Tag: Raheem Morris

Oct 26, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the sideline against the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons back in kicker market after missed PAT doomed 3rd straight loss

Posted on | by Field Level Media

As the Atlanta Falcons’ freefall continues, head coach Raheem Morris was clear in his assessment of the team’s third straight loss.

With a chance to tie the score at 24 against the New England Patriots with 4:40 left in Sunday’s game, kicker Parker Romo missed the extra point. The Falcons did get the ball back, but could not get into scoring position, leaving the miss as the difference in the result.

“At the end of the day, you’ve got to make that kick and give yourself a chance,” Morris told reporters on Monday. “That’s the game. … We’ve got to get it fixed and it has to be fixed now.”

Kicking woes have plagued the Falcons (3-5) since their season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when Younghoe Koo missed a game-tying 44-yarder as Atlanta fell 23-20.

Morris’ comments Monday were almost identical to Week 1, when the second-year head coach said, “We’ve got to make those kicks,” before the team cut the veteran Koo.

By the time Atlanta leaves for its Week 10 meeting with the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin, the team could be on its third kicker.

“Obviously we’ve got to look at that and we’ve started that process already,” Morris said of replacing Romo. “We’ve worked out a bunch of different people. We’ll be able to bring people in and figure out who it’s going to be this week. Those pressure situations aren’t built on practice fields. They’re built in games.”

The good from Sunday included Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s career-high three passing touchdowns, despite falling to 4-6 as a starter since taking Kirk Cousins’ job last December.

One of the only blemishes on Penix’s performance was an intentional grounding penalty he took which stalled out the Falcons’ final drive.

After the game, Penix and Morris accused the Patriots of simulating the snap by clapping, which led to the snap arriving early and is supposed to be a “disconcerting signals” penalty.

Morris walked back his comments on Monday, saying all he was going off was what his players told him.

“This was our players telling us they simulated the snap out there,” Morris said. “They heard something and obviously they did, that’s why he snapped it. This was no intent that (New England) did anything wrong.

“… We can’t snap the ball early no matter what anybody does. It’s gotta be more about us. That was just me being angry (Sunday).”

Even on a three-game losing streak, Penix still feels the Falcons can play their best football.

“It’s still high,” Penix said of the team’s confidence. “It’s got to be. It’s NFL football. We’re still in it. We still have a lot of games to go. We’ve got to go out there and just make sure each and every day of practice we give our 110% effort like we always do and be ready for this next game coming up. Obviously a long flight out to Germany, but we’ll be ready for it.”

Atlanta’s offensive line took a hit at New England, as left guard Matthew Bergeron exited in the first quarter with an ankle injury before three-time Pro Bowl right guard Chris Lindstrom (foot) left in the fourth.

“We’ll get those guys to Wednesday and see what happens,” said Morris, who also updated the status of linebacker Troy Andersen, who hasn’t played since Dec. 8 of last season with a knee injury. “You never want to rule (Andersen coming back this season) out. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is shown reacting on the sideline against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Falcons coach understands angry fans: ‘Our job to make them like us’

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It’s fair to say that Atlanta Falcons fans have little faith in the current direction of the franchise.

After the team split its first six games, Atlanta limped to a 34-10 loss to the previously one-win Miami Dolphins on Sunday. A day after the sparse home crowd booed the Falcons off the field, Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris addressed the increasing distance between his team and its fanbase.

“I understand it. Everybody has those growing pains,” Morris told reporters on Monday. “You’ve got to go through it and find ways to be better and bring (the fans) back. It’s not their job to like us. It’s our job to make them like us. We’ve got to go out and perform and get that back.”

The “growing pains” Morris mentioned are quickly becoming chronic for the second-year coach.

Atlanta, which hasn’t appeared in the postseason since 2017, squandered a commanding NFC South lead a season ago, losing six of eight games down the stretch. Now at 3-4 and falling further behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Morris’ coaching clock might be ticking as the Falcons near the season’s midway point.

