There’s been a significant quarterback swap that might probably affect the Seattle Seahawks within the playoff chase.
After over a month of excruciatingly ineffective play and a slew of turnovers, the Atlanta Falcons have benched Kirk Cousins for former Washington Huskies star Michael Penix Jr. The primary-round rookie will make his first NFL begin at residence in opposition to the hapless and more and more injured New York Giants.
Cousins might need had a win in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, however there isn’t a dressing up how a lot the Falcons teaching employees tried to cover him in an unpleasant 15-9 nailbiter. He was simply 11/17 for 112 yards, 1 landing, and 1 interception in opposition to one of many worst defenses within the league (and with out Maxx Crosby). I’d say this Invoice Barnwell stat sums it up.
Falcons confronted first-and-10 24 instances tonight.
They ran the ball *23 of these 24 instances*.
The one time they threw on first-and-10 all recreation was the Cousins interception.
Sometimes threw 42% of the time on first downs earlier than Monday evening.
— Invoice Barnwell (@billbarnwell) December 17, 2024
Why did the Atlanta Falcons bench Kirk Cousins?
Cousins has thrown only one landing to 9 interceptions over his final 5 video games, virtually singlehandedly throwing away the NFC South result in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Final month, Atlanta was 6-3 and two video games up on the Bucs with a head-to-head tiebreaker, however Cousins’ hunch has jeopardized the Falcons’ playoff hopes.
There’s additionally no manner round how motionless Cousins appears to be like. He’s the one quarterback with a decrease play-action fee than Geno Smith, and that’s not for similar causes to Smith. Cousins is clearly uncomfortable shifting in and across the pocket, one yr faraway from his Achilles rupture when he was with the Minnesota Vikings. Whereas he’s by no means been identified for excellent mobility, he has actually 0 dashing yards on the season.
If he can’t transfer, can’t run the offense, and might’t cease throwing it to the opposite group, the $180 million man will not be a viable starter.
How this might matter to the Seattle Seahawks
Other than Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb attending to see his former Huskies star get his NFL alternative, the Falcons’ finish of season could possibly be related to Seattle’s playoff chase.
If the Seahawks win the NFC West—sorry to the doomers, however I’m not right here to put in writing about tanking for the No. 13 decide—they may both be the No. 3 or No. 4 seed. Ought to Penix lead the Falcons to the NFC South title they usually have an similar document to the Seahawks, Seattle can be the No. 3 seed on the head-to-head tiebreaker from Week 7 (when, coincidentally, Penix made his NFL debut).
If Penix can’t get it accomplished and the Falcons lose, then the Seahawks must end with a greater document than the Buccaneers or else they’ll be the No. 4 seed attributable to an inferior convention document tiebreaker.
There’s additionally the potential “energy of victory” tiebreaker that will come into play between the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. We’ll clarify this extra in one other article, however the Falcons profitable over the ultimate few weeks (vs. Giants, at Commanders, vs. Panthers) could also be a profit to Seattle to enhance its SOV.
Lastly, whereas extraordinarily unlikely, the Seahawks may nonetheless make the playoffs by way of Wild Card with a 10-7 end whereas the Washington Commanders end 9-8, and Atlanta is at Washington in Week 17.
After all, none of it issues if Seattle slumps out of the playoffs utterly, however these are all possible paths. However, I’m positive many native followers within the Seattle space and Huskies followers across the soccer world can be paying shut consideration to Penix’s debut this Sunday.
