Introduction

Kirk Cousins is probably wondering what went wrong as he faces a nightmarish period in his NFL career. Over the past month and a half, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback has showcased one of the worst slumps in football history.

Recent Performance

Since a dazzling performance on November 3, when he threw four touchdown passes against the Dallas Cowboys, Cousins has inexplicably failed to throw a single touchdown pass in his last four games. To make matters worse, he has logged an astonishing eight interceptions during this stretch.

Historic Struggles

According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Cousins has achieved a dubious milestone as the first starting quarterback in 18 years to post an 0-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio over four consecutive regular-season games. The last quarterback to suffer such a fate was Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who recorded none and nine during a similar four-game span that began in late 2005 and extended into 2006, although the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl that season.

Personal Records

Cousins is also experiencing something unprecedented for him personally — he is in the first four-game stretch of his career with passer ratings below 80 in each outing. Throughout the season, he has managed to finish with a passer rating under 80 a staggering seven out of 13 times.

Year-to-Date Stats

His year-to-date stats paint a troubling picture: a passer rating of 89.0, totaling 3,396 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. Comparatively, his performance is barely better than Desmond Ridder, the former Week 1 starter, whose 15 games yielded 12 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions, and a passer rating of just 83.4 before he was shipped out of town.

Future Outlook

For Cousins, who signed a lucrative contract worth $100 million fully guaranteed in March, the future looks increasingly uncertain. With Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings for a potential starting role in 2025, the clock is ticking for Cousins to turn his performance around or face the reality of being traded or released. Will he be able to hold off the competition and regain his form, or is this the beginning of the end for the veteran quarterback in Atlanta? Only time will tell!