“This is football. You’ve got to go out there and play,” Morris said. “There’s a lot expected of us. There’s a lot expected of us that we put on ourselves and from everybody else. There’s a lot expected of us from this building. We’ll get those things right. I’ve got a lot of confidence that we can.”

The Falcons have been held to 10 points in each of their last two losses, while mustering just 107 total rushing yards across the two games.

With inconsistent quarterback play from both Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins — who threw for 173 yards in place of the injured Penix on Sunday — it’s becoming urgent for Atlanta to find a remedy for its rushing woes.

“We’ve got to get our run game going,” Morris said. “That’s our lifeline and if we get that going, we’re a really good offense. If we don’t, we look like we did (Sunday). … We really have to get our lifeline going. That’s the honest truth.”

Seemingly still confident in the recently lethargic offense, Morris maintained his faith in offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who will remain the unit’s play-caller.

“Obviously I’ve got so much confidence in Zac,” Morris said. “I know we can move the football. I know we have the ability to do those things. … Every time you ride the up-and-down roller coaster of having a good game, having a bad game, those questions are always going to be there. Those are always fair in the business that we’re in.”

Injury-wise, Morris said Penix (knee), wide receiver Drake London (hip) and defensive lineman Zach Harrison (knee) are all day-to-day, while offensive lineman Storm Norton (ankle) is “really close” to returning to action since being activated from the injured reserve on Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) scores a touchdown against Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil (0) during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Falcons trying to wring points out of run game ahead of MNF showcase

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Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris didn’t hesitate when asked for his team’s identity. But he admitted that identity has to start showing up on the scoreboard.

After a chance to recuperate, it’s likely the Falcons are going to learn a lot about themselves this week, for better or worse.

Atlanta (2-2) followed an atrocious Week 3 performance against the host Carolina Panthers with a 34-27 home win over the Washington Commanders before heading into their Week 5 bye, the earliest in the NFL this year.

The Falcons reconvened this week and Morris spoke to reporters about his run-first offense on Tuesday.

“I think we’re a running football team that’s able to run it on just about anybody with the two guys that we have,” Morris said. “Up front, I think those guys are doing a great job to help us have the ability to run the football.”

To Morris’ point, Atlanta’s 136.5 rushing yards per game rank sixth in the NFL and second in the conference behind Washington (156.4).

Although Atlanta’s impressive ground game — spearheaded by Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier — might be the team’s current identity, the Falcons have averaged just 19 points per game and have totaled only three rushing scores from Allgeier and Robinson.

“We’ve got to find ways to score more touchdowns,” Morris said. “The last game was a great example of what we could look like consistently. Obviously, the game before that was not it. … The most important thing for us is scoring touchdowns, stopping touchdowns and finding a way to get the ball back for our guys and really maintain the possession.”

The Falcons are preparing for a Monday clash against the Buffalo Bills (4-1), considered one of the top teams in the league. But Buffalo is coming off its first loss of the season, 23-20 to New England, and the Bills have yielded the league’s fifth-most rushing yards per game (145.6).

Ahead of the Falcons’ first “Monday Night Football” home game in seven years, there should be no excuses for Morris’ team not to be ready for prime time.

“The city deserves it. Our fanbase deserves it,” Morris said of “Monday Night Football” returning to Atlanta. “I love it for our young team to be able to go out there and be in the spotlight. I really love it for our organization more than anything to get that game that means a lot for the week.”

Possibly the best news the Falcons have received is the quick injury turnaround for cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr.

The former second-team All-Pro left Atlanta’s Week 2 win over the Minnesota Vikings with a hamstring injury, but Morris is optimistic that Terrell will make his return on Monday.

“A.J. is probably going to be the significant one that we’re going to be looking forward to getting back in this game,” Morris said. “Obviously, he’ll be out there practicing with us all week. We’ll take it right up there to game time, but we’ll be feeling good about it.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson during the first quarter against the Washington Commanders at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

OC Zac Robinson in spotlight as Falcons enter bye week

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Without knowing for certain how much of a difference it would make in the grand scheme of things, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris made the decision to bring offensive coordinator Zac Robinson down from the coaches’ box to the sidelines.

