Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (23/39 for 245 yards) threw 4 interceptions on Sunday, none had been greater than the 2 he threw within the fourth quarter.
The Falcons (6-6 on the season) misplaced their third sport in a row, 17-13, to the visiting Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
On his interceptions, Cousins stated, “I’ve bought to play higher.”
Cousins credited the protection, particular groups, and his offense for enjoying nicely regardless of his private play. He known as the end result “disappointing.”
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris opened his postgame press conferences by saying that Cousins “carried us all season” however “we simply can’t exit and switch the ball over 4 occasions and win a soccer sport.”
Each groups got here into the sport seeking to higher their playoff hopes. Los Angeles was in second place within the AFC West, whereas Atlanta stays in first place within the NFC South.
The Falcons got here into Sunday’s sport towards Los Angeles on a two-game dropping streak. Losses on the highway to New Orleans (20-17) and Denver (38-6) put an finish to a two-game profitable streak. The final time the Falcons performed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was throughout a 27-21 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
The primary offensive possession of the sport for Atlanta ended with a missed 45-yard subject aim by kicker Youngoe Koo. The primary defensive possession for the Falcons ended with a fumble restoration by defensive again Clark Phillips III deep in Chargers territory. That turnover led to Atlanta’s first profitable offensive drive, a 29-yard, five-play possession that led to a brief landing run from Bijan Robinson and a 7-0 benefit. Cornerback A.J. Terrell, Jr. compelled one other Chargers fumble on the following possession that was recorded by Los Angeles.
The Chargers scored their first factors of the sport a couple of performs afterward a 45-yard subject aim from Cameron Dicker. They pulled to inside a degree early within the second quarter with one other Dicker subject aim, this time from 51 yards. The primary half ended with Los Angeles forward 9-7 courtesy of one other Dicker subject aim (34 yards). Dicker was 3-3 on subject targets through the first half.
Atlanta regained the lead at 10-9 earlier within the second half on a Koo subject aim. The tide turned when Chargers defensive again Taheeeb Nonetheless intercepted a Cousins fourth-down cross and returned it 61 yards for a landing. Los Angeles then transformed a two-point conversion to make the rating 17-10 with 1:30 remaining within the third quarter.
The following Falcons possession noticed Cousins hit receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III for 60 yards to get again into Chargers territory. One other Koo subject aim from 26 yards introduced Atlanta inside 4 factors at 17-13 on the finish of the third quarter.
Contained in the Recreation: Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins achieved one other 3,000 yards passing season through the sport. He has seven 4,000-plus-yard passing seasons to his credit score and eight seasons of over 3,000 yards so far. The final Falcons quarterback to cross for greater than 3,000 yards was Matt Ryan (3,968) through the 2021 season. The Falcons completed that season 7-10 and missed the playoffs.
The Falcons protection got here into the sport with a complete of 10 sacks. They sacked Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert 3 times through the first half on Sunday. The 5 complete sacks are essentially the most the Falcons have had in a single sport this season. The earlier season-high was the three that they had through the 27-21 win over Dallas on Nov. 3.
What’s Subsequent: The Falcons (4-1 within the NFC South) journey to Minnesota to face Cousins’s former group on Sunday, Dec. 8 earlier than enjoying their second Monday Evening Soccer sport of the season in Las Vegas towards the Raiders on Dec. 16. Atlanta is 3-2 on the highway this season, together with victories in Philadelphia and Tampa Bay.
