. Even still, small margins win games in the NFL. Morris routinely costs the Falcons in the little details and until he's fired, this team cannot win a championship.