“Your performance really matters Atlanta falcons” coach tells Kirk Cousins ahead of ……….Read more

Kirk Cousins’ performances are spiraling downward, and so are the Atlanta Falcons’ playoff hopes.

The Falcons badly need a bounce-back effort from the veteran quarterback on Monday night when they visit the Las Vegas Raiders.

Atlanta (6-7) has lost four straight games to fall into second place in the NFC South behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6).Cousins has been a major factor in the skid, throwing eight interceptions without a touchdown. Six of the picks have come in the past two games.

Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Thursday he has faith in the 36-year-old quarterback.

“You’ve got to believe and you’ve got to have the resolve to be able to stick and stay steady-handed by a guy that you believe in,” Morris said. “I don’t want to be like some organizations who make harsh decisions or critical decisions on your critical decision makers when they fail you or they make mistakes. I just feel like it’s our job and my job to back (Cousins) at the highest level.”

Cousins was intercepted seven times in the first nine games this season before the recent slump. He threw four touchdown passes on two occasions and tossed three another time as the Falcons ran out to a 6-3 start.

Then the caliber of his play dropped; Atlanta is averaging just 14.3 points during the four-game losing streak.

That has led to calls for the Falcons to turn to rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 overall choice in this year’s draft.

It also is causing Cousins to study everything to see what he can do differently as he looks to lead Atlanta to its sixth straight head-to-head victory over the Raiders.

“You certainly have a process that’s worked and has enabled you to play well, so you trust it,” Cousins said. “I think it’d be foolish, though, to just blindly stick to something even when there’s clearly a fundamental you need to improve on.”anwhile, the Raiders (2-11) are hoping quarterback Aidan O’Connell will make a swift recovery to play against Atlanta.