Raheem Morris described the Atlanta Falcons’ 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers best, calling it an “all-time low.” It was the first time Atlanta had been shut out since November 22, 2020. The Falcons dropped to 1-2, suffering their second division loss.
Second-year starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had a particularly rough outing, finishing 18 of 36 for 172 yards and two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown. After Penix threw his second pick late in the third quarter, with Atlanta down 27-0, Morris made the decision to bench him for backup Kirk Cousins — a move that drew plenty of questions afterward.
“The game was out of hand, you know you move on, keep him out of harm’s way,” Morris said.
Cousins played two series, which resulted in a turnover on downs and a fumble. He finished 5 of 7 for 29 yards.
When Morris was asked if Cousins would be given a chance to compete for the starting job this week, he emphatically replied, “No.”
Michael Penix Jr.–Kirk Cousins Situation Could Present Problem for Raheem Morris, Falcons
The first major move of the Raheem Morris era was the Falcons signing free agent Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal last offseason. Just over a month later, Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot shocked the league by drafting Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
That sequence of moves is still highly debated, and the loss to the Panthers may show why. After Cousins fizzled out last season, Atlanta benched the veteran for Penix in the final three games. That seemed to be enough proof to hand him the starting job in 2025. Yet three games into the season, Penix found himself benched after a poor performance.
“Kirk Cousins has entered the game, replacing a struggling Michael Penix Jr. This scenario is why it was risky to keep Cousins around,” The Athletic’s Josh Kendall wrote. “It’ll be a conversation now.”
As mentioned, Morris gave an emphatic “no” when asked if Cousins would compete for the starting job. But make no mistake — if Penix continues to struggle, it will be a weekly question. That’s how it played out last season when Cousins was the one faltering and Penix sat behind him.
Michael Penix Jr. Dealt With Headset Problems Against Panthers
Nothing went right for the Falcons in their Week 4 blowout loss. They had turnovers, missed field goals — overall, the offense looked inept.
“Everything,” Morris said when asked what went wrong offensively against Carolina.
While Penix’s performance stood out because of his position and the expectations on him, not all of the issues were his fault.
Atlanta’s Fox 5 reporter Miles Garrett spotted Penix having trouble with his headset early in the game. It showed on the second drive, when, on third-and-1 at the Falcons’ 35, Penix called a timeout as the play clock wound down. Coming out of the timeout, the offense still couldn’t get organized, leading to a delay of game penalty. Instead of a manageable one-yard conversion attempt, the Falcons faced third-and-6.
From that point forward, Penix looked completely unsettled, and the offense never recovered.
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