Morris said it’s a move Robinson was upset he didn’t make earlier.

With Robinson able to communicate more efficiently to quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta responded after a 30-0 setback against the Carolina Panthers with a 34-27 victory over the Washington Commanders in Week 4.

“Zac felt great being on the field,” Morris said Monday. “Being closer to Mike, being able to go around and be a part of everybody on the offense and really be in the action. He said he liked everything about it. He’s a little pissed that he didn’t start down there at the beginning of the season. I think if he had his druthers, he would’ve started down there at the beginning of the season.”

After Penix completed just 50 percent of his passes and tossed two interceptions in the shutout at Carolina, he was 20-for-26 passing for 313 yards, two touchdowns and a pick against Washington.

Helping engineer Atlanta’s 435-yard output wasn’t the only reason Robinson was in the news. NFL Network reported early Sunday that the coordinator was on the “very short list” to fill Oklahoma State’s head coach opening.

Robinson, who turned 39 Monday, was a standout quarterback for the Cowboys from 2006-09 under Mike Gundy, who was fired last week after 20-plus seasons at the program’s helm.

“I want my guys to go be head coaches,” Morris said. “We want to have the ability to make people want our guys. I think that’s something that is awesome for him, awesome for his family. But we live in that world and we embrace distractions instead of trying to duck those things. I don’t know if he’s been contacted by anybody from Oklahoma State, but we heard the rumors and that’s great for him.”

With 14 days until the Falcons suit up again on “Monday Night Football” against the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta will try to get healthy during its bye week, while assessing the needs of the team four games in.

“It’s definitely a chance to go back and look at everything that you’ve done from all three phases of the ball,” Morris said. “Find what you can do better, what you can add or what you can take out. It’s been a nice four-week sample of things you can do better.”

Morris didn’t have an update on injured wide receiver Darnell Mooney, offensive lineman Storm Norton or linebacker Troy Andersen, but did say the team is hoping to get cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. back after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws a pass during the first half of a game between Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images

Falcons look for ways to set Michael Penix Jr. up for success after Sunday struggles

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Even after the Atlanta Falcons’ worst offensive output in four years and a temporary benching of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., head coach Raheem Morris maintains that there is no controversy under center.

During Atlanta’s 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday — the team’s first time being shut out since 2021 — Penix was replaced by veteran Kirk Cousins, who didn’t do much to help the Falcons crack the scoreboard. When asked if he’ll give the 37-year-old backup a chance to compete for the starting role, Morris gave an extremely rare one-word answer. “No.”

In major need of a reset, Morris is sticking with the 25-year-old, but the production will have to pick up soon.

“(Penix) was off,” Morris said. “I don’t want to take away from the fact that he didn’t play well. He has high standards for himself. He was definitely not his normal, happy, competitive self. There are definitely ways to get him going. There’s a lot of stress on a young quarterback and we’ll without a doubt do some things moving forward to get him ready to go.”

In the loss, Penix completed 18 of 36 passes for 172 yards and two interceptions before Cousins threw for 29 yards in garbage time.

Penix has a career record of 0-4 in starts when the team he’s playing scores more than seven points.

Morris did announce a pair of changes ahead of Atlanta’s Week 4 matchup with the Washington Commanders, beginning with the decision to move offensive coordinator Zac Robinson from the coaches box to the sideline.

“We’ll move Zac down to the field to be able to get cleaner communication to (Penix),” Morris added Monday. “We’ll be able to be more visual and see the quarterback and help Michael a little bit more. We’ll correct those things this week and get Zac closer.”

