The Atlanta Falcons fans have called for a quarterback change after a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. They want rookie Michael Penix Jr. to take over for Kirk Cousins.
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The calls came on social media after the former Vikings quarterback threw his fourth interception against the Chargers. This final pick sealed the game for the Bolts and dropped the Falcons to 6-6 on the season.
Two of Cousins' earlier interceptions directly led to points for the Chargers, a team that struggled on offense all day long. One interception came on a pass into triple coverage. It led to a field goal. Another interception was returned by Tarheeb Still for a 61-yard touchdown.
CHARGERS' FOURTH INT SEALS THE GAME. #LACvsATL pic.twitter.com/NoVPVcAHX3
— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2024
"Penix needs to be the starter," one person posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Others weighed in and called for the first-round draft pick to lead the offense for a team still in contention to win the NFC South.
"Kirk Cousins is Great Value Daniel Jones," another person joked after seeing replays of the fourth interception. Others called for Cousins to retire. They provided clarity by saying that retirement meant going to the New York Giants.
The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with a $50,000,000 signing bonus early in the offseason. This seemingly solidified the quarterback position that had been in flux since Matt Ryan's departure.
The situation took an interesting turn on the opening night of the NFL Draft. The Falcons used the eighth overall pick to select Penix out of the University of Washington. This move created headlines considering the contract given to Cousins.
The Falcons lost two of the first three games this season, but Cousins took the team to 4-2 with key wins over the Buccaneers, Panthers, and Saints. A loss to the Seahawks dropped the Falcons to 4-3, but the NFC South team then beat the Buccaneers and Cowboys to reach 6-3.
Since that win over the Cowboys, the Falcons have lost three straight games. Cousins has zero touchdowns and six interceptions in that stretch.
The season is not over by any means considering that the Falcons still lead the NFC South with a 6-6 record. However, the fans are growing impatient with each passing week. If the struggles continue, the calls for Penix will only increase in frequency.
