The Atlanta Falcons looked rusty in their 2024 NFL season debut, losing by eight points to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon. Head coach Raheem Morris knows the team must play better going forward, including starting quarterback Kirk Cousins.
It was Cousins’ first game since tearing his Achilles last season. In Week 1, he looked like someone who hadn’t played football in 11 months. Morris said rust was one reason for the team’s struggles, but that Cousins simply needs to play better football.
“The assessment is easy for him yesterday, you know, it wasn’t good enough,” Morris told reporters on Monday afternoon. “We threw two interceptions. We’ve gotta make better decisions in the passing game all around. We can’t turn the ball over.”
Morris was adamant that Cousins was healthy and has no regrets about holding him out of the preseason. It ultimately comes down to performance and that was where Cousins fell short. The 13-year veteran passed for 155 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in his Falcons debut.
“It just wasn’t good enough and we’re going to be really clear about that,” said Morris. “Whether it’s wins or losses, we’ll always make those assessments to our quarterback and to everybody else.”