Morris also alluded to possibly inserting a third different kicker into the starting lineup amidst more special teams issues. The Falcons released longtime kicker Younghoe Koo following a missed 44-yarder in the season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Atlanta appeared to have found a viable replacement in John Parker Romo, who went 5-for-5 in last week’s win at Minnesota, but missed badly on two attempts against Carolina, forcing Morris to address the position again.

“We’ve got to bring competition in,” Morris said. “You have to do that until you get it right. We went 5-for-5 the week before and went 0-for-2 this week so you’ve got to bring in competition. That’s something we’re working diligently at.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris looks on before the game Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons ‘getting hungrier’ to fix scoring struggles from first win

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With the Atlanta Falcons’ first win under their belt, head coach Raheem Morris addressed the team’s next area of concern on Monday: finding the end zone.

In their 22-6 road win over Minnesota on Sunday night, the Falcons made five trips to the red zone, resulting in four field goals before they finally broke through for a game-sealing touchdown with 3:22 left.

Ahead of a second straight road test, this time against NFC South foe Carolina, Morris is well aware of the issue at hand.

“We did not do a great job in the red zone, that’s for sure,” Morris said. “Fortunately for us, our defense held their team to almost the same poor play. …

“I’m ecstatic to not have that conversation (of being 0-2). You learn from the lessons, the things you want to do better. You can be harder on yourself, whether from a coaching standpoint or a player standpoint. The guys are getting hungrier.”

The story in Atlanta leading up to Week 2 was its kicking woes and the subsequent decision to make a change from former Pro Bowler Younghoe Koo. After missing a game-tying kick in the Falcons’ 23-20 season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team signed John Parker Romo and left Koo at home for the trip.

Romo made all five of his field goals on Sunday, including a 54-yarder in the fourth quarter, making the Falcons’ future at the spot almost a no-brainer.

“There is about a 90 percent chance that Romo is our kicker next week,” Morris said on Monday. “There’s no doubt about it. I wouldn’t even sit here and act like it’s an open competition, because the guy just went 5-for-5. He did a heck of a job and I want to see him go out there and do it again.”

The Falcons didn’t emerge with a perfect bill of health after their first win against Minnesota since 2020. Top cover cornerback A.J. Terrell exited late in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return.

“Nothing new on A.J. right now,” Morris said. “Obviously he suffered the injury and didn’t come back to the game with that hamstring. I’ll have better information once we start practice and get through the day.”

In Terrell’s place, fourth-year veteran Dee Alford held Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson to one second-half reception in the Atlanta victory.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris reacts on the sidelines against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

After Falcons’ collapse, Raheem Morris says ‘2025 starts today’

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It would have been hard to believe on Nov. 3 that the Atlanta Falcons were going to be watching the NFL playoffs from home for a seventh straight year, but that’s the franchise’s reality.

After beating the Dallas Cowboys 27-21, Atlanta was 6-3 and had a two-game lead and a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South. But the Falcons dropped six of eight games down the stretch while benching their $180 million quarterback, Kirk Cousins, in the process.

Despite the calls made by many Falcons fans and radio personalities to dump Raheem Morris, the first-year coach survived “Black Monday” and will live to see another season in Atlanta.

That doesn’t mean this year was any less of a letdown for Morris and the team.

“Obviously I’m disappointed for our organization, our fanbase, for all of us,” Morris said in his press conference on Monday. “But the work has to start today. 2025 starts today and the process has already begun.”

Cousins, who was benched in December after signing with Atlanta in the offseason, is expected to be cut before his $10 million roster bonus is due on March 17.

In his place, rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for 775 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions over the final three weeks of the season. Penix, along with running back Bijan Robinson (1,456 rushing yards, 15 total touchdowns in 2024) and wide receiver Drake London (100 receptions for 1,271 yards and nine scores) will give Falcons fans reason to be hopeful heading into 2025 after an 8-9 campaign.

“Michael Penix in those last three games was definitely a positive,” Morris added. “Pairing him with Drake London and Bijan Robinson, watching that combo get a chance to start fresh and grow will be something you really lean on.

“This is 100 percent an awful day. You hate it. But when you look at those guys on the offensive side of the ball, it does create a certain level of excitement for you. This is certainly a disappointing day because you want those guys to get a chance to showcase what they can do at a high level. We’ll get there. It’s our job to get there.”

Defensively, Atlanta allowed 24.9 points per game, ranking 23rd in the league and representing the franchise’s worst scoring defense since 2021 (27.0 ppg).

Morris didn’t give a definitive answer on whether first-year defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake would return next season.

“We’ve got to evaluate all of our coaches,” Morris said. “We’ve got to evaluate everything we do within our entire program. … There will never be anything that’s the same in the National Football League, whether it’s players or coaches. That’s just how it is.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 16, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris leaves the field after the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Raheem Morris on Falcons’ timeout debacle: Not as simple as it seems

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The biggest game for the Atlanta Falcons since their last playoff appearance in 2017 had it all.

A rookie quarterback making his first career road start in Michael Penix Jr. A 10-point Atlanta halftime lead. A late rally to force overtime. Eventually, it added up to a costly 30-24 road loss to the Washington Commanders on “Sunday Night Football.”

After Penix tied the game with a fourth-and-goal strike to Kyle Pitts, Atlanta (8-8) got the ball back with 40 seconds left with a chance to gain control of the NFC South.

Penix completed a 25-yard pass to Darnell Mooney on first down with 33 seconds left to advance Atlanta to Washington’s 44-yard line. The Falcons then wasted 16 seconds of clock, while head coach Raheem Morris still held two timeouts, before snapping the ball again.

Eventually, Riley Patterson missed a 56-yard field goal as regulation expired, before the Falcons fell in overtime.

The question for Morris on Monday was, “Why not use a timeout to save time on that final drive?”

“Would I like that back? Obviously, because it didn’t work,” Morris said in his press conference on Monday.

“But in hindsight, if we can just hit another route and we get a chance to have the timeouts to use, to utilize the whole field on the next throw, then we have a chance to get in better position and make it an easier field goal to end it there in regulation. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way for me. … As simple as you make it seem, it’s not.”

Penix completed 19 of 35 passes for 223 yards, a touchdown and an interception but was outdueled by Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels (227 passing yards, 127 rushing yards, three TDs, one pick).

Ultimately, Atlanta’s chances of ending its seven-year playoff drought took a major hit.

If the Falcons had held serve on Sunday, they would have just needed to beat the Carolina Panthers at home in Week 18 to clinch the division. Now, Atlanta must win and have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6) lose at home against the New Orleans Saints — a game in which Tampa Bay has opened as a two-touchdown favorite.

For Morris and company, everything counts on the rival Saints to pull off a monumental upset.

“At 1 o’clock on Sunday, I don’t think you can (worry about that game),” Morris said of the Tampa Bay-New Orleans matchup. “I think you can only handle what you can handle, control what you can control. So, I think as a professional and what I owe to Arthur Blank and this organization and fan base is to go out there and be completely locked into what we’re doing, trying to win versus the Carolina Panthers.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Raheem Morris ‘pleased’ with Michael Penix Jr. as Falcons control destiny

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After weeks of roster uncertainty and losing football, everything went right for the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Following quarterback Kirk Cousins’ benching, eighth overall draft pick Michael Penix Jr. won his first career start, throwing for 202 yards in a 34-7 home win over the hapless New York Giants.

Atlanta (8-7) had squandered a comfortable lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South after dropping four in a row, but thanks to Tampa Bay’s Sunday Night loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Falcons now sit atop the division and control their own destiny heading into meetings with the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers.

Ahead of Sunday night’s massive game outside the nation’s capital, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris liked what he saw from his 24-year-old quarterback.

“I was really pleased with his composure and his poise, his ability to work through progressions,” Morris said of Penix on Monday. “Realistically, it was a pretty clean game at the quarterback position. … I thought he did a great job of taking what was given to him, looking at his reads, throwing to open receivers, and really putting some nice zip on it.”

Atlanta’s eighth win of the season marks its most since 2017, when it finished 10-6. That was also the last year the Falcons appeared in the postseason. A win in Washington on Sunday, paired with a Buccaneers’ loss to Carolina, would clinch Atlanta’s first divisional crown since 2016.

Morris will be squaring off with a well-connected counterpart in Commanders head coach Dan Quinn.

When Morris played at Hofstra from 1994-97, Quinn was a defensive assistant. Morris then served on Quinn’s staff in Atlanta from 2015-20, before taking over as interim head coach when Atlanta fired Quinn midway through the 2020 season.

“It’s always fun to play against your friends, your confidants, your mentors,” Morris said. “From Dan coaching me in college, then having a chance to work together and now having a chance to follow the same path to the National Football League. We have a chance to compete against each other at a very high level with high stakes on the line and in primetime. But this week he’s got to be a nameless gray face and we’ve got to go out there and get a win.”

As for getting caught up in the playoff scenarios, Morris won’t be found monitoring other games.

“I am not the emotional roller coaster guy,” Morris said. “I do not like to watch those games with anything ill in my heart. I found out (Dallas) won when I woke up this morning and looked on the ESPN app. I closed the phone and realized we had the pen back. Got to go keep it.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the sideline against the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons’ Morris does not commit to Kirk Cousins starting vs. Giants

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After a trip to the Strip did not instill confidence in the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback play, Raheem Morris was not ready Tuesday to commit to a starter for next week.

Atlanta (7-7) beat the Las Vegas Raiders 15-9 on Monday night despite a weak showing from Kirk Cousins. The veteran quarterback threw his first touchdown since Nov. 3 but was 11-for-17 for a season-low 112 yards, with one interception and three sacks.

In his previous four games, Cousins tossed eight picks without a touchdown over four straight losses. Monday’s win kept Atlanta’s playoff hopes alive, for now.

Morris was asked in a video conference with reporters whether Cousins would keep the starting job this week vs. the New York Giants.

“We just got back (to Georgia), man,” Morris said. “We’ve still got to go through all that process like we always do.

“There’s no secret. We didn’t play well at the quarterback position. We got to find ways to play better. So, you know, all those things we go over the course of the week. We got to do whatever’s best to win against the Giants.”

The other option, of course, is rookie Michael Penix Jr., who was selected eighth overall in April’s draft shortly after Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons. Penix has taken 20 snaps this season over two games.

Morris went as far as to say Tuesday that there would not be a downside to playing Penix, even amid a playoff chase.

“You could never say there’s a (downside) to turn it over to somebody that you put a lot of investment into, somebody that you brought in here, somebody you’ve done some things with, somebody that (has) said nothing but the right things since they’ve been here,” Morris said of Penix.

After the Falcons’ narrow win over Las Vegas, Cousins said it was no mystery that he needed to play better.

“I think the last few weeks I would say I need to play better,” Cousins said late Monday night. “Raheem says it, but it’s stating the obvious, and every week you kind of go through your process and you plan to go out there and play the very best you can. And so, this week will be no different.”

Both 2-12, the Raiders and Giants are tied for the worst record in the NFL, and the Falcons catch them on back-to-back weeks with time running out on the season. They trail the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by one game in the NFC South and the Washington Commanders by two games for the third and final wild-card spot in the conference.

On Monday, the NFL flexed the Falcons’ Dec. 29 visit to the Commanders into the Week 17 “Sunday Night Football” broadcast.

In injury news, Morris said kicker Younghoe Koo is dealing with an unspecified injury. Koo recently was listed on the injury report with a right hip ailment.

“We’ll kind of get a feel for what’s going on and everything that’s happening,” Morris said. “Get a better feel for him (Tuesday).”

Atlanta signed kicker Tanner Brown to the practice squad Sunday, the day before the Raiders game. Koo went 2-for-3 on field goals and made his only point-after try on Monday.

–Field Level Media